Author Archives: Delores

Drying Herbs for Winter Use

You’ve been tending to your herbs all summer long, and you’ve been enjoying their fresh flavor in all your summertime dishes. Now it’s time to start planning for winter by drying them to enjoy even longer.

Here are a few harvesting tips to get you started:

Herbs that are harvested when their oils are at their peak will have the best flavor when dried.
Herbs grown for their foliage should be harvested just before they flower.
Harvest herbs that are grown for seeds as the seed pods change color from green to brown to gray, but before they open.
Collect herb flowers, such as chamomile, just before full flower.
Harvest herb roots, such as chicory and ginseng in the fall after the foliage fades.

To get the best flavor from dried herbs, it’s important to pick the leaves for drying at the correct point in the growing season.

When to harvest:

Harvest early in the morning, after the dew dries, but before the heat of the day.
Lavender, parsley, and tarragon: Harvest in June and July, just before flowering. Cut back the plants to half their height to encourage a second flowering in the fall.
Mint: Harvest in June and July.
Thyme, summer savory, and sweet marjoram: Harvest in July and August.
Basil and sage: Harvest in August and September.
Harvest early and frequently to encourage plants to produce new growth.
Chives, basil, mint, parsley, and oregano grow back quickly and benefit from the constant pruning.

“Tender herbs in the mint family – basil, tarragon, lemon balm, and the mints have a high moisture content and will mold quickly if not dried quickly, says Clemson Cooperative Extension Service.”

Preparing your herbs for drying:

If the herbs are clean, do not wet them. Otherwise, rinse dust and dirt from the foliage, shake off the excess water, and spread the herbs out to dry on paper towels or dishcloths until all surface moisture has evaporated. Remove any dead or damaged foliage.

Hang small bunches of them upside down in a dry, cool, place such as a closet. If you are worried about them dropping leaves, suspend each bunch inside a paper bag ventilated with tears or punched holes. Close the top with a rubber band and place where the air currents will circulate through the bag.

Once the herbs are dry, their flavor is best preserved by keeping them in an airtight tin cans or tightly sealed jars. Dried herbs should be used within a year.

For a list of over 30 herbs to add to your garden, check out our publication “Basic Guidelines for Growing Herbs.“

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Here at Wingard’s Market, we specialize in providing outstanding customer service, offer professional gardening advice, and answers to your everyday gardening questions. Stop by and visit our Beautiful Gift Shoppe and Fresh Produce Market while you stroll under century-old pecan trees. It’s truly a Garden Wonderland!

Located at 1403 North Lake Drive in Lexington, SC. Call us at (803) 359-9091

The Taste of Summer

We are so fortunate to live in South Carolina where we have an abundance of fresh produce at our fingertips all season long. If you are like us, we like to eat and we love to cook with summer produce! Our Produce Market is bursting with an array of fresh produce supplied by our local farmers.

Simple is always better when using fresh fruits and vegetables, let the quality of the season’s finest shine through. Simple seasonings and light dressings are all that is ever needed to enhance the flavor of fresh produce.

Summer doesn’t officially end until the middle of September so we still have plenty of time to enjoy what is in season now.

We love them all, but here are a few of our favorites:

Blueberries

By far blueberries are the most popular of all the summer fruit. The tiny pop-in-your-mouth fruit is a favorite of children. Filled with antioxidants they are one treat that is a healthy option to sugar-filled treats. Store your berries in a single layer, and do not wash until you are ready to use them.

In our house, our kids always loved them frozen as an afternoon snack during our hot South Carolina summers.

Corn

The best batch of sweet corn is one that is purchased as soon as it’s picked. As corn ages the sugars turn to starch which lessens its sweetness. To pick the best ears look for deep brown silk tips where the silk is still pliable and not entirely dried up. Open the tip end and make sure the kernels are plump and milky when pinched.

One of our favorite ways to enjoy sweet corn is grilled. Peel back the corn husks and remove the silk. Spread ears with one tablespoon butter, sprinkle with sea salt and fresh cracked pepper and then close the husks back up. Wrap each ear of corn in foil and place on the grill and cook for about 30 minutes or until the corn is tender.

Figs

If you have a fig tree in your yard you know the figs are ripe when you hear the tree buzz from the bees that are feeding on it! But if you don’t, our Produce Market has freshly picked figs for you…without the bees! Figs spoil quickly, so use them up fast. Their delicate fragrant taste is the perfect complement to desserts, baked goods and a great addition to savory foods like meat and cheese.

We love adding fresh figs to salads and sliced on crackers with ricotta cheese and honey.

Peaches

Row after row of peach orchards in the Midlands supply us with the freshest peaches found in the country. When buying peaches look for fruit that is firm to touch without brown spots or wrinkling. To tell if they are ripe don’t be afraid to smell them. Sun ripened peaches will smell as good as you expect them to taste. To keep them freshest longest don’t wash them until you are ready to eat them.

The best way to eat a fresh peach is outside where you can let the sweet juice drip down your arm.

Tomatoes

We are big advocates for the sweet taste of Heirloom tomatoes…no other tomato compares to the flavor these funny looking tomatoes give. The unusual shape and size should not deter you from trying them. Tomatoes that have been vine ripened have the best flavor and are the best way to describe summer!

There’s no other way to eat a fresh tomato than with a little sea salt, fresh cracked pepper, fresh basil, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Yum!

Zucchini

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy summer squash! Zucchini is the most popular, but the crookneck, yellow and pattypans are just as delicious. When at its freshest you can roast, grill, steam, fry or bake them. When buying look for small squash that is bright green or yellow and free of spots and bruises. Stay away from the larger squash that will be bitter and lack flavor.

We have a sweet tooth here at Wingard’s, so our favorite way to enjoy zucchini is when it’s made into zucchini bread, warm out of the oven, smothered with butter!

Stop by the Produce Market and see the array of local produce brought in daily by our preferred local farmers!

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Here at Wingard’s Market we specialize in providing outstanding customer service, offer professional gardening advice, and answers to your every day gardening questions. Stop by and visit our beautiful Gift Shoppe, Fresh Produce Market, and take a stroll under century-old pecan trees through our Garden Wonderland!

Located at 1403 North Lake Drive in Lexington, SC. Call us at (803) 359-9091

The Sting…The Burn…Those Pesky Fire Ants!!

If you live in the South, you are sure to have had a run-in with annoying fire ants. If you’ve ever stepped on an ant hill, you know it only takes one sting to remind you to watch where you’re walking and always wear shoes!.

Here in the Midlands, our sandy soil makes prime real estate for ants. Their mounds can reach up to 50 to 200 mounds per acre if not adequately controlled. During warmer months, the ants will swarm to reproduce and create new colonies continuously.

Have you ever wondered why you can’t get a handle on controlling fire ants and why they always come back?

Here’s the answer:

Winged male and female fire ants fly high into the air and mate. Wind currents can carry the airborne ants several miles.
Even if you kill every mound in your yard, newly mated queens are steadily dropping out of the sky to start new colonies.
Even if you don’t see any mounds, new ones are continually being built and will soon be large enough to be seen above ground.

Is it a lost cause? Should we just learn how to cohabitate with the ants? – No

There is a method for getting rid of fire ants once and for all! The most efficient way to control fire ants are to hit them with a one-two punch method.

Use granular fire ant baits (Fertilome Come & Get It) as the foundation of your fire ant control program.When used correctly, baits will give around 80 to 90 percent control, leaving a lot fewer mounds to spot treat than if you rely on mound treatments alone. Granular fire ant baits contain slow-acting insecticides or insect growth regulators that disrupt development of the immature fire ants. The key to using baits successfully is to spread them over the entire yard, rather than sprinkling them on top of individual mounds. Application rates are low, only around 1-1.5 pounds per acre, which is only a fraction of an ounce per 1,000 square feet. Worker ants will collect the granules, carry them back to the mound, and feed them to the immature ants. Baits should be applied three times per year: spring, summer, and fall.
Rain will wash the bait away. Make sure to check the forecast and spread the bait when it will be sure to have a few days exposure. Also, fire ants generally feed late afternoon or evening which makes a perfect time to spread bait.
Keep a can of one of the dry fire ant mound treatment products (Bayer Fire Ant Killer) on hand to spot-treat mounds that survive the bait treatments.Dry mound treatments are applied directly to the mound; just sprinkle the specified amount evenly over the top of the mound and walk away. It will take a couple of days to a week for the mound to die out. For mounds that need to be controlled immediately use a liquid drench. Dilute in water as indicated on the label and pour the drench over the mound. Liquid drenches kill quickly but are more messy and time-consuming than dry mound treatments. The key to success with drenches is to use enough liquid to thoroughly soak the mound, about 1-2 gallons.

If you stay diligent about controlling ants with a One-Two Punch method, you can start to enjoy your lawn again!

Save the Bees – What you can do to help.

Honey bees, bumblebees, and other bees are disappearing at alarming rates, and they need your help!

As gardeners, it is our responsibility to reach out and save these yellow pollen-dusted bees from extinction. Bees play a vital role in pollinating over 150 crops grown in the US each year, which equals at least every third bite of food you take each day. Bees pollinate some of our primary food sources such as apples, blueberries, citrus, melons, pears, plums, pumpkins, and squash. Bees also pollinate plants fed to livestock, as well as fiber-producing plants such as cotton, one of South Carolina’s leading crops. It’s essential to our health and our food supply that we take an active role in preserving the plight of the honey bee.

How can you help?

Whether you live in the city or in the country, there are a few ways you can attract bees to your garden and help save these little workhorses from disappearing.

Plant bee loving plants native to your area. In South Carolina, plant native bee balm, coneflower, goldenrod, and milkweed.
- For a complete list of native plants and flowers, we carry please click here.
Bees love these flowers the best: bee balm, coneflower, fennel, goldenrod, hosta, lavender, lantana, lobelia, salvia, sunflower, sedum, sweet alyssum, yarrow, and zinnia.
Bees love blue, yellow and purple flowers. Shallow blossoms like daisies, asters, zinnias and Queen’s Anne’s Lace are their favorites. Notice, they are not so interested in red flowers, like hummingbirds are.
Plant flowers so that you have something blooming year-round. For early spring, plant forsythia, in the summer try St. John’s wort, in the fall plant pansies, and make sure your landscape has camellia’s for a winter bloom.
Don’t forget the flowering herbs such as basil, mint, oregano, sage, thyme, and rosemary,
Add fruit trees such as apples, lemon, pears, plums and cherry trees.
Plant vegetables and herbs and allow some of them to go to seed, such as lettuce, garlic chives, and broccoli.
Learn to love weeds especially dandelions, clover, milkweed, and goldenrod.
Bees thrive on single flowers …those with one ring of petals. Those provide more nectar and pollen than double flowers.
Bees are more attracted to flowers that grow in clumps.
Plan your garden so something is always in bloom.
Plant one square yard of the same kind of plant.
Plant your garden in bright sunny areas.
Reduce the size of your lawn to add more bee friendly plants.
Provide shelter by leaving pieces of old wood to make nests in.
Offer them fresh water by floating a piece of wood for landing in your bird bath.
Add a bee hive or a bee house to your garden.
Limit the use of insecticides. Instead of spraying for mosquitoes, use multiple pots of lemon grass, citronella and lemon balm. Spray plants that have an insect infestation with insecticidal soap, which won’t hurt the bees.

Did you know?

One honeybee colony has a foraging range of 18,000 acres.
It takes 12 bees their entire lifetime to make a teaspoon of honey.
Honey bees visit 2 million flowers to make one pound of honey.
Field bees visit 50 to 100 flowers during each trip.
Honeybees fly 12 to 15 miles per hour and flap their wings 12,000 times per minute.
Honeybees are covered in hair designed to trap pollen. Even their eyes have hair on them.
Honey is essentially dehydrated nectar from flowers. Bees eat honey and pollen from flowers. They ferment the pollen first and mix it with honey in order to be able to digest it.
A strong hive may contain up to 60,000 bees.

Don’t be afraid of the bees…enjoy them. It’s fun to watch them fill their tiny legs with bright yellow pollen and take it back to their hives. Observe them, photograph them, and encourage them to live in your garden.

Do you want to learn more about adding bees to your South Carolina garden? Check out this article put out by the Clemson Extension Office on Native Bees.

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Here at Wingard’s Market, we specialize in providing outstanding customer service, offer professional gardening advice, and answers to your everyday gardening questions. Stop by and visit our beautiful Gift Shoppe, Fresh Produce Market, and take a stroll under century-old pecan trees through our Garden Wonderland!

Located at 1403 North Lake Drive in Lexington, SC. Call us at (803) 359-9091

Save the Flutter of Orange & Black

Take an afternoon stroll through the gardens at Wingard’s Market and you’ll be sure to spot the flutter of the orange and black wings of our favorite butterfly the Monarch. We are on a mission to save the most recognized and beloved butterfly in North America!

Butterflies add to the spectacular color show we enjoy every summer, but their numbers are dwindling due to the loss of their favorite habitat, the milkweed plant.

With the recent decline in milkweed, butterfly and garden enthusiast are coming together to save the only plant the female monarchs lay their eggs on…the milkweed.

Known for following the milkweed as they spread northward after the Ice Age, Monarchs return to the southeast every spring as soon as the milkweed start to bloom. Over the course of one summer, the Monarch will produce three generations that will feed on their host plant until fall when the last generation returns to Mexico to wait out the cold winter.

As a home gardener, you might wonder what you can do to help. The answer is very simple: Plant lots of butterfly-friendly flowering plants, such as the milkweed.

The joy you’ll get from spotting the distinctive white, yellow and black striping of the monarch caterpillar on your milk plant is incredible. It’s fun to watch them grow and take flight as a beautiful butterfly.

There are over one hundred species of the milkweed plants that are native to North America, and many make excellent additions to any garden.

Some of the best varieties of Milkweed for the Midlands are:

Asclepias tuberosa – Common name: Butterflyweed
Asclepias syriaca – Common name: Milkweed
Asclepias verticillata – Common name: Whorled milkweed
Asclepias incarnata – Common name: Swamp milkweed
Asclepias viridiflora – Common name: Green Milkweed

Here are a few tips for caring for and adding milkweed to your garden:

Plant species that are native to your region.
Look for a sunny place where the butterflies can spot the plant from above.
Avoid using pesticides and herbicides around milkweed.
After the eggs hatch, the larvae will begin eating the leaves of the host plant. Don’t worry if the host plant is defoliated. It will recover.
Deadhead milkweed flowers to prolong blooming during summer.
At the end of the season, allow the plants to form those attractive pods that look great in dried flower
Silky, parachute-like seeds will begin to drift out of the mature pods in late fall, spreading and reseeding themselves.
Cut back old milkweed stalks in late winter, before new shoots start to emerge.

Make a gardening effort to encourage the return of the monarchs to your garden. Your effort will be rewarded with the addition of color and activity for years to come.

Creating a Backyard Garden You Love

What does your ideal outdoor space look like? Is it a place to entertain or is it your escape and relaxation retreat?

Choosing the right plants and accessories can set the tone for a beautiful backyard garden that appeals to all of your senses. The sights, sound, and smells you add will help create the atmosphere you dream of.

If you think you don’t have the time or talent to create a beautiful backyard garden, just put a few of these tips in place and see how it all comes together. They will make a huge difference in how you use and enjoy your outdoor space.

Add Color

We understand that a visit to the garden center can sometimes be overwhelming. The array of choices you have is endless! Keep these couple tips in mind the next time you plan to purchase new plants for your garden.

Visit Wingard’s Market every month of the year and buy a perennial or evergreen that is blooming at that time. Plant it in your garden, and you’ll have something blooming year round.
Add splashes of color to break up all the green and to add contrast throughout your garden.
Group plants with the same foliage or flower color for a greater impact. Think of your garden like a color wheel and plant to create a balanced effect.

Add Garden Art

There is no better way to add a piece of your personality to your garden then with garden art. Outdoor art comes in many different forms and from a wide variety of different materials. Flowers and plants are beautiful on their own, but when mixed with colorful birdbaths, garden statues, fountains and whimsical decorative elements you can bring out the beauty of nature.

When adding art keep in mind the space and scale of your garden. Adding a simple birdbath to a small garden is the perfect addition while a large water feature will help add depth to a larger space.

Add a Focal Point

Creating a focal point in your garden can add interests and depth to your space.

Sitting areas, water features, and even a fire pit can make excellent focal points. They add pleasant conversational areas and can act as an extension of your indoor space that makes you garden both functional and beautiful.

Look at your space and determine your style. Do you like the simple, clean lines of ceramic pots or the rustic charm of an old iron gate? Decide what appeals to you and design around that.

With a little planning, you can turn your backyard garden into an oasis for all to enjoy. Add large containers filled with your favorite blooms to the natural decor of your space. Ease the transition between your indoor space and outdoor space with cobblestone or stepping stone pathways.

Be Patient

Backyard gardens evolve from season to season. Gardeners are always adding, moving and enhancing their spaces to reflect their use and personality.

Don’t let your outdoor spaces overwhelm you. Start out small and add or update a new area each year or season.

If your landscape is beginning to feel more like a hodgepodge of plants, and you need some help creating your ideal outdoor space, check out our Landscape Design Services. Look around the area and get a feel for what you like and don’t like this Spring. Engage our designer in the summer to create a plan for you. Then you’ll be ready to plant in the Fall, which is the absolute best time for planting.

Inviting Birds to Your Garden

The first step in inviting birds to your garden is to look at your yard from a bird’s point of view.

If you took a bird’s eye view of your garden, do you have elements that would be appealing to wildlife? Is there a dying tree or wood that has knotholes that could be converted into a home for a bird family? Would that pile of brush you’ve wanted to dispose of make a good place to build a nest and provide shelter?

Taking time to identify the habitat that already exists in your yard is the first step in creating a bird-friendly environment.

Birds need gardens as much as gardeners need birds. If you can provide some basic bird needs, they will help keep the insect population down around your home. A single bird is known to munch on 500 to 1,000 insects in just one afternoon.

By providing a few basic needs for your fine-feathered friends, they will reward you with beautiful songs and flight throughout your yard.

Food, water, shelter, and a place to raise a family are all they need:

Food – Every type of bird likes a different combination of food, but to attract the most birds to your garden offer millet and black oil sunflower seeds. Beef suet should be added in the winter so a bird’s body can maintain heat in the cold weather. Woodpeckers especially like this winter treat. Plant shrubs, trees, and other plants that produce nuts, berries, fruits, and seeds whenever possible. You can find dried mealworms, black oil sunflower seeds and suet cakes in the Gift Shoppe at Wingard’s.
- Here is a list of the most common local birds to South Carolina and their favorite meals:

Indigo Buntings enjoy a mix of nyjer thistle seed and sunflower chips.
Bluejays will belly up to the bar for black-oil sunflower seeds or peanuts.
Mockingbirds will not stop to sing you a song unless they see suet or dried fruit.
Rosefinches will visit you all year long if you offer sunflower or nyjer seeds.
Goldfinches will brighten your day if you supply sunflower or nyjer seeds.
Cardinals enjoy sunflower seeds and finely cracked corn.
Chickadees will sing for oil-type sunflower, cracked nutmeats, and suet.
Eastern Bluebirds are typically insect eaters but when food is scare they like small peanut and sunflower kernels as well as suet.
Mourning Doves will meet at your feeder, usually in pairs, if provided an oil-type sunflower seed, milo, finely cracked corn, canary seed, hulled oats, or millet.
Woodpeckers will scout your yard for suet and sunflower seeds.

Water – The relaxing sound of moving water will grab a bird’s attention. Elevate your birdbath to protect it from cats and other predators. The ideal water source should be at least 3 inches deep and three feet off the ground. Use a heated birdbath in winter to avoid freezing. And a battery powered “water wiggler” will keep the water flowing all year long.
Shelter – Birdhouses explicitly built for the type of birds you want to attract is always ideal, but cover and housing can be provided in many forms throughout your yard. Dense shrubs, dead logs, brush piles, pine trees and even tall grass can provide protected shelter for your flying friends. All birds don’t like to be exposed to open areas where predators can attack and will look for protected areas where they can perch and escape quickly. In the Gift Shoppe at Wingard’s, we have decorative bird houses as well as simple functional ones, and birdhouses that are good for bluebirds, wrens and chickadees.
Nesting – Each species of bird has different requirements for nesting. Adding ready-made bird houses to your yard is the perfect place to start with providing a secure place for them to raise their young. You can also provide bits of soft material for lining the nests. We carry appropriate materials that you can hang outside for the birds to use.
Planting for Birds – Creating a backyard with a variety of plants that birds love will ensure a steady food supply and shelter for years to come.
- Here are some of the most common bird loving plants and trees you can find in our garden center to add to your yard:
  - TREES: Crabapple, Dogwood, Persimmon, Wax Myrtle, Birch, Willow
  - SHRUBS/VINES/GRASSES: Mahonia, Barberry, Blueberry, Hawthorn, Honeysuckle, Holly, Pyracantha, Rose, Viburnum, Juniper, Fountain grass, Camellia, Nandina, Beautyberry, Boxwood
  - PERENNIALS/ANNUALS: Phlox, Marigold, Sedum, Sunflowers, Yarrow, Zinnia, Red Hot Poker, Redbud, Bee Balm, Black-eyed Susan, Blanket Flower, Coral Bells, Coreopsis, Salvia, Cone Flower.
  - Concentrate on planting a variety of native plants that do well in South Carolina gardens and are bird friendly.

Here are just a few of the many products you can find in our Wildlife Room in the Gift Shoppe at Wingard’s Market.

More tips for attracting birds
It can take time to attract birds to your yard even after you have provided some of their basic needs.

Here are some additional tips:

Keep grassy areas of your lawn trimmed to allow for insect loving birds to feed easily.
Prepare your yard year-round to accommodate migrating birds.
Keep cats and other bird predators away from bird feeders and houses.
Provide ample perches and stopping points around your feeders for easy access.

Patience is required when inviting birds to your yard, but once they have become accustomed to your surrounding, they will provide you hours of enjoyment for years to come.

Plan to make this year’s vegetable garden the best one ever!

The key to a successful garden …is planning.

It’s the start of a new year and with it comes new dreams for a successful garden. While planting is still a couple months away, there are many things you can do now. To be a successful vegetable gardener, you’ll need to understand what it takes to keep your garden happy and healthy. Here are the basics.

Choose a Location – When choosing a place for your garden consider the following:
- Water supply – Having access to a water source that is easily reached with a garden hose is a must. Providing your garden with consistent water will produce better results. Soaker hoses and drip irrigation systems that can be attached to a water timer make watering less of a chore.
- Drainage – A loose, fertile, level, well-drained soil is ideal. Avoid heavy clays and very sandy soils, unless adequate organic matter and minerals are added.
- Sunlight – According to the Clemson Cooperative Extension, South Carolina gardens should receive at least six hours of direct sun each day. Leafy vegetables can tolerate partial shade; vegetables that produce fruit, such as peppers and tomatoes, must be grown in full sun.
Build Your Soil’s Health – Never underestimate the power of adding organic matter to your sleeping garden. Focus now on adding dead plant material, herbicide free (safe) aged manure, and a rich, healthy compost.
Balance Your Soil – Soil is your vegetable’s food, so balancing it gives you great results. The mineral makeup of your soil is just as important as adding rich organic matter. A typical mineral combination for a healthy soil is a mixture of sand, silt, and clay, with equal parts of each. A balanced soil needs equal parts of organic matter and minerals. There are very few gardeners that have a perfectly rich, sandy loam. Even the best conditions need to be analyzed and improved upon yearly.
- Click here for a complete list of the bulk soils and amendments we carry.
Test Your Soil – Take the guess work out of trying to figure out what your soil needs by testing your soil. We carry Clemson’s soil test collection bags. You can pick up a bag and drop off your sample here, along with $6.00 cash or check payable to Clemson University. We will get it to Clemson for you. We can also help you with instructions on how to gather the soil sample and interpret the test results. The Clemson Extension Office will analyze the soil and send your results, along with fertilizer and lime recommendations for your garden.

Paying attention to your garden now will help you have a successful garden later. Remember, a soil test is your road-map to better soil…“Poor soil yields weak plants, so test now!”

Layout & Design – If you have traditionally planted your garden in long rows you may want to try planting raised beds or earth boxes.
- The EarthBox Gardening System is the ultra-efficient way to grow vegetables and flowers in limited spaces. Get “great results no matter what color your thumb is,” This maintenance-free growing system controls soil conditions, eliminates guesswork, and more than doubles the yield of a conventional garden-with less fertilizer, less water, and virtually no effort. EarthBoxes are available at Wingard’s.

If you consistently have trouble controlling your soil’s health, raised bed planting will concentrate your compost and soil amendments to a confined area rather than wasting it on the paths between the rows. Raised beds, such as square foot gardens will also improve drainage issues and will allow the soil to stay warmer in colder months, such as early spring. By switching your planted areas to raised beds, your plants will shade and cool the ground below and require less watering, less weeding, less mulching.

Check our workshop schedule for our next planned Limited Space Gardening Workshop.

Two excellent mixes (both can be found at Wingard’s) for raised beds are:

Square Foot Garden Mix

1/3 peat moss
1/3 compost
1/3 vermiculite

Wingard’s Vegetable Garden Mix for Raised Beds

pine bark
compost
peat moss
compost
lime
gypsum
organic
fertilizer

Rotating Crops – If this isn’t your first year gardening you may want to plan to rotate your crops. Disease-causing organisms gradually accumulate in the soil over time. Different vegetables are susceptible to certain diseases, so rotating crops help avoid this problem. Crop rotation means planting the same crop in the same place only once every three years.

Whether you have a patio or a lush backyard, you can easily have a successful garden by following these few steps and planning early.

Top Fall Produce Picks

The days are getting cooler and a variety of new crisp fruits and vegetables are showing up at the Product Market.

We are a couple weeks into fall and pumpkins and winter squash can be seen everywhere! The smell of fresh pumpkin and pecan pies, along with crisp apples are filling our harvest baskets.

Here at Wingard’s our baker is in the house for your all holiday baking needs! During the holiday’s, we take orders for pumpkin and pecan pies. We need a lead time of 4 business days to fill an order.
Call Wingard’s at (803) 359-9091 to place you holiday pie order!

Our produce choices are the perfect excuse to get you cooking on a brisk fall evening. Potatoes and pecans, along with the classic apples and squash, are just a few of the many Fall favorite produce picks you can use in your cooler weather recipes.

Fall produce is at its peak flavor and highest value right now. Try incorporating one or all of these top picks into your menu this month.

Apples
Everyone has heard the phrase “An apple a day helps keep the doctor away,” but there is nothing better than biting into a crisp fall apple. The sweet, crunchy taste is at its best in the fall. With such a large variety, you can choose from sweet to tart. And if you don’t know what would work best for your dish, ask our experts at the market for their recommendations.

When choosing apples pick ones that are firm and free of blemishes or bruises. Apples emit ethylene, which speeds up ripening, so always store them in a cool place away from bananas or citrus. If kept in a cool dark place apples can last up to 6 months.

Beets
This favorite purple root vegetable may be available all year-round, but they are best in the fall. You can find many varieties that produce white and even a golden yellow roots, but the reddish-purple color is our favorite.
Look for firm, smooth bulbs with crisp green tops. For the best flavor don’t wash the beets until you are ready to use them. And don’t throw the beet greens away use them in a salad to capture all their healthy benefits.

Brussels Sprouts
For such a tiny vegetable, Brussels sprouts are full of nutrients. Just one cup provides more vitamin C and vitamin K than most other vegetables. They have a mild somewhat bitter taste and are best roasted.
Look for small firm heads that are bright green and have no blemishes. Avoid those that are light and airy. They will keep in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Onions
Even though onions can be found all year long, most onions are harvest in late summer and into early fall. A staple in most dishes onion adds the finishing touch to most savory dishes. Onions have a juicy flesh, covered with a papery skin and come in a broad range of sizes, shapes, and flavors.
When buying onions, be sure to look for firm onions that are free of cuts and blemishes. Onions can last for several weeks if stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place.

Pears
Pears are the most overlooked sweet fruit of fall. Like their cousin the apple, pears can work great in any dish apples would typically be used. They come in a variety of flavors from tart to sweet. Pears are a healthy source of soluble fiber, which helps your body maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
To slow the ripening process store them in the refrigerator. When stored in a similar condition to apples, pears will last for a few months.

Pumpkins
A member of the squash family, pumpkins are rich in history and healthy benefits. Unlike summer squash, winter squash is finely textured and slightly sweet. Because of its thick skin, pumpkin can be stored for months, although you probably won’t wait that long to eat it. Its nutty flavor goes best with other fall flavorings like cinnamon and ginger.

A low-calorie food, pumpkins are full of dietary fiber and is brimming with vitamin A are rich in beta-carotene. It’s enough to make you think twice about turning down that second piece of pumpkin pie.

Sweet Potatoes
These nutrient-rich potatoes are awesome in both sweet and savory dishes. These naturally sweet root vegetables are equally delicious in desserts. These orange beauties have the best flavor during fall. Like squash, sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene.

Choose uniform sized sweet potatoes that feel heavy in your hand and buy them shortly before you plan to use them. Store whole potatoes in a cool, dark place and toss any that have started to sprout tubers.

Winter Squash
From acorn to butternut nothing screams fall like squash. They are a fall favorite for roasting, mashing and pureeing. Winter squash are one of the best plant-based sources of Omega-3s and beta carotene, making them the perfect veggie to consume during cold and flu season.

Choose squash that remains firm when pressed, contains an entire stem, and feels heavy for its size. Winter squash can be stored in a cool, dark place for several weeks if kept in its tough exterior. Kept refrigerated for a few days if cut or raw.

White potatoes
Who does not love a big bowl of buttery mashed potatoes? They’re inexpensive, filling, and they can last all winter long with the proper storage—now is a great time to stock up on them.

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Here at Wingard’s Market we specialize in providing outstanding customer service, offer professional gardening advice, and answers to your every day gardening questions. Stop by and visit our beautiful Gift Shoppe and Fresh Produce Market while you stroll under century-old pecan trees. It’s truly a Garden Wonderland!

Located at 1403 North Lake Drive in Lexington, SC. Call us at (803) 359-9091

Best Time to Plant a Tree

A tree planted in the fall has a better-established root system by spring

The cooler temperatures of Fall make it the best time to plant a tree in the Southeast. The mild Fall and Winter weather of South Carolina allow the roots, from fall-planted trees to establish before Spring. Because the tops of the trees are dormant during the colder months, all their growing energy is sent towards root growth. When Spring does arrive the expanded healthy root system can support and handle a full surge of spring growth.

When buying trees for your landscape look for healthy well-grown trees. Read the plant specifications tag included in the pot before making your purchase.

Ask yourself these questions before making your purchase:

Where are you going to plant your tree?
How big will it be at maturity?
Will it grow better in sun or shade?
Are you planting it for shade, privacy or as a screen?
What type of soil will it be planted in? Clay or Sand?
Does it need a moist or dry location?

Now that you have determined placement and soil conditions, it is time to plant your tree.

Here is a step-by-step guide to help you plant your trees.

At least 3-4 business days before you begin, and to avoid cutting any underground wire or pipes, call PUPS (Palmetto Utility Protection Services) to request that they mark any underground lines. This is a free service – Call 811.
Match the tree with the site. Keep in mind the mature size of the plant, moisture in the soil, and sun requirements. It is especially critical that you know where the afternoon sun shines directly on your landscape during the summer months. Consider areas of your landscape that receive the afternoon sun in the summer to be “full sun” areas, even if they are shaded in the morning. “Shade plants” need afternoon shade in the summer. Most trees can take full sun. We recommend Japanese Maples and Dogwoods be planted in an area that gets morning sun and afternoon shade. Redbuds and Magnolias may be planted in sun or shade.
Dig the planting hole roughly 2 times wider than the diameter of the root ball. Measure from the topmost root to the base of the root ball to determine its height. In sandy soil, dig no deeper or slightly less than the height of the root ball. In clay soil, dig 3 to 4 inches deeper than the root ball and backfill the bottom of the hole with a mixture of soil conditioner and clay. The hole should be bowl-shaped with the sides sloped. Save the soil to mix with amendment and pack around root ball after planting.
Clay Soil: If your soil type is clay, amend the soil dug from the hole by mixing with an equal amount of Wingard’s Lake Murray Soil Conditioner to promote drainage and aeration.
Add Bio-tone Starter Plus 4-3-3 to maximize root growth.
Sandy Soil: If the soil type is sand, amend the soil dug from the hole by mixing with an equal amount of Wingard’s Lake Murray Premium Potting Mix to provide nutrients and hold moisture.
Add Bio-tone Starter Plus 4-3-3 to maximize root growth.
For container grown trees, score or cut the sides of the root ball in 3 or 4 places, from top to bottom, about 1 inch deep to encourage roots to grow outward.
For “ball and burlap” trees, remove any twine or strapping after placing in the hole, but do not remove burlap or wire basket. If there is a wire basket around the root ball, push wire below ground level or cut top 3 inches off. Do not break up the root ball.
Place the tree in the hole so that the top of the root ball is slightly higher than the surrounding soil level. Backfill amended soil removed from the hole. Tamp soil around plant firmly, and cover exposed roots above ground. The worst mistake is to plant too deep.
Create a one-to-two-inch berm of soil around the edge of the planting hole to hold water. Fill the “saucer” with water once or twice.
Mulch the root ball surface and planting area. Use 3 to 4 inches of organic material. Keep the mulch 1 or 2 inches away from the trunk. The width of the mulched area should be the same as the width of the tree branches
During the first two weeks, check soil moisture level daily by digging down 6 inches to see if the soil is moist below ground level. Water thoroughly if the soil is dry; be sure water is getting down through the soil to the roots of the plant. Clay soil needs proper drainage; sandy soil dries out quickly. Generally, water once a week in Winter, and continue to water a newly planted tree through Spring and Summer for one year. However, remember watering frequency depends on many factors like rainfall, temperature, and soil type. Check the underground soil moisture level frequently, and adjust your watering schedule accordingly. Keep in mind that lawn sprinkler systems are designed for grass roots, which are 3 to 4 inches deep. Trees and shrubs have roots that are 1 ft. deep or more, and need more water than a lawn sprinkler can provide.
Fertilize appropriately. When planting a tree add Espoma Bio-tone Starter Plus 4-3-3 to the soil to maximize root growth. Fertilize after the first year and annually thereafter with a tree and shrub fertilizer (19-8-10). The best time to apply fertilizer is in the early Spring.
Disease and Insect Infestations. If you suspect a problem with insects or fungus, clip off a leaf or small branch and bring it to the nursery. We will help you identify the problem and choose the right treatment.

We want you to be a successful gardener! Stop in and let our experienced gardeners help you choose the perfect tree to add value and beauty to your home.

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Here at Wingard’s Market we specialize in providing outstanding customer service, offer professional gardening advice, and answers to your everyday gardening questions. Stop by and visit our beautiful Gift Shoppe and Fresh Produce Market while you stroll under century-old pecan trees. It’s truly a Garden Wonderland!

Located at 1403 North Lake Drive in Lexington, SC. Call us at (803) 359-9091

Lawn Care for Warm Season Grasses

The climate in Central SC is perfect for the most popular warm season grasses

Have you ever peeked over your neighbors’ fence and wondered why the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence? We bet your neighbor isn’t using any particular lawn care strategy other than knowing lawn care is all about timing.

When those autumn leaves start to fall, it is a time when your lawn is gearing up for the next growing season. If you take steps now, you too can have a beautiful lawn through the next season and beyond.

The climate in central South Carolina is perfect for the most popular warm season grasses.

Some of the most popular grass types are:

Centipede Grass
Bermuda Grass
Zoysia Grass
St. Augustine Grass

Grasses grown in this area are generally heat and drought tolerant. These grasses will go completely dormant when exposed to freezing temperatures and will resume growing again once the warm weather returns in early spring.

There are several factors to consider when you are learning lawn care for warm season grasses:

Weeds – Just like there are cool and warm season grasses, there are also cool and warm weather weeds. Fall/Winter weeds come up in the fall, live through winter, and die in the spring. If you notice weeds showing up in your fall/winter lawn, consider applying a fall weed preventer.Fall weed preventers should be applied when nighttime lows reach 55 to 60 degrees for four consecutive days. Typically the right time is September 15 to October 15 in the Midlands of South Carolina area.
- Centipede & Zoysia: Hi-Yield Turf & Ornamental Weed & Grass Stopper containing Dimension should be applied Sep. 15 – Oct. 15 for the prevention of many common lawn weeds.
- Augustine & Bermuda: FertilomeWinterizer & Weed Preventer II for Southern Grasses w/Dimension 10-0-14 should be applied Sep. 15 – Oct. 15. This product supplies extra potash, which enables warm season grasses to overwinter better and be healthier in the spring. It will also prevent listed weeds from sprouting.

The effects of these weed preventers may wear off after 12 weeks and may need a second application at least nine weeks after the first application. As with any product, read and follow all label instructions before applying.

Water – After early September all irrigation should cease to help your lawn shut down for winter. Continuing to water during this season will increase cold injury during winter and encourage disease problems. The only exception will be if you are experiencing a fall drought.
New Growth – Late spring and into summer is the best time to seed your lawn. Wait until temperatures get above 65 degrees during the day and then seed.
To successfully seed your lawn or patch bare areas follow these simple steps:
- With a tiller, break up and loosen the soil so the new seeds can easily penetrate the soil.
- Add an inch of compost and work it into the freshly broken soil.
- Add grass seed and spread it evenly across the bare patch.
- Using a rake work the seed into the soil to a depth of about half an inch.
- Sprinkle straw over the newly seeded area to help prevent the soil from drying out.
- Water to keep the area moist. Lightly water once or twice a day until the seed germinates and the new grass is one inch tall.

Want to learn more about how you can successfully care for your lawn year round?
Don’t give up on your lawn! We have developed a Easy 4-step Do-It-Yourself Lawn Care Program.

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Located at 1403 North Lake Drive in Lexington, SC. Call us at (803) 359-9091

Simple Guide to Composting

Simple compost only requires three ingredients

Every gardener’s biggest challenge is the quality of their soil. Some struggle with clay while others struggle with sand. Some fight wet soil and some wage war against drought. Whatever your challenges are, many can be overcome by adding compost to your existing soil.

Compost is nature’s way of adding nutrient-rich additives that fuel your plant growth and restore depleted soil. It’s easy to make, good for the environment and a much-needed soil conditioner.

The organic matter in compost provides food for microorganisms which keep your soil healthy. Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus will balance out your soil naturally by the feeding of microorganisms.

Simple compost only requires three ingredients:

Browns in the form of dead leaves, twigs, and branches.
Greens in the form of grass clippings, fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, and coffee grounds.
Combined with water, the greens and browns will produce healthy compost.

Material	Color
fruit & vegetable scraps	green
eggshells	green
leaves	brown
grass clippings	green
garden plants	green
shrub pruning	brown
straw or hay	brown
pine needles	brown
flowers, cuttings	green
seaweed and kelp	green
wood ash	brown
chicken or cow manure	green
coffee grounds	green
tea leaves	green
newspaper	brown
shredded paper	brown
cardboard	brown
dryer lint	brown
sawdust pellets	brown
wood chips / pellets	brown

How it works:

The browns provide carbon for your compost, the greens provide nitrogen and the water provides moisture to break down the organic matter.

Tips for your compost area:

If you are using the compost pile method keep your collection no smaller than 3’ x 3’.
Aerate your pile every couple of days by turning it over with a pitchfork.
Don’t let it dry out completely, it needs moisture to heat up and keep the composting process active. You don’t want it to be soggy; if it starts to stink it is too wet.
Keep your pile balanced. Feed it equal parts of greens and browns.

Benefits of Composting:

Improves the Soil Structure – A healthy soil should be crumbly to the touch. If your soil is hard and clay-like, young plants will struggle to get the nutrients they need to grow. If your soil is sandy, it won’t hold the nutrients required to survive. Adding compost will allow room for air and water to move more freely through the soil.
Adds Nutrients – A thriving soil that is full of organic matter will produce vital nutrients for healthy plant growth.
Retains Water Better – By adding rich compost to your soil, heavy soils are better equipped to hold water and reduce runoff and erosion. Compost added to sandy soils will increase the chances of the water reaching the roots where it is badly needed.
Wards off Disease – Soils enhanced with compost tend to produce plants with fewer diseases. Composting will help control diseases and insects that might otherwise develop in sterile soils.

Creating healthy plants is simple and the advantages of using compost to improve soil quality by allowing it to retain air, nutrients and moisture will result in more vigorous, thriving plants.

Think of it this way…compost is black gold for your garden!

If you are not ready to jump on board to create your own compost pile, stop by Wingard’s and pick up a couple 40# bags of our ready-made compost.

We carry the following products:

Mushroom Compost – Mushroom compost is a type of slow-release, organic plant fertilizer. The compost is made by mushroom growers using organic materials such as hay, straw, corn cobs and hulls, and poultry or horse manure.
Black Kow Compost – Black Kow is organic cow manure and contains nutrients that are released slowly without burning tender roots.
Stout Ollie Compost – A local South Carolina Company, Stout Ollie, starts building their compost with an annual plant material like the cotton plant. Stout Ollie adds two materials during the composting process that have proven their worth to mankind over millenniums. They are cow manure and fish. The manure is from their own herd of grass fed cows and the fish are trimmings from wild catfish caught in the Santee Cooper Lakes. They provide a wide range of those hard-to-get minor elements without the harsh chemicals used by so many producers.

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Located at 1403 North Lake Drive in Lexington, SC. Call us at (803) 359-9091

Author Archives: Delores

Drying Herbs for Winter Use

“Tender herbs in the mint family – basil, tarragon, lemon balm, and the mints have a high moisture content and will mold quickly if not dried quickly, says Clemson Cooperative Extension Service.”

The Taste of Summer

The Sting…The Burn…Those Pesky Fire Ants!!

Save the Bees – What you can do to help.

Honey bees, bumblebees, and other bees are disappearing at alarming rates, and they need your help!

How can you help?

Did you know?

Save the Flutter of Orange & Black

Creating a Backyard Garden You Love

Inviting Birds to Your Garden

Here are just a few of the many products you can find in our Wildlife Room in the Gift Shoppe at Wingard’s Market.

Plan to make this year’s vegetable garden the best one ever!

Top Fall Produce Picks

Best Time to Plant a Tree

A tree planted in the fall has a better-established root system by spring

Lawn Care for Warm Season Grasses

The climate in Central SC is perfect for the most popular warm season grasses

Simple Guide to Composting

Simple compost only requires three ingredients

Rewards Club Membership

Wingard’s Market