I know many of you keep records on your trees, how do you do this? Do you use a journal, spreadsheet, database, computer program, etc? I made a spreadsheet earlier this year, one page for each cultivar, and while it works ok, I'm wondering if there is anything better out there. Please share what you use, or what you've found works well for you. Thanks!! Andrea
Hi Andrea, I tried building a database using open source tools (too cheap to buy anything!) but found I was constantly wanting to add to the base records, which was very awkward. So I currently keep everything related to the maple collection in a spreadsheet, which has endless columns for acquisition date, transplant date, prune date, plant date, fertilize date, etc etc. Basically any time I have new info I just add more columns! The rest of the garden list still lives in a text file, though... It would probably be more reliable to get a "garden book", frankly. cheers, -E
I keep records of my maples in my head but I am at the limit of how many trees I can keep track of, so am looking for something more permanent. It is interesting that the spreadsheet format has been recommended so far, as I know how to work with spreadsheets, and this might suit my needs.
Emery, any chance you might be willing to post screen shots of your spreadsheet? I'm just curious how you have things organized and laid out. I've attached a shot of mine; fairly basic, but (so far) it covers the basics and 'need to know' info on each particular tree - one page in the workbook for each plant; I'll start a new workbook for next year. So much of what I've found is for more general garden records, or landscape maintenance, instead of more plant-focused like what I am looking for. Once I get some of my trees, etc, into the ground next year (working on creating and prepping the new bed this winter), I will definitely want to keep track of this info too, such as soil amendments, weather conditions, etc. I found a couple of, what seem to be fairly comprehensive, alternatives to how I am recording things thus far. First is a hard-copy format that I am quite intrigued with, called the Garden Scribe http://www.gardenscribe.com/order_page.htm. Seems to be quite good, covering a lot of the more detailed aspects for each plant that I would want to keep track of than what most journals do. The second is actually a database, http://www.hmk.on.ca/gms.html, and while they have screen shots, they're not the greatest so I have emailed them for more extensive and detailed shots so I can determine if this is what I'm looking for. The price isn't bad either... I did come across two other pieces of software, the first may work out but they have no screen shots of the product, though they do offer a free trial, so I may download it to see what it's like http://www.primasoft.com/deluxeprg/goodx.htm. Price is a little higher than I'd like, so it'd better be a d**n good piece of software for me to put out $75. The second does have a few reviews here and there on other gardening, etc, sites, and it seems fairly comprehensive, but the last time it was revised/updated was in 2009 http://www.gardeners-shop.com/GardenersJournal/index.html. Makes me a little hesitant to give it a try...
Well, for what it's worth -- which is clearly not much! -- here's what I work with. Yours is clearly much better, my comments just keep filling up the cell at the end...