Benner's Gardens Blog

Ohio State University South Centers "Managing Deer Damage"

lauren@bennersgardens.com (Benners Gardens) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:06:00 +0000

On November 19th, 2009, I travelled to Piketon, Ohio for the Ohio State University South Centers "Managing Deer Damage" Workshop. Check out this link for pictures and info!http://tinyurl.com/yfefv6a
Hungry local deer are a HUGE problem for the local growers, farms, orchards, nurseries and even homeowners! Residents explained to me how stricter hunting laws have enabled the local deer to run rampant through their crops, leaving destruction in their wake! A few of the growers have just about given up on certian crops saying that it's just too expensive and frustrating to keep planting the same things year after year only to have them eaten by deer! One Ohio man told the workshop that for the past 5 years he has planted a large hill on his property with apple trees. And every year the deer destroy them! "This year" the man sighs "I've given up. It's just not worth the trouble and expense anymore. Deer are getting in the way of our livihood!"
It was eye-opening to be a part of this workshop...I loved talking to the local growers and showing them the various solutions that Benner's Gardens and Pet and Wildlife Solutions can offer them! They were very welcoming and interested!

ArborFest 2009

lauren@bennersgardens.com (Benners Gardens) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:31:00 +0000

Back in October, my coworker and I travelled to Boise, Virginia for an outdoor tradeshow. Located on the Blandy Experimental Farm/ State Arboretum of Virginia in Boyce, VA, this outdoor show featured local nurseries, orchards and growers both local to Virgina and from all across the US. It was a great opportunity for Benner's Gardens and we loved being a part of the

two-day event! Everyone was so welcoming and excited to learn about our deer and dog fence products and discover how they could implement them into their own deer prevention and deterrant strategies arount their farms. Despite the fact that it was rainy and windy the first day, ArborFest 2009 turned out to be a fabulous opportunity and we can't wait to return next year!

Protect your Gardens from Deer this Winter!!!!

lauren@bennersgardens.com (Benners Gardens) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:49:00 +0000

When the frosty kiss of Autumn
in the dark
Makes its mark
On the flowers, and the misty morning grieves
Over fallen leaves;
Then my olden garden, where the golden soil
Through the toil
Of a hundred years is mellow, rich, and deep,
Whispers in its sleep.
-Henry Van Dyke

No one can deny that autumn is definitely in full swing now. There is a definite crispness in the air and the trees are beginning to don their regal colors. As the thought of winter takes its place in the back of every gardener’s mind, it is time to think about how you will prepare your garden beds for winter. If you are worried about hungry local deer eating your dormant plants and flowers, take heart! There is a solution. Benner’s Gardens Temporary Winter Protection Kit is on sale now! Dubbed our “Victory Garden Kit”, it is complete with everything that you need to protect your landscape during the winter months. Then, when spring arrives, all you have to do is slide the posts out of the sleeve and roll the deer fence up! It’s that simple! Call today for more info…or click on the link below!
http://www.bennersgardens.com/seasonal-bed-protection.asp

Brand NEW website!!!!

lauren@bennersgardens.com (Benners Gardens) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:57:00 +0000

Good Morning!
Happy Labor Day....Hope your holiday was spectacular! So...we at Benner's Gardens and Best Friend Fence now have brand new websites!!!!!!! Exciting isnt it? Also, within this week, we will also be incorporating LIVECHAT into our design! This way we will have a Benner's Gardens Representative on hand to answer all of your questions:) Customer Service is our TOP priority and we want to make sure that we are meeting all our your needs! Let us know how we are doing! And please, I would love to hear your comments and concerns about our brand new website! email me Lauren@bennersgardens.com or leave your comments on this blog:)

Gardens through Time

lauren@bennersgardens.com (Benners Gardens) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:27:00 +0000

Garden. What comes to mind when you read that word? Is it a sense of peace and tranquility that is emitted from a garden’s nurturing atmosphere? Or is it a rush of self accomplishment and feeling of self-reliance that one feels from the personal productivity of creating one? Gardens have been around for centuries, and, whatever passions that the word evokes on a personal level, on a historic level the purposes surrounding gardens are vast. The primary focus of a garden is to be productive on some level. Yet, simultaneously, gardens should be visually appealing as well.

Ancient Egyptians planted fruit and vegetable gardens as a sign of wealth and prosperity. They would use the produce that they grew in their sacrificial processions and ceremonial festivals.

In medieval times, gardens were used as a primary food source. They also served medicinal purposes as well. Monks played a huge role in discovering newer, better varieties of seeds and worked to find different planting and nurturing methods as well. This experimentation continued through the years and still continues to this day.

All of our early presidents placed a great emphasis on the importance of gardening and they worked to introduce the concept of self-sufficiency. First Lady Michelle Obama continues with this tradition. Join the trend today! Benner's Gardens is here to help:)

PANTS 2009! a HUGE success:)

lauren@bennersgardens.com (Benners Gardens) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:08:00 +0000

Benner's Gardens and Deer Fencers sends out a HUGE thankyou to those of you out there that made the PANTS tradeshow such a giant success! Best of luck to all of you landscapers, garden centers, nurseries and homeowners that are supporters of the Benner's Gardens fence systems and accessories! Your support for us, the originators of deer fence and the deer fence system, is what makes us who we are. So THANKYOU! We look forward to a fantastic end of 2009 and an even more fantastic 2010:)

PANTS 2009!

lauren@bennersgardens.com (Benners Gardens) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:09:00 +0000

Benner's Gardens, Best Friend Fence, Deer Fencers and Paw Solutions are exhibiting at the PANTS tradeshow in Oaks, Pa. Located at the Oaks Convention Center, this show runs from 9am-5pm July 28th through the 30th! Come visit our booth #7075 at any time during these 3 days to speak to one of our deer deterrent experts! We look forward to seeing you:)

lauren@bennersgardens.com (Benners Gardens) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:30:00 +0000

Hey Check out this BLOG!
http://blogs.dogtime.com/secret-shopper-pet-product-reviews/2009/07/benners-best-friend-fence
Best Friend Fence is gaining positive feedback every place it is installed! The Best part about our Best Friend Fence is that it is environmentally safe and does not require electricity to keep your dog safely contained. If you would like to learn more call today 1-800-753-4880 or check out our Best Friend Fence website www.bestfriendfence.com

No Time for Lyme (Disease)

lauren@bennersgardens.com (Benners Gardens) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:05:00 +0000

Lyme disease, or borreliosis, is the most common tick-borne illness in North America. Contracted by humans, lyme disease is well documented and relatively easy to treat.
For dogs, however, the situation is a little more complicated. Dogs are at greater risk as they may carry ticks that aren’t as easily detected – a dog’s fur can allow ticks to remain hidden. A dog which has contracted lyme disease may exhibit symptoms ranging from soreness to depression and loss of appetite. High fevers are also common. If left untreated, lyme disease in dogs can be fatal.
Stopping ticks from entering your property is the goal, because although a dog carrying the disease cannot directly pass it to a human host, your pet could potentially bring ticks that can into your home.
The best way to keep ticks out is to install a fence that will work to keep animal carriers, such as deer and rodents, out. By keeping wildlife carriers off of your property, you can also reduce the damage done to your garden or plants. A physical barrier will also allow your pet to run free in an area you specify.
Specialized tick and “electric” collars may keep your dog in the yard. The problem, however, comes from the animal trespassers that carry ticks into the area. A sturdy fence is clearly the best way to stop the problem before it starts.
Healthy pets and untouched plants are worth the effort. -Max Barth

The resident deer, wildlife and dog protection experts!

lauren@bennersgardens.com (Benners Gardens) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:54:00 +0000

We at Benner's Gardens, love when our customers call us with questions! These questions range from how to put up a deer or dog fence the best possible way, to questions about keeping deer, rodents and other wildlife from eating valuable plants and vegetables. We pride ourselves with keeping up with current research and ideas in our field so that we can best answer and inform our customers. This summer, we have an intern on board, Max, who is focusing on just that...research! As he goes about his daily duties, we are constantly being amazed at the wealth of infomation on deer, dogs, gardening and other topics that is out there just waiting to be utilized and we can't wait to share it with you! Stay tuned to share in our constant learning experince.

Rabbits....keep out!

lauren@bennersgardens.com (Benners Gardens) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:54:00 +0000

This year, as gardens begin to spring up everywhere, the bunnies are feasting and flourishing. Gardens are swiftly becoming destroyed faster than they can grow. Just when your hopes of having a beautiful, productive vegetable garden are disintegrating into thin air, take heart! There is a solution.

My dad owns an old farm near Lancaster County, Pa, and I have noticed that each year the rabbit population seems to be multiplying by the hundreds! This spring, my dad took the Benner's Gardens 2’ x 150’ Rabbit Groundhog Barrier and installed it like a fence around his vegetable garden. He used small wooded stakes as posts and attached the Rabbit Groundhog barrier to the posts with zip ties. He then staked the bottom row of the barrier into the ground so that the critters could not wriggle underneath. Since the erection of this “Rabbit Fence”, his produce yield has dramatically increased. Finally we, not the local bunnies, can enjoy our very own homegrown produce!

Benner's Gardens Deer Fence protects your Recession Garden!

lauren@bennersgardens.com (Benners Gardens) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:55:00 +0000

During WW2, as the effects of the War began to take its toll on the food and supplies on the Home Front, government inflicted rationing provoked people to look to their own self-sufficiency to discover ways to show their patriotism and contribute to the War effort. Inspired by the efforts of horticulturalist Charles Lathrop Pack who, in 1917, pioneered the concept of “War Gardens” to help the Home Front feed and support the Cause, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt decided to plant a sizeable garden on the White House lawn. She referred to her effort as a “Victory Garden” because she believed that, through community support and combined patriotic effort, the Home Front could help to “feed the troops to victory”. Her insight was proven true when by the end of WWII, in 1945, these community “Victory Gardens” were supplying 40% of the produce consumed in America!

Now, decades later, the same plot of land that was once tended by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, is now being dug up again by a White House First Lady. As Michelle Obama breaks ground and begins preparations for her own “Victory Garden”, history is again repeating itself as universal excitement for this endeavor is swiftly spreading. With the fluctuating economy as the primary motivation and the importance of healthy, sound nutrition coming in a close second, Americans are adapting the example of the our First Lady and scrambling to start “Victory Gardens” of their own, dubbing them with the modern name of “Recession Gardens”.

Within the past few months since the First Lady began here “Recession Garden” endeavor, hundreds of townships, organizations, schools, churches, and communities, have broken ground for community garden projects of their own. Most of these garden projects hope to donate the fruits of their labors to local food banks, the underemployed, and the unemployed.

As self-sufficiency and cooperation are quickly become the popular trends, Benners Gardens is getting caught up in the whirlwind as well. The recent influx of “Recession Gardens” has spurred a fear that these gardens, if not properly protected by the confines of a fence, will be hastily destroyed by hungry deer before they have time to prosper. Benners Gardens helps out this reputable cause by their willingness to discount and donate sizable quantities of fence to communities all across the United States!
During WW2, as the effects of the War began to take its toll on the food and supplies on the Home Front, government inflicted rationing provoked people to look to their own self-sufficiency to discover ways to show their patriotism and contribute to the War effort. Inspired by the efforts of horticulturalist Charles Lathrop Pack who, in 1917, pioneered the concept of “War Gardens” to help the Home Front feed and support the Cause, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt decided to plant a sizeable garden on the White House lawn. She referred to her effort as a “Victory Garden” because she believed that, through community support and combined patriotic effort, the Home Front could help to “feed the troops to victory”. Her insight was proven true when by the end of WWII, in 1945, these community “Victory Gardens” were supplying 40% of the produce consumed in America!

Now, decades later, the same plot of land that was once tended by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, is now being dug up again by a White House First Lady. As Michelle Obama breaks ground and begins preparations for her own “Victory Garden”, history is again repeating itself as universal excitement for this endeavor is swiftly spreading. With the fluctuating economy as the primary motivation and the importance of healthy, sound nutrition coming in a close second, Americans are adapting the example of the our First Lady and scrambling to start “Victory Gardens” of their own, dubbing them with the modern name of “Recession Gardens”.

Within the past few months since the First Lady began here “Recession Garden” endeavor, hundreds of townships, organizations, schools, churches, and communities, have broken ground for community garden projects of their own. Most of these garden projects hope to donate the fruits of their labors to local food banks, the underemployed, and the unemployed.

As self-sufficiency and cooperation are quickly become the popular trends, Benners Gardens is getting caught up in the whirlwind as well. The recent influx of “Recession Gardens” has spurred a fear that these gardens, if not properly protected by the confines of a fence, will be hastily destroyed by hungry deer before they have time to prosper. Benners Gardens helps out this reputable cause by their willingness to discount and donate sizable quantities of fence to communities all across the United States! Save money and help the environment by planting a recession garden today...just make sure to put a fence around it...deer love your fresh vegetables and fruits as much as you do!

Spring is on its way...Here Come the Deer!

lauren@bennersgardens.com (Benners Gardens) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:24:00 +0000

In recent years the deer population has exploded! A variety of factors can be attributed to this, but the most prominent one is the growth of suburban development. The Beautiful, well-tended landscapes and gardens that are enjoyed by the human population also provide the perfect food for neighborhood deer! With no apparent threat of predators to interrupt feeding, deer thrive off of the gardens and landscapes that we have so meticulously tended, leaving a graveyard of flora corpses in their wake.

As the winter snows melt into the fresh anticipation of spring, the deer are slowly beginning to revive themselves. Springtime is a time of relaxation and replenishment for a deer. After a long winter of nibbling on twigs and tree bark, deer now turn their insatiable appetite toward new shoots and buds. Besides the fact that they are greatly enjoyed by the deer, these richly nutritious buds and shoots help the deer to replenish their winter-weakened and, in the case of many does, pregnant, bodies. The combination of winter hunger and pregnancy create one very hungry deer so gardens, watch out!!!

lauren@bennersgardens.com (Benners Gardens) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:32:00 +0000

2009 holds great things for Benners Gardens!

For many, the transition from the old year to the new can be a harrowing event. Contracts are due for renewal, bills start piling up… even remembering to write the correct year can be a hassle. But for Benners Gardens and Deer Fencers, the New Year holds great promise and excitement! As of December 31, 2008, Deer Fencers, the professional fence installation company associated with Benners Gardens, launched their very own website. A dream long in the making has now become a reality and both Benners Gardens and Deer Fencers are extremely excited about the prospect that this website holds. When customers visit www.DeerFencers.com they can now view at the click of a mouse, many of the various jobs that Deer Fencers has accomplished. Beautiful aluminum fences and gates, weather-proof vinyl options, and custom wood designs are just a few of the projects that Deer Fencers has to offer. The website also shows a variety of deer fence styles that will keep your yard deer-free and your landscape protected. If Deer Fencers has installed fence on your property, I would love to hear your feedback! Or, even better, send me a picture of your fence:)

Our debut at a dog show!!

lauren@bennersgardens.com (Benners Gardens) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:18:00 +0000

On Saturday September 20th, 2008 my coworker Alison and I set up a booth promoting Benners Gardens and Best Friend Fence products at the Tails on the Trail hike in Warminster, Pa. This event, under the sponsorship of various companies and small businesses, is held annually to raise money for the Tails of the Tundra Siberian Husky Rescue, Inc. (a 501c3 non-profit rescue organization). Beautiful Siberian Huskies roamed around the park with their owners and participated in events like the sled dog demonstration and an ice cream eating contest in addition to the hike. Other breeds of dogs could also participate.
Not only was this the debut appearance of Benners Gardens and Best Friend Fence products at a canine event, but it was also my first time working our booth at an event. Set-up was a little tricky as our booth is made for indoor conditions, but once we accommodated for the winds that were dancing across the field, we were good to go. We received a fair amount of interest in our products and it was exciting to demonstrate how our fence works. We were also surprised that many of the dog owners were interested in the fact that not only does ourBest Friend Fence work as a dog enclosure, but it also is a proven method of keeping deer out!!! All in all we were satisfied with the results of the day and I look forward to doing more dog events!

A Deer Fencing Adventure

lauren@bennersgardens.com (Benners Gardens) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:23:00 +0000

On Wednesday, July 23rd I had the opportunity to go out into the field on a fence installation job with Deer Fencers. This expedition proved not only to be educational and enlightening, but it was also a lot of fun! The crew took the time to explain the components of the Benner’s Fencing system to me and then they patiently showed me the best, most efficient ways to install the fence. I learned how to unroll the fence correctly and how to fasten it most effectively to trees and posts so that you get the most service and invisibility out of it. I even got the chance to observe and attempt to help the crew construct gates and hang them.
A couple of things really fascinated me about the entire experience: The property itself was a fairly wooded, sloping terrain with a generous scattering of rocks and debris. I assumed that it would be a more difficult task to install the Benner’s fence with all of these inhibiting factors taken into account, but as the job got underway I quickly realized that the only that the only difficulty was that the slope and the rocks made it hard for me to keep my footing. The fence went up swiftly and effectively and the guys got a kick out of me falling all over the place:) Thus the challenge of installing the fence within the parameters of this property proved instead to be a stepping stone on the way to creating a beautiful finished result. We fastened the fence to some of the trees instead of using posts and this tactic created such natural look that I couldn’t even see the fence when I stood from a short distance away. The only thing that gave a hint to the existence of the fence was the small white streamers dancing in the breeze. Another thing that surprised me about the fence was how easy it was to install. Once I understood how the system worked and went together, I was installing the fence right along with the guys. I can now confidently say that I could install Benner’s fence again if I had to- it was actually really fun to put up and I liked the fact that the results were instantaneous!

And the thread begins!!!

lauren@bennersgardens.com (Benners Gardens) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:32:00 +0000

GREETINGS TO ALL!!
My name is Lauren Gallagher, and, as a recent graduate from Neumann College and the latest edition to the Benner's Gardens team, my interest and excitement about this company is constantly growing! I have spent the past couple of weeks learning about the logistics of the company and trying to grasp a basic understanding of our products. I have also devoted some time to conducting some research methods on our competition so that I not only have a better understanding of what is out there, but so I can also find potential new ways to reach out to our customers. It's a tedious task, but simultaneously very interesting and rewarding.
New Projects!
Some exciting projects are in the works now- we have a company newsletter that, in the very recent future, will be accessible both online and in print. Edited and design by yours truly, I welcome any comments, concerns, or submissions that you might have!!!! Basically, as you will soon be able to peruse for yourself, this newsletter is a lightly educational way to get a glimpse into the world of deer, dogs, fencing, and anything else that might be of interest. It was so much fun to create and I hope you all get the same degree of enjoyment out of reading it! There is even a coupon for Benner's Fence included:) Please don't hesitate to let me know how you feel about the publication- or anything else that is going on with our company or related fields. I am incredibly interested in what you all think!
Another neat little project that I have been working on with our commercial sales director, Betsy Seitchik, is a sort of outreach to landscapers, nurseries and societies specializing in native plants. Pennsylvania, along with the rest of the United States, is a wealth of natural resources. It would be a rewarding experience to be able offer help preserving our beautiful land in any way possible. At this point in time, we are tossing around thoughts on how we can help this cause- whether it be through the sale of our fence or other ideas. What do you think? Here's your chance...let me know! haha