Easiest way to label?

How do most of you label your plants? I'm soon realizing that since I'm starting from scratch, there's a good possibility that most things won't flower right away.. That means next year I could have a bunch of "I don't know what that is" plants. :)

How do I label the plants so they survive the winter moisture, and still be able to read the label next year?

TIA,
-Jennifer

That's always a good question, and has been discussed many times here on DG. If you do a "Search the Forums" for plant markers, you should find a few of the earlier discussions.

I thought soft copper tags impressed with the info would work, and made many during one summer. Still hard to read, if at all, as they bend, curl, and darken (if they don't get lost). Info. printied with magic markers fade regardless of substrate. Soft lead pencils on both sides seems to work better.

Next time, I am going to simply make a drawing of each bed or planting area and label each plant on the drawing. Despite my best efforts, I always have a few things that remain a mystery after a year or two.

I use Eon Metal markers:

www.eonindustries.com

I use Rose Marker "C" for all of my iris and daylilies. They're fairly inexpensive. The nice thing about them, is you can get replacement face plates so you can reuse the wire part.

IndaShade, I have some of those as well. My problem is the writing fades, regardless of type of marker. Maybe I just haven't found the right marker, LOL!

Get yourself a black paint pen like the hobbiest's use for making model cars. Works like a charm. :-)

I use the flat-handled plastic forks and I use a china marker, aka a grease pencil...

I am still using the cut up mini blinds with a paint pen. No problems with them what so ever. I also have a chart of everything I plant just in case.....

I have used the zinc markers for years but they don't last long enough using the pencil that is provided with them.


This message was edited Sunday, Aug 31st 10:55 AM

I have a chart of my garden, since this is how I planned it before I built it, with each plant named on the chart. I also have them marked with mini-blind markers, with the info on the front, the back and at the bottom (in the ground) I used a black sharpie and I've been told it will fade, but I hope it'll last (at the bottom anyway), until I get my zinc markers from the co-op, which I intend to engrave. If that doesn't work, I don't know what will.

Cheri'

I use cut up mini blinds also. I used a black sharpie and they faded very quickly. I replace them using a paint marker and then painted over it with some clear Patio Paint.

I use miniblinds also with the "Garden Marker". That marker easily found now at Home Depot and Lowes and such, lasts a good two years. I have often thought about using something like a solder gun/wood burning tool/dremel with a narrow tip to melt out the letters or burn them onto something. I am still thinking about that one but have not tried it yet.

Badseed, I'm planning to use one of those vibrating engraving things (about $25, you know the ones ...) to engrave the zinc markers. I never thought about wood burning! gah! [smacks self on forehead] I think DD left a set around here somewhere ...

Cheri'

Cool idea Cheri! I have not tried the above ideas YET! Wood would still have to be stained or sealed or something but is fun to think up the ideas. LOL I still have a bunch of mini blind slats but they are finally starting to dwindle down. :)

The wood would have to be sealed, this is true. Still, I could prolly do a neater job with wood burning than the engraver. I'm just going to have to try both. =)

Mini blind slats are not a problem, I can usually pick up old mini blinds at thrift stores for a buck or so. If I can find DD's old wood burning set, I might try burning into the mini blinds. I don't think the smell is going to be pleasant ... LOL

Cheri'

Hmmm... mini blinds and a paint pen .... Hmmm... I like that idea.. cheap, easy, and both parts should be easy to find.

Thanks! :)

I buy my mini blinds at garage sales. Often you will find them beside their garbage cans for the trash man because they don't think anyone would want them. Cut them at an angle so they will stick down in the ground ok. I even take some and make tags out of them by making a hole and then tying them on the shrub or whatever if the ground is prone to be disturbed a lot.

Be careful using wood unless it's been treated to last in the ground. I started out using wood stakes and they rotted in the ground. But then I was using pine, poplar, oak, etc. If you use cedar or pressure treated, they might do ok. I use the mini-blinds now. I buy them at Freds or dollar store or Odd Lots for 3 bucks.

I too use the chart when things get too much. Some places, I use plastic board cut up into little strips and I write on it with the crayon - works pretty well though it does not look attractive. Using paint is the best, but to me, it is cumbersome. I have found that the 'permanent' markers are not permanent - they fade rather too quickly. I have to try those glass marking pencils the next time round. I have used cut up strips from a PET water bottle as markers. Junk blinds are not at all available here.

Look for sales and buy those tiny clay pots and mark on them with paint, and to secure them by just running a stick or dowel down through the opening of the clay pot and stick into the ground. Alot of times Hobby Lobby will have a sale on their clay pots and I buy up a bunch of em. Or check with your craft stores in your area. Check at resale shops as well; they all don't have to be the smaller clay pots; I use what I can find and what is available. You can even decorate the pots; painting differnt colors to match the colors of what your flowers will be on your plants to add just alittle something to your beds.
If you find some of the smaller pots without the drainage hole; just drill a small hole and insert a stick or dowel.

CoCo that's such a great idea, thanks.

I bet those little, tiny ones would be cute, cute, cute!! Do you think they would crack in the colder zones? I love those itty bitty ones and I am thinking they can be found around here for about 10 cents. I may not use them for every plant, but maybe for the special ones like iris and daylily. :)

Now, you don't have to have all your little clay pots at ground level; cut your desired length of dowel, glue one end inside of the pot and then insert the other end in the ground, that way you will have little claypot markers at different hights in your garden and flower beds and what added color it brings during the winter month when nothing is in bloom.
I have even made some and glued those tiny birdhouses on top of some pots or little watering cans, or whatever. They really do make cute little plant markers. Using different sizes of clay post is cute as well.
If you decide to paint,just be sure to put a couple coats of clear seal on them and then let them set for at least 72 hours for them to 'cure' before exposing to weather conditions.

5 inch black labels so the garden doesnt look like a plant graveyard written on with very fine silver paint pen.

A tip from Jane (ex DG) always put your label on the north side (or east, west, south) so you can always find it.

Sharpie ink isnt permanent!!

That is funny Mark. I say the garden looks like a little graveyard in the winter! LOL Where do you get black markers/labels?

I hate seeing cut up yoghurt pots in a garden/pot. For all a label costs. Blacks labels cost me 3p/4.5c each.

Some friends and I are now labelling our plants with a number on a 8 inch black labels, pushed 7 inches into the ground, and then keeping a record on the computer what it refers to.

Another friend (92 years) a retired head master has his whole garden in a book laid out in a grid including all large rocks and trees. Every new plant is added and when asked what a plant is he looks up the book.

The number thing is really cool and I could see how the garden would look much more classy and clean. The only problem I see is someone asking what it is and me having to go find the book. :) I know 99% of my plants in common and correct names but I know I would forget the one someone wanted to know.

I have sort of started the grid thing myself. I bought poster board with the 'ghosted' grid lines and mapped out my whole property on it then laid out all the gardens. I am going back and adding in plants as I have time. It sure took some time to get the house and all the beds on there with correct measurements and oriented as well.

Where would you find the black labels?

On the net I can only find black labels available over here in the UK. I can get some and mail them to you but you need to buy 100 at a time. I'll take 100 of mine to the post office and see how much the postage will be.