What do *you* use for plant tags? Suggestions please??

Will the Sharpee pen still be readable after a few years? In my desert sun a regular Marks-a-lot doesn't hold up well, fades to yellow after a year or two. We had something for cattle ear tags, it also faded. Milk jugs are good here only for 1 season, then the plastic breaks down and shatters. Yogurt container tags are better. I need to go to metal I think, but what do you use to write on it?

I used the popcicle sticks, but they soak up water and become unreadable and eventually rot. I have used the window blinds, but they became brittle and broke off. I haven't tried the milk jugs before, but am cutting them in half this year and using bottom for starting plants and top for putting over plants so I can set them out just a bit earlier. The yogurt cups work really well for individual pots to start plants in that I probably won't be using them either. I was thinking that I would order a bunch, but haven't decided which type to get. Love the look of the metal ones, but they are so expensive. If I can talk my brother into letting me cut them on his laser, I might just cut several hundred and buy one of those carbide pens (or whatever they are) to write on them. I can cut really thin (24 ga or 22 ga) stainless steel fairly cheep (I think). I happen to be his production manager, so I might just slip them into production. I'm glad I had this chance to think this out. My mind is now made up. Sorry about the rambling. Mick

For marking on metal, you could get a tool called an "Automatic Center Punch" It is designed to make a small dimple in metal for drilling.

But if you pencil in a name on metal, Then make a bunch of dimples on your lines, It should last your lifetime


Byron

I have just gotten a catalogue and price list from the "Paw Paw Everlast Label Company" (everlastlabel.com). They have their own special markers for permanance. A little spendy, but seem very worthwhile, especially for the non-botanically educated wanting markers for perennials.

My mom has always used metal tags for her vegetable garden. First year she used pencil, I think. That didn't hold up well at all. Then she got some sort of charcoal-type pencil which lasts without fading since she began using it. Probably could find one at an art store or perhaps at a garden center.

Mike

WOW! Thank you for all of your suggestions and posts!! Appreciate you sharing your personal experiences... I used to buy the metal stakes but dont ship them with trades for identification purposes!!! Too expensive!! and this year... my goal is to be a frugal gardener!!!

I just received some plants and she used styrofoam. From styrofoam cups? cut in strips. So ventured my hand with it... but I used the trays that you pick up from produce or meat department. They do not hold permanent marker! A little bothersome to repeat your writing with ballpoint before it actually writes legibly.

The vinyl siding idea is great!! (especially since my husband owns a construction co!!) Think Ill make a trip to the jobsite today!!! THANKS CHOOCH!!

The blinds would probably be efficient for shipping purposes. They all break sooner or later, and I know Ive thrown away my fair share of them!!! (Think Ill keep em out of my garden though)

Great ideas!! Gonna go check out that thread Dave linked for us/me (THANKS DAVE!!) And hats off for your wonderful site! ;}

I'm trying styrafoam cut into strips this year. I figure that even if the writing fades (I'm using ball point pens) the styrafoam indents where you write so I should still be able to read it. Better to find use for the styrafoam I get when I buy meat etc. then to fill up the land fills.

Something the mrs. came up with: Cut open alum. pop cans & straighten them out. Write on them with any old ball point pen. This will emboss the alum. making a perm. label

I just use one of those paint pens to write with. It has lasted 2+ years so far and no signs of fading

laura

For a short term marker, I used popscile stick and went over the writing with clear nail polish (unneeded now that I garden..The Sharpie pen I used faded after one WI Season. I checked in my craft store and the one I got (Faber?) -the printing sticks around. Also cut up milk jugs up from the bottom, then there is a horizontal piece to make it harder for the dogs to nock it out of place.

I've been using blinds and marking with a sharpee
seem to work well

Chopsticks! I use them in the garden; maybe you can cut them down to go in with your shipping. Some grocery stores have them or you can buy them very cheaply from Asian restaurants