Help! Plant Markers ID Tags/Lables

Lookin for a source for ID tags/Lables metal or copper, one that will LAST!
Or any homemade ideas you can share! I have tried using metal flashing cut
into tag stirps and using the dermel to carve the name. That will work, just have to get my reading class!! LOL! Would just like to see what clever ideas are out there!

Happy Gardening
Donna

I've found it easier to just buy zinc markers from www.everlastlabel.com. I have 1000's of plants and don't have time to make that many labels.

For temp. labels, I use cut up mini blinds. I prefer the metal ones to the plastic ones which will break during winter.

I bought a Brother Ptouch labelmaker and make permanent laminated labels for the markers. They have lasted 3 years so far.

I also purchase those wraparound vinyl plant tags that you see on bushes and trees at a nursery. I label them too and bury one with each plant. So the plant is double tagged--a wraparound in the hole with the roots and a zinc marker above the ground. If I lose the zinc marker, I can dig up the plant and see who it is.

Thanks for info ButterflyChaser!

i buy a package of 100 icecreame sticks from local craft store for 1.00 then i write on them using either a pen or market and then i coat it with clear nail polish. nothing seems to effect it. the piecei stick into the ground is not coated.

My backyard has been designated a Natural Backyard Habitat by the National Wildlife Assoc. Because I have the gardens edged with cedar shingles, Iand in keeping with this design, I use flat rocks and green acrylic (sp.) paint to label my plants. If the name is too long for a flat rock, such as Oakleaf Hydrangea, I paint it on split firewood.

kyjoy-please post some photos.

Yes kyjoy please do post pictures!

Herbie43, that cool idea, I'll try nail polish on a few other items also Like metal flashing cut into small strips!

Thank Yall,
Donna V

I will post pictures as soon as I figure out how to do it. So far nothing I've tried works.

kyjoy

Here is how to post.
Open your photos on the screen or put the one you want to send onto the desktop.
Write your note here and then click on Browse at the end of your message.
Your photos will come up. Choose the one you want and then click open. It should put the link to the image on your message. Then send it.

If that isn't clear I will try another post.

I use ceramic tiles...they are inexpensive... and just glue garden staples on the back. I used wire coat hangers before I found the garden staples. I have used 4" tiles cut in half and 2" tiles. The 2" tiles come 36 attached together and you have to pull them apart but they only cost about $2.50.

They look great and take no time to make lots.

pinkpoddlegirl,

Do u use a china marker as you pen?

pinkpoodlegirl......can we have a photo of what you're using. I'm not quite seeing how you glue the tile to a garden staple. Sounds like a great idea.

Marie,

There is a photo on the hosta forum of the markers I sent with a hosta swap. Those are the 4" tiles cut in half...they will do that for you at Lowes. I used gorilla glue on the back. You wet the tile first and the glue expands. I used a wire coat hanger on those so they are longer than the garden staples (which you can get at walmart for under $4 for 40).

I used a garden marker to write on the tiles. A sharpie tends to fade. The garden marker is a paint pen.

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/595808/

Here is the link to the hosta forum. You will have to scroll down pretty far to see the pic.

Brenda~

Brenda,
Those are the nicest homemade garden markers I've ever seen! They look so professional. Very classy, great job! I'll be making some soon.

Other than saving your hands, did you notice a big difference between using the coat hangers and the staples you bought? Do you ever coat them with any kind of sealer?

I use a marker that's used for marking pig's and cow's ears for all of my labels. I got it at a Tractor Supply Store. It was about $5, came w/ two different tips and is still in great condition after a year of much use. All the mini blind tags I wrote out last year still look like the day I made them, no fading at all.


What about crossing a few of these ideas? Brenda's basic tag idea, crossed w/ Kyjoy's acrylic painting...just paint on the tiles. If you wanted to seal them maybe you could use an acrylic spray sealer...or even a clear spray paint (as they call it now).

Great ideas, thanks for sharing!
Heather

Heather,

I haven't noticed any difference in the garden staples vs wire hangers. I had to rewrite some tags I had written last year and the hanger was in as good of shape as when I first put it in. They were the more heavy duty hanger not the thin white ones you sometimes get. The staples are the perfect size for the 2" tiles. I think I will make the 2" tiles since they are smaller and look better if you have a lot of plants in a bed.

I would like to paint on the tiles. I have some books on one stroke painting and all the brushes but haven't had time to really devote to practicing. I do sometimes paint a simple border.

Brenda~

Painting letters, doing scrollwork or lining with a thin liner brush is much easier when using acrylic paint if you add at least a few drops of water to it. The closer the paint is to the consistency of ink the easier it is to work with and your brush won't dry out in the middle of a letter, vine or line. Hope that little tip helps anyone who may give it a go.

I also like to practice on paper first.

Pick your favorite font and print it out till you get your plant name the correct size for your tile. Then use transfer paper (carbon paper) to apply it to the tile. Just draw a line down the center of the letters if it's a very wide font unless you plan on filling them in w/ paint. That'll make it much, much easier to keep your work looking nice and neat. You can also do this for the marker method.

Thanks Brenda!! I'll be raiding my brother's stash of heavy duty wire hangers. He gets them free from a clothes cleaning place...he uses them as welding rods.

Brenda,

Thanks for the link to your photo. Now I get it......and the gorilla glue makes perfect sense. That is great stuff! I don't have a Lowe's or Home Depot near me.....but we've got a couple of great Menards. (The very first Menards was about 30 miles from me.) Since I seem to be in there on a regular basis, I'll have to look at the tiles next time. Actually, I may have some of the little one inch variety up in the attic from when we redid two bathrooms. I'll have to see if they have any potential.....perhaps with my mini hostas.

Marie

One and all. There is a china paint called Porcelaine by 'Pebeo' that I have purchased at Michael's. You can paint it on the tiles, let it dry 24 hrs and then bake in your kitchen oven for 35 min at 300º. It is extremely hardy, although I have never tried it in the garden I might just do that.

We have a re-use center that sells left over or used building materials and they have piles of tiles. I might just go get some and try it.

I looked on there web site and there they list a 'ceramic' ,but I don't see the Porcelaine. It seems like basically the same thing. They also have a link to find out where to buy it.

http://www.pebeo.com/us/index.htm

Pauline

I think I know what you're talking about. I've never used it before either. I think other companies make the same type of product and it can probably be found at other places like Jo-Ann's or Wal-Mart too.

It sounds like a much more permanent type of paint. What a great idea! I'm sure any kind of paint we'd get would go a long way, so it'd be worth the cost to have something that's going to hold up for years and years and look great.

If you try it please, please send us pics!

I was just wondering if it would be possible to use a Dremel stylus tool on ceramic.....or would the tiles break? I was imagining using a dark glazed tile, engraving out the plant name, and having a resulting light lettering that would be permanent. Maybe seal it with something so that the underlying ceramic wouldn't discolor.

Feel free to shoot this down.....I really know nothing about ceramics....and I don't have a Dremel Stylus either.....yet.

Marie

Marie, I think that would work great. I think it would take some practice, so if it doesn't come out perfect the first few times don't give up. I think you have a great idea. I also think they'd be gorgeous and worth some $...think eBay, craft & plant sales, selling at local nurseries, etc. (just an idea that you can shoot down back!!)

I've used a Dremel stylus type thing a lot...but I can't remember what they are called. They are nice to use. Just make sure you get the right tips when you get the tool. There are also "generic" ones w/ other names than Dremel that work just as well and may not carry the same price tag, so check them out...maybe Craftsman, etc.

You may have to keep the tile wet while you're engraving it, but that's not as big of a deal as it sounds. Just put it in a shallow dish of some type...maybe an old pie plate or something. Ceramic is very hard and can heat up when it's cut or engraved, water will help keep it cool. Also, it can put off a LOT of dust, the water will keep the dust down. It depends on what type of tile it is and the glaze too, I think. Do a google search on engraving or cutting ceramic and you'll find lots of info.

One other thing...once you get your Dremel stylus you won't be able to put it down. Get as many tips as you can, for as many different materials as you can...you'll use them!! Wear safety glasses too, please. (I'm a stickler for that.) You're going to have a blast!!

Marie, let us know how it goes with the Dremel tool. I am going to try the oven bake china paint I know that that works well. I have used a Dremelremel to grind glaze off of the bottom of a pot and it does get hot.

f if I get away from this computer like I just told Marie I was going to.

Pauline

LOL Pauline! Tell me about it! Every time I go to leave to do something I hit the "return to home page" link and there's a new post that I just HAVE to check. LOL! It's so hard.

Next time I have to close the site and just get up and go!

Thanks so much for the encouragement. Since I have only an idea and no equipment it may take some time before I get around to it. Great idea on the water and of course goggles. Seems like a good thing to do while sitting on the deck. I certainly don't need anything else adding to the mess in my house.

I was sure that there must be some reason that my idea wouldn't work, especially since I really have no working knowledge of ceramics. This could be pretty exciting! Things good exciting the next time I go into Menards!

Marie