Plant labels

#1
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12/31/06 at 8:29am
  • Joined: September 2004
  • Location: Texas--hot zone!
  • Post Count: 5,834
I bought a garden book yesterday and it had a very good solution to plant names on labels fading or washing away. It suggested getting the large craft sticks (like popsycle sticks but bigger) and use a wood burner to burn the names on. You can burn them deep enough that the words can't fade. I'm going to try it this year as most of my labels are unreadable now and I've lost the name of a lot of my plants. I'm going to see if I can find some cedar or redwood that I can make small stakes out of so they last longer. I'll post a pic when I make them.

Linda Texas, hot zone, 7/8
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#2
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12/31/06 at 8:39am
  • Joined: September 2003
  • Location: Quad Cities Zone 5
  • Post Count: 28,673
That's a creative idea.

I use Paint markers from Walmart craft department. Black Elmers Painters (fine) to be exact and I haven't had any fading. some of my markers are over 6 years old.
boo
Live well, laugh hard and dig up your yard.
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#3
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12/31/06 at 9:49am
  • Joined: October 2004
  • Location: Warren,OH
  • Post Count: 3,515
You can use some model paint or finger nail polish as well. ( onlything,you might need to re-paint after awhile )
-----
cool tip mla2ofus



Phil
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#4
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12/31/06 at 10:08am
  • Joined: March 2005
  • Location: BC Canada
  • Post Count: 9,693
I use those popsicle sticks. I cut them in half and write on them. They don't fade for quite some time. I get them from the dollar store... a buck for 100 (cut in 2 = 200).

I'm in zone 8 Vancouver Island BC

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#5
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1/1/07 at 6:02am
  • Joined: September 2003
  • Location: Port Huron, Michigan- zone 5-6
  • Post Count: 20,476
My bosses wife gave me a bundle of old disposable plastic knives and says that's what she used for markers, along with a good magic marker of course, but I've not tried them , since I still have lots of very nice metal ones a very kind person sent me last year.

"A Rose by any other name...is still a "thorny" issue".

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#6
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1/1/07 at 6:12am
  • Joined: January 2004
  • Location: Canadohta Lake Pennsylvania
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I wish I would have used markers years ago. I have many plants I can't name anymore. I have about eight Sedums I have no idea what the name is. I use Venitian blind slats to mark my greenhouse plants and seedlings and that works well.

A person who says it can't be done
shouldn't be watching the
person that's doing it.
Dony
N W Pennsylvanias Snow Belt

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#7
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1/1/07 at 7:28am
  • Joined: May 2006
  • Location: Adirondacks
  • Post Count: 5,821
you all have good ideas...Dandy, I'm on the popsicle stick idea! I'm getting some next time I'm out!
Gardening is a matter of your enthusiasm holding up until your back gets used to it.

Natalie - Zone 5

 
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#8
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1/2/07 at 5:31am
  • Joined: October 2003
  • Location: Oceanside CA z10
  • Post Count: 1,480
I carve the names right onto the plant!

hell hath no fury like a cactus thorned.
 

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#9
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1/2/07 at 7:11am
  • Joined: November 2003
  • Location: portage IN
  • Post Count: 7,264
the problem with the craft sticks it you are using them in seed sowing is that they get mouldy!

I'm so excited that it is summer, I wet my plants.

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#10
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1/2/07 at 8:22am
  • Joined: November 2006
  • Location: Jemison, Alabama ~~ Chilton County
  • Post Count: 31
I use the fat popcycle sticks already....
but I write names on with pen {little pressure..carves}
then go over with a fine tip sharpie.
The plastic knives work great also.
Tink62

Light and Love
Make everything grow ~~
Tink62

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#11
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1/2/07 at 3:54pm
  • Joined: January 2004
  • Location: Pea Ridge, Arkansas
  • Post Count: 741
I guess I've tried about everything and all have drawbacks.
DonyBee, I've been using the blind slats and had good luck to a
point. Writing fades.
Trying something new this year. I bought 2 pens from Parks Seeds.
"Nursery Marking Pens". as the legend says --"sunproof, waterproof,
permanent. Good on plastic or wood".
Well, we will see! Let you all know later.

But I do know that nothing is more frustrating than marking your
plants, bulbs, etc. and then not being able to know what they are
come spring. Drives me crazy.

Ginny
zone 6/7
Ozark Mountains of NW Ark.

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#12
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1/2/07 at 4:02pm
  • Joined: September 2004
  • Location: Altoona, Pa.
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Oh my I have the same problem also. It`s such a surprise when they start sproutin and I see what I have!!

http://www.blossomswap.com/images/sneezie.jpg
"May all your weeds be wildflowers..........Free weeds pick your own!"
SHARON zones 5+6

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#13
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1/3/07 at 7:00am
  • Joined: November 2003
  • Location: Minnesota, USA
  • Post Count: 7,601
could you use steping stones with the names in them and then put them by the plants. for all you creative types

never trieed it but aften thought about it.
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#14
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1/3/07 at 7:19am
  • Joined: September 2003
  • Location: Pennsylvania zone 6
  • Post Count: 10,717
I am such a aud/odd ball. I do not even try to label the plants. The only thing I label is the winter sowing and that is done because if they grow I need to know where to plant them. To mark the jugs I use tape and a sharpie.

I just have not seen anything that looks good in the garden that does not look ugly. I think it takes away from the look of the garden.


Do what you can where you are with what you have.
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#15
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1/3/07 at 2:03pm
  • Joined: December 2004
  • Location: NJ Zone 6 US
  • Post Count: 3,856
I just resort to writting down in a book because I often more than not blow them away..have tried every thing..but within the brain, doesn't always work..puffy paint on a rock has work extreemly well for me over the years. I even pounde with this nice set this alphabet stamps om wood parkay flooring that I pulled apart to slats....too much like work. Over time, hey isn't really important unless at a meeting or showing the puplic during a walk...it kind of sucks and people are often forgiving. Treat yourself right....carry you put together book of the year....
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#16
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1/3/07 at 6:56pm
  • Joined: June 2005
  • Location: Kadina, South Australia
  • Post Count: 2,410
aluminium cans,cut into strips then written on with aball point pen, it indents and doesn't come off.Punch a hole in one end tie with plastic bag tie and attatch to a stick,poke stick into ground firmly and voila.

The kiss of the sun for pardon
The song of the birds for mirth
One is nearer to God's heart in the garden
Than anywhere else on earth
Dorothy Gurney 1858 - 1952

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#17
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1/3/07 at 7:10pm
  • Joined: October 2004
  • Location: Warren,OH
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donna View Post
aluminium cans,cut into strips then written on with aball point pen, it indents and doesn't come off.Punch a hole in one end tie with plastic bag tie and attatch to a stick,poke stick into ground firmly and voila.


Good tip! But be careful as aluminum cans cut can be rather sharp!
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#18
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1/8/07 at 5:24am
  • Joined: October 2006
  • Location: Coastal, SC
  • Post Count: 139
I think I will try the aluminum can trick too. My wood sticks do get too moldy and my other creative ( i thought) ideas haven't worked to well. What if you cut the cans with tin snips and then finished them off with some emery cloth? Might be a good use for my dremel tool.............
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#19
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2/4/07 at 2:21pm
  • Joined: September 2003
  • Location: Slap bang in the middle of Devon England
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I bought a special pen for plant marking, cost me £2 ($3.60) and it's rubbish, it didn't even last the whole summer.

I'm using a label writing machine now and sticking the labels onto the plastic tags.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/richard.../gifs/owls.gif
Lord High Executioner.
My Garden Webpage
Zone: Devon, England. Pick any number between 2 and 11.

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#20
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2/4/07 at 2:51pm
  • Joined: November 2003
  • Location: portage IN
  • Post Count: 7,264
I have a journal that I write down what and where I planted stuff, so I have no need to label anything outside thats growing. I do however label seed starting trays as I ofetn start a few of each of a lot of diffrent things. I use thise plastic containers (like sourcream or cottege cheese containers) cut them into strips and write the names on them. The writting usually doesnt fade untill after a no longer need them.

I'm so excited that it is summer, I wet my plants.

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