Another great thing to use is slats from those cheap mini blinds. Most every yard sale has them and they are always super cheap. Each metal slat can be easily cut to what ever size you want and they stand up to all kinds of weather.

I've tried almost everything, from pricey copper stake-type markers to Target "dollar stop" tin markers...in the end, I prefer white mini blinds with Sharpie/paint pen for writing. They're cheap (a single $4 blind from WalMart can yield hundreds of markers!), widely available, easy to spot in the dirt...when you're marking hundreds of jugs/bottles/transplants, this is the thriftiest way. I cut the top ends of mine with "Victorian" scrapbooking scissors, just to make them a bit fancy :-) Karen makes a good point, the mini-blind strips are a bit harder to force into clay soil...so in the one area of my yard where this is an issue, I force a small weeder into the ground where I intend to place the marker, to help things along. Susan

I keep going back & forth on using either mini blind tags or the clear plastic forks. (which I bought a bunch of already & I do have a mini blind to cut up too) The problem with the forks is the writing area is so small, yet I think it will look better to have them "fade" into the garden cause they are clear. It will be hard for me to write the full name of the flower-like Columbine, Mckanas Giants. I am new to plants & would like the FULL name on my tag. The mini blinds give me lots more room to write but will be way more visible! Won't be a problem when plants are in full growth summer/fall but then when they die back & before they get buried under snow they will be Very visible! Again in the spring when snow melts.... decisions, decisions.......... I haven't written any out yet. My plan is as I see sprouts than I'll write out the tag for it & just keep them alphabetical so come planting time I can be more efficient. What do you all think?

I went to Walmart the other day and found that they have permanent silver and gold paint markers. They work good and I think they will not fade since it is paint but they do take quite a few minutes to dry and are hard for me to see on a white background. Wish I could find the same type of paint markers in black. My WM has black paint markers in various widths -- and lots of other colors too. They're in the Craft section; the brand is Elmer's. Try Michael's, JoAnn, Hobby Lobby, and other specialty craft stores as well: they're likely to have better quality paint markers than WM.