That is a very good idea tglovell.
I was in need of some markers the other day. What I did was cut up a cool whip container. Made slits from rim down to bottom, then cut around the circumference of the bottom at aprox 1/2" intervals. Made aprox 24 with the one container.
The things you can do with garbage, lol.

Daniella

maybe hit Goodwill or garage sales & pick up some old blinds for a dollar or two... they make great markers too. they make sssooo many too!!!

Those are great ideas. I use cut-up blinds with pencil. If you don't use pencil, make sure you use black sharpie, or a paint pen. Some people have trouble even with the black sharpie fading, some don't. Here's a warning about length: I made my markers about 2" long, then found when I planted-out that I wished they were taller--dirt splashed onto them so I couldn't read them, or if I pulled them out more, they fell over.

I eat yogurt every day so I accumulate a lot of yogurt cups. I use those cut up and get about 5 markers from each cup. I have an endless supply of them.

Karen

I use the blinds also...seems to work with my paint
pens that I found at Hobby Lobby. Last year practically
every thing faded...what a mess!

Margaret

I used both blinds and plastic knives and noticed that if I stepped on the knives (easy to do when mulching for winter) they broke off while the blinds just bent. Though older blinds markers also became brittle and broke. The blinds markers were less noticeable. Had a few laughing comments from others about plastic knives in the garden. LOL

Also tried paint pens but had some trouble with them fading and flaking off. The red became very faint and left a shadowy mark which was still readable if I looked closely. Switched to Pilot Silver Marker extra fine point pen from office supply store. Will use the pilot silver or gold marker again.

I found that if I liked writing on both sides of the marker, often put latin names on one side and common name on the other. Helpful in learning those latin names.
Bobbie

Bobbie

THANK YOU GUYS!!!!!!

I never thought to use old mini blinds or plastic knives. I am gonna look mighty funny at weddings and parties putting the used cutlery into my pockets - but boy is it ever going to be fun :-)) Well maybe I will just use the ones I already have - seems the knives are always left over at our gatherings. I always have trouble with Sharpie fading so ordered a garden marker from Burpee this year. Years ago we used a 'grease pencil' but I can not find one now.

DL

If you let family/friends/neighbors and coworkers know what you use for WSing you'd be surprised what ends up at your door step or desk. I mentioned that I used blinds for labels at a class and the next week a participant brought in a set of blinds she said her son had just taken down at his office and thought of me. People get a kick out of how excited I get about accepting their trash...uh...wsing supplies.

DL,

Try a hardware store for the grease pencil. That is where I found mine.

Jen

I found myself losing names off knives and miniblinds when I wiped dirt off to read. The dirt scrubbed the ink, I guess. It helps to write the vital info twice...once above ground, and again below ground, where the sun won't fade it, and you won't be wiping it off. It's there just in case! I also discovered the metal mini blinds last longer, but you need to be careful when cutting them that you don't leave sharp edges. When I ran out of knives one year, I used spoons. Those really look funny. This year, on summer clearance in the dollar section at Target, I bought several bags of heavy reusable colorful plastic utensils. I tried color coding some of my plants because they came in orange, pink, blue and green. I think these will last a lot longer than regular plastic ware, so they were worth the .25 a bag I paid. I even used the forks to mark placement of bulbs.
Cindi

Jen, does that grease pencil stay on?? I'm really, really
looking for something that doesn't fade.
Thanks!
Margaret

Look for laundry markers- they do work better than sharpies- and good old lead pencils seem to work the best on plastic mini blinds for me- some are 4+ years old and still readable! Even after swiping dirt off countless times.
Careful with the old blinds- plastic/vinyl ones- some from Asia and Mexico can be pretty full of lead which can leach into your soil and plants too- not to mention your lungs when you cut them up and the dust flies. Through prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, the blinds deteriorate and the lead is released (leeches out) in tiny particles.
They are still my favorite cheep marker- but with all the lead abatement going on- I have been really surprised how many folks are told to replace their blinds and to be careful not to breath the dust on them.... It has me thinking a little "greener" these days...

Here is a link that might be useful: Info on lead in/on mini blinds

That's really good info about the lead in the mini blinds, Julie. I have mini blinds on my windows so I replace them as I need tags. I never would have thought about a hazard while cutting them; I'm just joyous that I don't have to clean them! hmmmm.

I've been trying to find usable tags similar to the mini blinds. I've gotten knives in plants at our plant trade but they are a little thick for my taste. I'd rather have something that looked like a real plant tag. The official plastic plant tags crack in half when weathered. I use too many to buy the metal ones. I also am barefooted most of the time in the garden so try to avoid anything that might hurt my feet! I'm still using the foil tape on the blinds until I find something different.

That said, I like the idea about the colored plasticware! I was looking for an idea on how to easily mark my annual containers since I've gotten away from labeling on the outside. I think if I tuck a bright colored knife in the pot, it will be easy to identify when I'm trying to sort out in the spring when the covers are still on!