skip to main content

Best way to label

12 years ago

Hello - I am slowly but surely acquiring more and more daylilies. I used to have many real lilies, alas the dreaded red lily beetle put a stop to that :(

My question: what is the best way to keep track of your plants regarding physical labels in the garden? What works for you in terms of longevity, weather-wise?

Thanks!

Comments (12)

Nancy Barginear
12 years ago
I use a Brother P-Touch labeler that will accomodate 1" tapes, and clear TZ tapes (weather-proof). While it is a matter of choice, I not only have the cultivar name, but also other info of interest to me "in the field" below the title (ex: tet sev ML 4-12 pink). I go to Tinker's Daylily Database on-line as it is easy to get the details on each plant.

For the markers, I buy them from Paw Paw Everlast Label Company, and prefer the taller ones.

I used to buy the white plastic rigid non-glossy venetian blinds at Wal-Mart and cut them into sections with a box cutter. I would write all desired info on with a #2 pencil, which does not fade and does not come off. They would be buried part way into the ground.
They were just hard to read unless you bent way over.

There are fancier markers and pricier ones, too. I guess it all depends on how much you want to spend and how many cultivars you have.

Hope this help!

Nancy
kimkats
12 years ago
I use both of the methods mentioned above too. I use the blinds and #2 pencil as temporary markers till I'm sure that is where I truly want the plant. ( Sometimes I move them around if I don't like the colors once they bloom together.) i also use the blinds to mark my seedling beds since a number of them will end up being culled. I use the paw paw labels for plants that are in their final home. This helps me save money to buy more daylilies ;-D

Happy Gardening,
Kim
Related Discussions
What is the best way to 'label' fig trees in the field?
Q
Comments (12)
my experience... Last year, I tried wrapping a business card (other thick card stock will work as well) with metal duct tape. I was able to write on both sides of the card with a ball point pen and the card prevented the impression on one side from coming through to the other. I extended the tape about 3/4" from the card on one side and about 1/4" on the others. I was able to punch a hole through the tape on the long side and run string through it. I did not attach it to the plant this year, rather, I laid it on top of the mix in the pot. The print is still visible on both sides and it does not show any evidence of coming apart. These are a bit more time consuming than I would like. This year, I cut plastic (opaque) milk containers into strips and wrote on them with a Sharpie. They have faded, and I do not think they will last another season. Also, I've had more than a few dug up by the squirrels. Next season, I was going to try sending Avery Laser Business Cards (#5371) through the printer, separate, then laminate them. I have information about my trees in a database and created a print format to fit on the cards. I called Kinkos, they charge less than $3.00 per sheet, and by my calculations, I can probably fit 8 cards per sheet. Also, Harbor Freight tools has advertised an inexpensive laminator in the past. For those of you who are growing in plastic pots, you could write the information you want on the side of the pot with a Sharpie or a grease pencil. Also, there are dog tag machines in Walmart (probably in the pet stores) as well as online. These carry three lines of information and would probably be the most permanent in terms of retaining its original properties. The machines in Walmart charge $5, and if I remember correctly, there are some online sources that allow you to upload the information via a word processor and are about $2.5 Like George, I also write the cultivar name (and other info) on cuttings with a sharpie (now that I'm thinking about it, I may have gotten the idea from George). It is also good practice to write the same info on a tree before repotting/transplanting. Just remember that if you later find out your X variety turns out to be a Y, you want to be able to change the label easily. I also have a map of the trees in my backyard I created on the computer. When I move the pots around, I update the map. Since I am traveling a lot, it helps to have a map to write instructions on for whoever is caring for my trees while I am gone. Also, if there is a problem, I can tell which tree they are talking about. ~james
...See More
Best way to label bearded iris for later division?
Q
Comments (9)
I used a sharpie for most of my garden last year (not knowing it would fade) now most of my labels are blank and I'm worse off than I was when I started. I used a paint pen on the few remaining labels and those are still intact. I'm planning on moving out of the labeling this year. I made a raised bed last year that was 4'X12' and planted one per square foot. It's so much easier to keep track of them this way! I just wrote out a grid with 48 squares and wrote the names in each spot. I hope to pull up all my others and plant them in the same manner then mark them down on my grid as they bloom. Since almost every one of my tags is ruined I can't be sure of their id's other than unique ones (like 'Thornbird') At least I'll have a way to keep track of their appearance and keep photos of them even if I might never rejoin them with their rightful name. I'll still be able to identify a plant for it's bloom, even if not for it's name. Of course I would never share them as anything other than a noid, but at least I won't have to just scrap all of the plants I've added to my collection over the last few years. Brock
...See More
Mass Transplanting Questions: Tomatoes and Peppers
Q
Comments (26)
Chandra, I don't know that I'd trust that lady bug thing from the Farmer's Almanac. I've had lady bugs for 3 or 4 weeks now and had frost just a few days ago! Jhart, I agree with the others on Sprite, Lime Green Salad, Garden Peach and Paul Robeson. Of those 4, Paul Robeson has gottest the tallest--about 4 feet but it just doesn't like me and tends to die before producing ripe fruit. I don't know why. Maybe it is my soil. Baker Family Heirloom is very large and should grow in the ground. Razzleberry is a determinate that gets about 4 or 4.5' tall so it could be grown in a large-ish container. By large-ish I mean at least 7-10 gallons. Winsall did not get as large in my garden as I expected an Indeterminate to grow, but I grew it in a year when we had extreme drought like this year and the other year when I grew it we had excessively heavy rain and all my tomato plants sat in really wet soil for too long and stalled and stunted. I haven't grown it in a 'normal weather year' because I don't think we have those kinds of years here. For me, Indian Stripe grows like Cherokee Purple--taller than your average determinate but not a huge indeterminate. I usually grow it in the ground, but I've grown it in 20-gallon containers and it did just fine. I grew Lillian's Yellow in a year we had exceptional drought (the most severe form of drought) and it only got 3 or 4' tall, but I think it would have gotten taller in good moisture. Yellow Brandywine is a huge monster so I'd only put it in the ground. Rio Grande is a determinate but I would put it in the ground. It grows very vigorously (wide! thick! full!) and puts out a huge load of fruit. Because paste tomatoes like Rio Grande are prone to blossom end rot, and because moisture is hard to control in containers, and because uneven moisture contributes to blossom end rot, I'd put it in the ground. Hope that helps. Y'all. Unless you are going to water like a maniac or are in one of the far NE OK counties that has had plentiful rainfall, expect smaller than usual plants in this year's drought conditions. That will allow you to space them a bit closer than usual (as long as you're NOT using overhead watering) and to grow some Ind. in containers because in these conditions they won't get really huge. Please realize that if we are already in Extreme drought now (as any of you are), the next step "up" is to Exceptional Drought. I find it hard to water enough to keep a garden going in exceptional drought conditions. There's only so much water any of us can afford to pour onto the dry ground. In these conditions, water well early (in April and in May) in an effort to get your plants to grow well and set fruit. However, once fruit are sizing up nicely, you need to be very careful not to water excessively or your fruit will have bland flavor. It is a delicate balancing act. Dawn
...See More
Best way to label plant markers??
Q
Comments (13)
carbon has an half life of a couple million years ... if the plastic does not accept such.. use some sand paper to roughen the surface ... but the labels should be inserted so that the name is angled down.. so the elements dont physically wear it off ... inserting the marked part int he ground.. removes that insult.. but pulling thme in an out.. is like sand paper ... and can rub it off ... i also used to garbage pick mini blinds .... and make markers out of them ... but these days.. you can buy a small set at wallyworld for a few bucks ... and i have some marked with paint pens over 10 years old.. which simply brings me back to what plastic are you using ... could you snap a pic .. a total fail safe would be plastic knives with a scratch all ... cant see the name at distance.. but it will be there for thousands of years ... ken
...See More
dementieva
12 years ago
I took a bunch of metal labels in to work and engraved them with an engraving tool. It's hard to read from a distance but it will never fade or wash away.

Nate
sann777
12 years ago
I keep a spreadsheet in "Windows Works" in the computer. It is in alphbetical order. I put T or D, then Hybridizer and year it was hybridized, then Height, Width of flower, and Color.
It looks like this:
Arrayed In Splendor T Bell '02 28" 6" Rose Pink W/Yellow Edge Using only one line across page. I get the 21" Markers from Paw Paw and I use Brother P Touch Labeler (about $49,00 at Office Max but worth it) with Laminated
Tape. On the marker I put NAME and under that T, BELL 02 28" 6". Don't use the plastic labels with the Dyno labeler. They are turning so orange/brown I am having to replace them with laminated ones. I use Tinkers to get my information. Add DL names to spreadsheet as you buy new DLs. Then print it and take outside with your label maker. I enjoy sitting in chair and making the labels outside. I hope this helps. Below is one of the labels that I am replacing with Laminated ones. Sarah
anna_in_quebec
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks so much Nancy, Kim, Nate and Sarah! So many good ideas offered - much appreciated!

@nate: what a very cool idea!!
pamghatten
12 years ago
I also use a Brother P-Touch and the zinc plant marker like the one in Nate's picture.

I just ordered 50 more of the zinc plant markers from a seller on the Lily auction, 50 for $30 including s/h.

They are listed under Hybridizing Tools ont he Lily Auction, if I remember correctly.
anna_in_quebec
Original Author
12 years ago
I too have a label printer, Dymo letratag, and I think the clear labels might work well on the zinc markers. I have begun to invest in these markers since I realized they go down deep and are not annoyingly white in the garden. (And kitties don't easily dig them up :) If one has many, it can look awful with those white markers.
dementieva
12 years ago
My first markers were the tall zinc ones, but then we found some made out of a silver-colored metal (probably some cheap alloy) at Target 5 for $1 at the Dollar Spot in Target. They're only about 4 inches tall and they come with a knock-off Sharpie marker.

I'm going to use those until I get evidence that they rust away or something. I don't care about height; I push them most of the way into the ground anyway.

Nate
flowerchild59
12 years ago
I use for my plants cap style markers from paw paw everlast company and use a pt brother label maker with the UV resistant tape, 1/2 inch. I use the 1100 model.....several years old, very easy to use and about 10.00 on ebay. I see no reason to spend more on a label maker.
If you go to the hosta library site they have a very nice tab on markers.

Here is a link that might be useful: Paw Paw
dragonkeep
12 years ago
We've had a few trees down due to bad weather/lightning. My husband cut round slices with the chainsaw and I took the woodburning tool and put in the same data that Sarah did as well as the daylily's parentage.
katlynn719
12 years ago
I also use a Brother P-Touch labeler. But I put the labels on PVC pipe and hammer it into the ground when I plant the daylily. I try to hide the marker in the foliage, since I don't want the labels to be noticable. I use the blinds for my seedlings with a hole punched in one end and a twist tie through the hole and around the seedling.
Kathy
dementieva
12 years ago
The natural wood discs sound like a really fun idea. You could probably make them last a long time with a little varnish.

Nate

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

ARCHITECTURE That's Interesting! 6 Designs That Defy Labels

Get inspired by the lines and textures of these homes, categorized only by the fact that they have no category

DECORATING GUIDES How to Get That Earthy-Chic Look

By Samantha Schoech

Fear not being labeled a hippie. This earthy style celebrates natural beauty in a most sophisticated and modern way

DECORATING GUIDES Switching Up a Colonial Home to Suit a Modern Family

By Becky Harris

Floor plan labels are thrown out the window as a designer helps a family shape rooms to fit the way they live

EDIBLE GARDENS Keep Track of Your Vegetable Garden With Plant Markers

By Abundant City

Bring order to your edible beds with these labeling ideas

GARDENING GUIDES How to Spot a Drought-Tolerant Plant

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Label? Who needs a label? Learn the characteristics of plants that can thrive in hot, dry conditions to help you pick the right ones

ORGANIZING Clever Ways to Hide the Bar

By Becky Harris

LIFE 10 Best Ways to Get Organized for a Big Move

By Laura Gaskill

Make your next move smooth, short and sweet with these tips for preparing, organizing and packing

MOST POPULAR 8 Ways to Get a Handle on the Junk Drawer

By Laura Gaskill

Don’t sweat the small stuff — give it a few drawers of its own, sorted by type or task

BUDGET DECORATING 8 Cost-Effective Ways to Get a High-End Look

By Toronto Interior Design Group

Don’t discount that expensive material yet. By using a small amount in a strategic way, you can get a luxurious look without the expense

DECLUTTERING Foolproof Ways to Declutter Your Kitchen

If you find yourself fumbling through cupboards to find what you’re looking for, it’s time to take action with these simple steps

Sponsored

More Discussions

A Few Spring flowers

7

Early blooms 2024

11

Spring Anyone? The lilies and Azaleas are getting ready

13

An oddity in the seedling trays

4

Maryl, you did it again!

5