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Why use metal tags?

16 years ago

Rather than use any kind of a metal or hard plastic tag, I use 'Surverer's Tape". Will never hurt a plant or tree. It comes in bright, fluorescent colors so you can always find them. I cut a lenght that I like, make a slit in the tape at one end (like a button hole) and then just slip the other end thru the button hole and snug it up or keep it as loose as you want.

Write on the long end with a permanent pen - stays forever.

No cuts, chafing, bruising, etc and you sure can see it all the time. Orange for one variety, green another, pink another and so on and so on.

I like my way - easy and durable. I use surveyer's tape for all my plants.

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Comments (6)

loslunasfarms
16 years ago
Survey tags fray in the wind, metal tags dont
Survey tags can be torn, metal tags dont
Survey tags can get destroyed by the element, metal tags dont
Survey tags last a year, we have folks that have 30 yr old metal tags
Survey tags tear, metal tags can rip a branch off before letting go.
axier - Z10, Basque Country (Spain)
16 years ago
...furthermore, "permanent" pen doesn't stay forever. I have used several different good pen brands and, sooner or latter, the "permanent" writing is deleted by the sun and rain.
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Great ideas everybody! I've always wanted to order the PawPaw rose labels, but I think they would be a pain in the butt for me. After cleaning out my beds over the last few months, I can see it would not be a good idea to have those wires to have to deal with. It's already a nightmare, raking the pine needles out from around the roses and perennials. I can see I'd be yanking up the labels, or getting the rake all tangled in them. That's a bummer. I really like the rock or tile ideas. I'm going to have to look into finding something along that line that will work for me. I do have my roses mapped out on paper and lists written up with locations, etc. But with as many as I have, and as crammed as they are.... sometimes I can't remember who is who when I'm actually out there looking around.... until they bloom anyways.
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keithruck- Generally, everything I need for gardening I can find at a really good price at Steuber Distributing Company in Snohomish. Have you tried them? And if you want really cheap, you can always use a tin snips on aluminum cans to make your own tags. If you want something classier, you can also probably get thin aluminum sheet at a metal supplier and cut that up.
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a better link for the wand below ... i used to do calligraphy ... and had very good handwriting ... or used to anyway ... i found that working with little labels to be very hard .... to hold on ... and yet use good writing... ergo i gave up and went to a brothers p-touch ... all the labels look the same ... perhaps.. a bigger label .. or smaller hands ... would have helped quality control ....who knows.. what ever you like.. and makes you happy ...that is the only thing that is important .. ken Here is a link that might be useful: wand
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I got these pretty cheap on ebay. They are called, Impress-O-Tags. There are 100 tags to a pack. I think they also come in a copper color. They aren't super fancy but you just use a pen to press on the soft metal to impress the name. I got them about 3 yrs ago and they have held up perfectly in our hot, damp, sunny climate. They come with wires to attach them on a stem etc. I have so many plants (not just roses) that these are perfect for me. I hybridize and I can write seedling dates and other details on the back of the tags and names etc on the front so they are really handy. ~Sjn
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oxankle
16 years ago
I use surveyors' tape to mark electric fences and for various other purposes.

If you think in terms of two years, five years, tape might work. If you are thinking lifetime, go metal and be done with it.
Ox
rkc80
16 years ago
I use copper tags and letter punch the names in the tag. these tags will out live me.
stevec
16 years ago
I too use metal tags ... I have found:

1. Plastic tags marked with permanent marker last 1/2 a season at most w/o re-marking ... the sun bleaches out the marker quickly
2. I find the furry critters in the area love plastic tags ... so much so they take them home with them ... I don't know why. To this day I make a map of the orchard each time I put my containers out as I can guarantee I will be missing tags by the end of the season.
3. I now use simple copper tags that are wired to the tree with copper wire. These tags are easily scribed by putting the tag on a soft surface (a magazine) and writing on the tag with a ball point pen. They are permanent and I have not lost one yet.

-Steve
lhendri479
Original Author
16 years ago
OK - you win - thanks

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