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Plant markers - anyone have a favorite?

Mary G (SE Mich zone 5)

7 years ago

Hi all - My daughter has just planted a new garden full of native plants out in Montana. She is sure she will never remember what they all are next season - and she's not even old enough to have senior moments! So I'm thinking this would make a great gift for a new gardener.

Do any of you have a favorite plant marker? I personally don't need this so have never looked into for myself. But I know there are a lot of junky ones out there. If you have some that work well, might you also be able to tell me where you bought them? Many thanks!

Featured Answer

flowergirl70ks

7 years ago

Paw Paw Everlast!

Comments (7)

sherrygirl zone5 N il
7 years ago
Metal, about 11" tall, with zinc tags. Use an oil based paint pen to mark. I bought some on eBay, found the best prices and free shipping.
Mary G (SE Mich zone 5) thanked sherrygirl zone5 N il
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I tried this at the beginning of the sowing season - Feb. for me. I took a strip of foil tape, wrapped it around the cut up blind (the long way, so the whole surface was covered) and used a fine point sharpie to "write and engrave" the plant name. Struck them in my jugs and put them outside. I guess it "worked" in that, yes, I can read the writing (sharpie ink long gone) but it is a lot of trouble to do. I got some paint pens instead and so far, I am loving using them. NO FADE at all. Bought them on ebay for a few bucks, probably cheaper than foil tape if you did the figuring.
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sent you an email, thanks much
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I took the plunge (money-wise) years back and bought those nice markers, only to discover that in the winter my beds reminded me of little graveyards, lol! Now, being an, ahem, more experienced gardener, I do have more winter interest in my beds and therefore the markers wouldn't stand out so much, but I prefer to bury my markers anyway. I either bury the plant tag that comes with the plant, or, more often, I use a label maker and put a label on those little hard plastic tags. They are about 3 inches long, with a point, and about a half inch wide. When you buy them they come in little sheets that look like little picket fences, lol. I bury them shallowly next to the plant so they don't show, and if I need to remember a name I just dig around a bit to find the label. For temporary markers, I agree with rina - cut up blinds (get them for free on freecycle) or even the plastic milk jugs, which I use for winter sowing. After I plant out my seedlings, I cut the jugs in strips and write on them with a sharpie and there's my plant tag.
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NHBabs z4b-5a NH
7 years ago
I guess it depends if she wants them visible or not. My preference is for something that isn't particularly visible but I can still find. Rocks written on with paint pen with the label facing down work. Copper strips (cut with tin snips from sheets from a craft store or flashing from a home improvement store and the sharp edge eased with sandpaper) and written on with something firm that incises the name into the metal (ball point pen if the metal is light enough and the metal is supported on cardbard or something similarly soft.) Copper can be tarnished chemically so that it doesn't stand out. Or I may bury a metal label in my mulch, always in the same spot relative to the plant. Or a well-labeled photo.
Mary G (SE Mich zone 5) thanked NHBabs z4b-5a NH
flashphoto
7 years ago
Good Morning

I have moved from the zinc labels to stainless steel.

http://www.kincaidplantmarkers.com/

They recommend using a label P-touch, but I have lots of success with clear mailing labels on the computer. I started using weatherproof labels this year for a change, but I still have the clear labels from years ago under the plants. The wires rusted faster than the labels fading. P-touch is very expensive if you are doing a lot of labels.

Vince
Mary G (SE Mich zone 5) thanked flashphoto
Justin C
7 years ago
Beer cans, scribed with a pen. The ink wears off but the indent lasts. Not the prettiest label but its free and won't rust.
Mary G (SE Mich zone 5)
Original Author
7 years ago
That's a riot Justin! Beer cans and twigs! Love it. I'm sure the beer was only used for slugs - haha.
Justin C
7 years ago
Let's just say I have more labels than I can use...

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