Plant Labels

Has any one got plant labels that work? You name it Ive tried it and by the next year all the writing has disappeared, Then I try to rack my old brains to see if I can remember the plant names...
I purchased the white plastic ones used the greasy pencil supplied a no no, then tried frozen food marker then, then just ordinary biro all to no avail it is so frustrating, any suggestions would be gratefully received, you know even the new plants that come with labels supplied fade there must be some way.

 

Try writing using a good quality H/hard pencil, then overwrite with a good quality/brand 'indelible' marker pen. I collect all my used labels and immerse them in cheap thin bleach after use which will always remove indelible markings (+ sterilize), but anything written in pencil remains.

 

Thankyou will give it a go,

 

Hi Rosie , I use Stabilo Write 4 All marker pens . They really last on the plastic markers !

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Permanent...pplies_Stationery_ET&var=&hash=item4164a562b7

 

Thanks Harry, Never heard of them ,but will try Staples tomorrow

 

I use new lolly sticks, write on them hard and if the ink comes off you can still see the marks were you wrote

 

So how about scratch the name on a plastic label with a pointed object (wall tile scorer, nail, etc.), then follow the grooves in pencil, then overwrite in permanent marker? Or write one side and scratch the reverse as a failsafe.

 

thanks Harry. Just ordered one ,
Jenny

 

I make my own now for long term plant labels. Other half has loads of offcuts from his bandsaw and I just cut them into smaller lengths. I got myself a letter punch set and punch the names into the wood.

Although I don't have any pictures of my own atm.

 

Sounds interesting Jane. Would love to see a picie of one you made earlier please,
Jenny

 

Yes please ask. It's always nice to see inventive, homemade stuff.

 

I bought copper ones from Wilkinsons you just write on them in biro and press hard so the names engraved in the copper, just make sure if you try them you get the ones with the silver prongs I tried a few T shaped ones big mistake far to easy for the magpies to pull out(shiney things lol) now they've aged a bit they don't bother with them.

 

Labels are not a long term proposition IMHO.

Quite apart from fading Birds pull them up, or well meaning visitors pick one up, say "that's interesting" and then put it back on the adjacent plant ...

I have a spreadsheet with all the plants in the garden and the name of the "bed" the plant is in, and how many "strides" it is from one end. Sorting the spreadsheet by bed / distance gives me a list in walking-order.

The spreadsheet also has husbandry details (in particular any over-wintering instructions, but also any seasonal instructions - such as when to start watching out for Lily beetle, or to start Slug pellet treatment in Spring)

 

I do the same for my daylily bed Kristen, have a huge plan of where each one is but I do use labels to, I also belong to another garden chat site, as a few other members on here do, where each member has a 'garden' section where you can add all the plants in your garden with pictures and make a note of where they are and any other things that may be useful, so every time I buy something new and plant it out I use that to.