Selfsufficientish.com

I was weeding the border yesterday and I came across a small shrub that I'd forgotten planting some years ago. It had a label on it which, amazingly I could still read. I had made the label from a piece cut from a plastic milk container. I then punched the name out with a needle making small holes to spell out the letters. Several years later, the label is as good as new, whereas those written with permanent marker had rubbed off ages ago.

It took a bit of time but seems to have been worth it.

Zoe

That's certainly a lot of work. But I can see it'll really work well. I know of a person who has an alphabet punch marking system and punches names in aluminum strips. Great system, but also pretty labour intensive.

I (re)use venetian blinds (the narrow metal ones) cut up in pieces and for permanence I mark them with a paint marker if you want to know: Edding780). That's a kind of marker which leaves a layer of paint where you write. You need to shake it before use as it has a metal ball inside to mix the paint. It's a bit of a trick to write evenly with it, but it stays legible (sp?) forever. Well, a long time anyway...

For annual sowing I use a 'permanent' marker on the same strips. Those marks usually fade in one or two years.

Jandra

The trials and tribulations of plant labeling!

I started off with a dymo labeling gizmo, rubbish!
I now etch the name onto milk cartons or, use a CD pen on wooden lolly sticks, both work well and don't fade in this Spanish sun.

I have the opposite problem with permanent marker that just cannot be removed and we've tried every chemical known to man!

So now I have to just write spuds on them rather than the variety so they can be reused.

I've got tons of labels going to waste because I don't grow those things anymore.

How about a quick coat of leftover paint? Then you've got a whole load of "new" labels.

Good idea but would it adhere to plastic without some kind of special undercoat? Think I should just start cutting up plastic milk bottles instead!