Now what did I plant in this spot last year? Individual labels placed near plants are a good way to keep track of what we have already planted in our gardens. Vegetable gardens may only need a single label at the end of each row and those labels only have to survive one summer season, but perennials and bulbs need labels that will survive for a longer period of time, especially over a winter. Labels are also useful for the visitors to our gardens who want to know more about each flower or shrub. Plants may be labeled with labels purchased from commercial sources or made by recycling common household items. Metal, plastic, wood, ceramic and stone are all used for plant labels.
Plastic labels come in various sizes, blank or preprinted with space for the gardener to add additional information. Commercial plastic labels can range from simple ones to a brand with the plant names and pictures that are so large and showy that they compete with the flowers! My favorite commercial label has a plain green stake with the plant name preprinted on a removable section that may be turned over if the user wants to add information. All plastic labels that I have used suffer from environmental damage after one or two seasons. Plastic may not biodegrade quickly but it does easily crack and break after exposure to winter temperatures. The ink used in marking pens made for plant label use lasts a long time but it does fade in the sun after a few years.
Metal labels are usually made with long legs that allow them to be easily seen in the garden. Commonly made from aluminum and zinc, they will last many seasons in the garden; however, their gray color makes them hard to read at a distance. I have experimented by attaching the commercial plastic labels that come with purchased plants onto the metal labels with clear, heavy duty tape. These labels preserved a lot of information and lasted two or more seasons before the glue on the tape dissolved. Some metal labels are soft enough that a pen or stylus may be used to permanently impress the information on the label.
Stones may be used as labels if there is a flat surface to write or paint on the information using a durable outdoor paint. While stones are the most durable label material, they are also likely to be bumped and accidentally moved away from the plant that they belong to.
No labeling system is perfect. Labels that include a stake stay put in the ground but may be accidentally stepped on and broken. And the durability of a wooden label depends on whether it is a recycled popsicle stick or a heavy stake. Ceramic labels may survive winter freezes and summer suns but break from accidental damage. Household items that may be recycled for plant label use include plastic cut from large yogurt or margarine tubs and Venetian blinds cut in roughly six inch lengths. The heavier and harder the plastic, the longer lasting the label will be. Hopefully, your plants will not suffer from an identity crisis!
Linda G. Tenneson
Beltrami County Master Gardener
