How do you mark location of plants that disappear until next year

Big Blue Sky · 18 February

Basically, how do you keep the plants that disappear at the end of the season safe, i.e. daffodils, crocuses, peonies etc. I recently almost killed a young peony because I forgot it was there and started digging. Plastic labels seem to be gone even sooner than the actual plants.

Busy-Lizzie · 18 February

I use short bamboo canes. Not so pretty in winter but I grow most of my perennials for spring, summer and autumn. I also take photos of the beds at different times of year and I draw plans and write in the names of the plants. Forgot to update it last year!

Fairygirl · 18 February

I don't bother. I don't have lots of empty spaces over winter, and any gaps between evergreens and shrubs I assume to have something deciduous in. Most of my bulbs are in among perennials and deciduous shrubs etc.
However, I expect canes or twigs/branches from trees and shrubs are the best option. I use those for any gaps simply to prevent certain 'animals' from cr*pping in the beds.

For peonies - I use proper, iron supports anyway for them, so they stay in situ all year round.

Lizzie27 · 18 February

I use old metal hanging baskets pegged upside down over the perennials like peonies, got them from Freecycle for free.

For bulbs, I have tried putting circles of small gravel over the tops when they've died down.

I don't like using sticks or short bamboo canes because of the very real danger of poking my eye out when weeding/admiring blooms etc. Kebab sticks with square ends are quite useful though.

Busy-Lizzie · 18 February

Metal hanging basket are perfect for keeping NDN's cat off the catmint!

Plantminded · 18 February

I have found photos the best way to remember what’s where. The only sticks I like to see in borders over winter are the remains of perennials and grasses!

Fire · 18 February

After years of trying different ways to mark perennials that disappear over winter, I have settled on slate pieces and chunky metal shepherds' crook type hooks. They both should last forever, the painted name doesn't wash off (unless you scrub) and I can't lose them. I go for tall, chunky poles: 2-3 ft -so that they don't get lost among the plants and so that I can see them from a distance. Plastic just breaks too easily and gets lost.

This works for me because: I have a small garden with not that many plants that I want to mark: herbaceous perennials like thalictrum, filipendula, milk parsley and gaura, so that I don't dig into the by mistake over the winter and also, so that I can remember which umbellifer is which as I always get them mixed up. I mark my roses so I don't forget which is which, and dahlias as I have a label-eating elf that lives under the shed and lives on dahlia markers over the winter. Hard as I try they are all missing come the spring and it's PITA. If I settle on perennial tulips for pots, I will mark them with slate too.

The slate is easy to re-use, just scrub off the white paint with a metal scourer or similar.

This is a good company that sells bulk cheap - from slate off-cuts, in Wales. Labels about 40p each.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/eurekastores

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255550382944

Pics not mine. The holes and hooks come in different sizes, so if using them, you would want to make sure the hooks will fit the holes

For the pen, the forum recommended Posca and it does work very well - three years and counting.

https://www.chalkpens.com/product/uniball-posca-medium-bullet-tip-pen-white/

SonnieB · 18 February

I use the black labels and use a white pen. I note the name of the plant and the month it starts to regrow. I got the labels from amazon and the writing is clear and hasn't disappeared like the
White labels do nor have they broken apart.

Loxley · 18 February

I try to do most border work in autumn or early winter, when I can see where the plants are (and can actually move them around and understand roughly how they will look). I've given up worrying about accidentally moving bulbs about the place.

However if I do need to plant into beds now, I check photos, and use my hands to dig rather than a spade if possible..

How do you mark location of plants that disappear until next year

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