I asked when I was at Peter Beales Roses last year and they use 'Sharpie' permanent pens on white labels. They said these pens are very fade resistant (sorry for the advertising ).
I bought a pac and the writing on white (GC) labels has lasted very well until now.
This year, however, I am going to try black labels with a white pen for labelling plants in the border. I use cheap white labels for pots / seed trays but my garden is starting to look like a mini graveyard with all these white labels sticking up everywhere (new garden = lots of new plants = lots of labels).
Rosie - try Googling 'plant labels' - should be lots of options coming up including copper ones which look lovely and are permanent. Expensive for all plants but not too bad for some choice specimens in pots . Labels with pictures / descriptions on are available but only in multiples of hundreds suitable for multi growers such as nurseries & GCs.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
I use a brother plant labeller for anything going in the garden (but scribble for seedlings in the greenhouse - the labelling tape is quite expensive so only use it for permanent plantings). Three years on there is no fading at all. But agree with topbird about the look - I am moving to black labels with white writing (brother do a tape for that too) - but it will be a gradual changeover
I got some copper ones from our local garden centre. Haven't tried them yet, but the idea is that what you write on them is etched into the metal, so they don't fade.
Thank you for all your worthwhile comments and ideas for me to try. I admit that the white yoghurt pot labels don't look too smart - they are a cheap solution for my garden but not a pretty sight, however with plants that I wish to sell, then something a little smarter is called for and as I don't intend to sell 100's of each plant I will probably never be able to acquire the mass produced labels that garden centres use. I will try sanding my labels to reduce the shine/slippy surface - I have found another "waterproof" black pen that I will try out for a few weeks. Thanks again - great replies.
p.s. not freezing here in fact we have had two calm, windless days but back to rain tomorrow apparently.
Recent gardening Which magazine did testping and a silver or gold pen was best. I've also changed to black labels after reading Titchmarsh saying white labels looked like mini churchyards.
Borobabs, is the Which Gardening magazine any good? I've been thinking of trying it out but as you have to ring them up to order it, I've been putting it off...
I have had it delivered for about a year now. I find the plant and seed trials useful as they trial plants in the north as well as the south ( I live in NE England.). It surprised me that B&Q Verve compost comes out best, so the most expensive isn't always best. I am not sure whether you have to subscibe to the main magazine aw well.
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They get brittle and snap - but they cost so little...
I use sandpaper too Hosta - usually to remove writing - but it does help get some purchase on the plastic.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I asked when I was at Peter Beales Roses last year and they use 'Sharpie' permanent pens on white labels. They said these pens are very fade resistant (sorry for the advertising
).
I bought a pac and the writing on white (GC) labels has lasted very well until now.
This year, however, I am going to try black labels with a white pen for labelling plants in the border. I use cheap white labels for pots / seed trays but my garden is starting to look like a mini graveyard with all these white labels sticking up everywhere (new garden = lots of new plants = lots of labels).
Rosie - try Googling 'plant labels' - should be lots of options coming up including copper ones which look lovely and are permanent. Expensive for all plants but not too bad for some choice specimens in pots
. Labels with pictures / descriptions on are available but only in multiples of hundreds suitable for multi growers such as nurseries & GCs.
I don't have labels in the garden, they spoil the flow for me. I make a note of anything I think I might forget. But sometimes I forget
In the sticks near Peterborough
I got some copper ones from our local garden centre. Haven't tried them yet, but the idea is that what you write on them is etched into the metal, so they don't fade.
Thank you for all your worthwhile comments and ideas for me to try. I admit that the white yoghurt pot labels don't look too smart - they are a cheap solution for my garden but not a pretty sight, however with plants that I wish to sell, then something a little smarter is called for and as I don't intend to sell 100's of each plant I will probably never be able to acquire the mass produced labels that garden centres use. I will try sanding my labels to reduce the shine/slippy surface - I have found another "waterproof" black pen that I will try out for a few weeks. Thanks again - great replies.
p.s. not freezing here in fact we have had two calm, windless days but back to rain tomorrow apparently.
Recent gardening Which magazine did testping and a silver or gold pen was best. I've also changed to black labels after reading Titchmarsh saying white labels looked like mini churchyards.
Borobabs, is the Which Gardening magazine any good? I've been thinking of trying it out but as you have to ring them up to order it, I've been putting it off...
I have had it delivered for about a year now. I find the plant and seed trials useful as they trial plants in the north as well as the south ( I live in NE England.). It surprised me that B&Q Verve compost comes out best, so the most expensive isn't always best. I am not sure whether you have to subscibe to the main magazine aw well.
Thanks! I subscribe to the main magazine anyway, so that's not a problem.