Does anyone have any ideas on how to make some kind of markers to show were my perennials are in my flower bed, I know this sounds a little crazy but I won't remember, I say I will but I wont. I just don't want to dig them up next year. I think someone on here posted how to do it one time but I never thought of needing it back then. Thank you Margie moderator's note: added a more descriptive title to topic
I have seen tips on using old venetian blind slats, old wooden spoons, kitchen table knives that were engraved with the plant name. One year I used the clear CD boxes, painted them up with Sharpies but they only lasted one year in our heat and sun...all the colors faded and the plastic was very brittle by the end of summer. This year I bought a package of Bamboo skewers... http://www.worldmarket.com/product/inde ... Id=3596769 ... printed the plant name on with plain ball point pen and used clear fingernail polish to seal it. So far so good, I'll know more next year if they make it thru the winter.
Well Margie, you can actually buy plastic lables on which you can write the names of the plants...Like this-- http://www.tmseeds.com/product/Seed_Sta ... _Herb_Kits ...or you can use tongue depressors or cut strips of something that is plastic, stiff and white. I would buy a magic marker that has India Ink in it or some sort of water resistant ink to write with. Another tip is to try and face the written name away from the sun (facing it northwards).
I've tried lots of things but have had the best luck with cut up blinds and pencil. Permanent markers always fade but pencil doesn't.
If you just need to know that there is a perennial in a spot, and not what the perennial is, spread a good layer of perlite on the spot. I do this on seeded areas so I don't go and over-plant something else. Not that I would ever forget where I put seeds, but . . . .
I forget where my plants are all the time and am lost without markers. So far I haven't found anything at all that will hold for a long time unless I use the old-fashioned Dymo-tape press-thingie and a metal blind shutter piece, and really strong glue to hold the tape in place. Unfortunately the Dymo tape is (of course) out of production now.
Forgot to mention that a china marker will last much longer than a "permanent" marker. China markers are sold at most craft stores or art supply shops. I use one on plastic blind slats, and they have lasted over a year, even with the misting the plants get in the potting shed.
I used bamboo cuttings last year for markers and they worked well through the winter. They marked where I left the dalhias and perennial sunflowers in the ground. I really like the idea of using the marker and covering it with finger nail polish if you had more than a couple of varieties of plants to track. Last year I also started taking photos of the beds. This has been really handy to look back on and know what is where, especially those spring, fall bulbs that come and go through the seasons. My beds are lined with rocks, logs and an assortment of bricks so the knowing the plant locations in relationship to garden objects helps.
I did a power point layout of my gardens and keep it on the computer then add when I plant something new or remove when I lose something.
here's an interesting marker idea.... Stick Plant Markers http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2011 ... Suburbs%29
Bunkie... those look pretty nifty. But since I always cut myself while using sharp objects :-D ... think I'll just go with Jerry's idea of using plastic knives.
