GREAT PLANT LABELS - Homemade, from soda cans

The best homemade plant labels come from aluminum soda cans.


They are inexpensive, durable, attractive and fun to make. And in the garden their reflective qualities act as rabbit repellents!

You can have them dangle on supports ( made from clothes hangers) or tie them with twine on a pot.

CUT THE CAN AND ROLL OUT ALUMINUM.

Put on your gloves. Use the tip of your scissors to punch a small hole on the side of each end of the can. You can also use a steak knife or screwdriver to get the hole started.  Cut off the top and bottom of the can and discard.


TRACE THE SHAPES AND CUT OUT.

Next, unroll the metal as best you can and place the metal on a flat but flexible surface, printed side up. A pad of paper, a top of a notebook or a thick stack of newspaper are all good bases. Use a template tool to trace a shape with a ball point pen onto the metal. Press firmly to leave an indentation. Cut with a pair of scissors as shown here. (you can also use a punch maker...for defined shapes. Like EK punch on amazon)

photo from childmadetutorials blog


 
photo from Twiggstudio


WRITE OR STAMP THE NAMES.

To write names of plants on your labels, press down hard on each and write with a ball point pen. Make sure to press hard enough that the name stays imprinted in the metal.

YOU HAVE TO WRITE IT BACKWARDS - Just write it on a piece of paper and then turn over and trace hard onto the metal.

Don't forget to leave room to punch a hole for hanging.  Create a hole using a paper punch (or a hammer and nail).


photo from childmadetutorials blog


photo from childmadetutorials blog

You can also use a metal stamping kit for more vintage looking labels.  Harbor Freight sells them inexpensively. http://www.harborfreight.com/36-piece-1-4-quarter-inch-steel-letter-number-stamping-set-35121.html Then you can go over them with a black sharpie to make the letters stand out.



TIE THEM ON POTS OR HANG THEM OFF SUPPORTS IN THE GARDEN.

Grey Luster Girl tied the tags around a 4 inch clay Terra cotta pot using a piece of twine, as shown here.


 If you want to hang the labels from support sin the garden then use a wire cutter or tin snips to cut 7-8 inch long support pieces from wire coat hangers. Make an "S" hook at one end using a needle-nose pliers, hang the label on the hook, and pinch the "S" shut to keep it from falling off.


These websites also have great tutorials on making plant labels :

http://www.sustainable-media.com

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf39410479.tip.html




Comments

  1. Castlerock landscapeMarch 26, 2013 at 1:37 AM

    I'm impressed how you used the recycled materials in order to make a creative homemade plants label. And using this, you can now easily determine what types of plants are they.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownFebruary 5, 2014 at 8:59 AM

    I am also impressed this is one of the best DIY so far. I was looking for a DIY on making a metal tags or clothing tags on my stuffs and I found this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jan JohnsenFebruary 9, 2014 at 11:25 AM

      Thanks Pierre Angela!
      I wrote it because I researched it for myself ...and then thought "I have to share this!"

      Delete
  3. UnknownMarch 4, 2014 at 7:31 AM

    Your welcome Jan Johnsen! Looking forward to your another posts :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Katherine HeiglJanuary 20, 2015 at 3:54 AM

    It's such a amazing post on garden markers. using tags and labels for plant identification is a great idea. You can also use wood plant markers and steel stakes for signs. Idealgardenmarkers is a US based company, offers plant markers, nameplates and tags at reasonable price.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Alecia BaneFebruary 5, 2015 at 3:50 AM

    Really this is so knowledgeable about gardening. I impressed much while reading this and looking for such post ahead. Before some time, after reading such type blog of Ideal Garden Markers I bought degined markers from for my little garden's plant. That was also so durable, weatherproof and charming to look at.

    ReplyDelete
  6. go nowMay 2, 2019 at 1:31 AM

    This much informative article I didn't read Anywhere thanks for sharing such a good article.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Hi there! I would love to hear from you....

Popular Posts of all Time

Angelface Blue and Dark Violet Angelonia - a Flower that Keeps Giving

Image
(Angelonia with Helichrysum, petunia, Johnsen Landscapes) Blue is everyone's "favorite color."  It is, hands down, the most popular color worldwide and is the least "gender specific" color, having equal appeal to both men and women. Now Purple is giving blue a run for its money as the second favorite color.... Blue is the favored color for toothbrushes, so that says it all!  ( this info is from a great website: Sensation Color ) but can purple be far behind? Scientists have found that the color blue causes the body to produce chemicals that are calming. This may be why we all like to be around blue....stare at this square and see if it calms you. In fact, over the past decade, scientists have reported the successful use of blue light in the treatment of psychological problems such as addictions, eating disorders, impotence, and depression. Moreover, a deep blue/purple such as Indigo or Deep Violet symbolizes mystical wisdom and spirit...
Read more

Planting Design for Dry Gardens by Olivier Filippi

Image
Do you garden in a dry area?  I love this teaching approach by Olivier Filippi. 1: Salvia chamaedryoides 2: Rhodanthemum hosmariense 3: Artemisia abrotanum 'Silver' 4: Phlomis 'The South' 5:  Senecio vira-vira 6: Salvia fruticosa 7: Salvia leucophylla 8: Artemisia lanata This photo and information is from a French website that I cannot translate into English. It is by the authority on dry gardens, Olivier Filippi, and is very good. Check it out:    http://www.jardin-sec.com/ Also he wrote a great book called 'Planting Design for Dry Gardens'.  Nigel Dunnett says,  "In  Planting Design for Dry Gardens  Olivier Filippi has charted a future for garden and planting Design. Combining authoritative practical advice with deep ecological insight, Olivier shows how learning from nature can give us the best of all worlds: beautiful and sustainable gardens with a unique sense of place. I challen...
Read more

'Purple Smoke' - The best Baptisia

Image
Try  planting  Baptisia 'Purple Smoke'.  And pair it with Baptisia Cherries Jubilee. A deer resistant, native, drought tolerant, purple, long lived perennial! Wow! Photo - Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden - Puple Smoke Baptisia and Carolina Moonlight Baptisia It is a hybrid of  B. australis  and  B. alba and is a vigorous grower.   Discovered by Rob Gardener of the North Carolina Botanical Gardens, it has charcoal-gray stems and is purple.   Baptisia is a native perennial that has a long taproot, loves sunny sites with lean or poor soil. Average to dry soil is best.  Its deep tap root allows it to survive long dry periods, making it a challenge to move once it is established.  Purple Smoke from Bluestone Perennials The flowers resemble lupines and are smoky violet. Numerous flowers open first at the base of the flower stalk in May and ascend upwards, topping out at 4.5' tall. It has fine te...
Read more

No-Fail Tips for Turning Hydrangeas Blue!

Image
(photographer - unknown) Everyone wants Blue Hydrangeas.  The rarity of naturally blue flowers is an irresistible draw to gardeners.  How to Turn Your Hydrangeas Blue?  Here are a few tips from Proven Winners: Nikko Blue Hydrangea from Missouri Botanical garden 1. Be sure you’re working with the right kind of hydrangea.  You must have a Hydrangea macrophylla or H. serrata to have pink or blue flowers.  (photographer -unknown) 2. Aluminum availability determines flower color. The availability of aluminum makes the flowers turn blue. Without aluminum the blooms will be pink.  Soil pH must be low or acid (5.2-5.5) for the plant to absorb the aluminum. from nely.bluehortensia blogspot.com 3. Color changes need time to take effect.  Consistent treatment is necessary to  turn your hydrangeas blue:  Plant your hydrangeas in a phosphorous-free medium, and use a phosphorus-free fertilizer with lots of p...
Read more

Repurposed and Recycled - Creative Ideas for Garden Design

Image
Nothing like piano keys to liven up a garden space....(above photo from Stone Art Blog) Recycling can be many things to many people... or, in other words,   " One man's trash is another's man treasure" from Stone Art Blog This piano was placed here in the garden. Here is what Sunny Wieler of Stone Art Blog wrote about this: "Besides being a passionate gardener, my dad is also a passionate piano player, so a few years back we got him a new piano for his birthday. So the old piano spent a while in the shed before he had the great idea to put it out in the garden..." Little did Sunny's dad know that he was at the forefront of the conceptual art movement:...they would say something like this is a testament to the natural decomposing processes, a statement of the fragility of life, the impermanence of existence... his dad would say, 'Hey, why not put it in the garden?" photos of broken concrete from Bourget Bros web...
Read more

The Magnificent Purslane - Edible Landscaping at its best!

Image
What was one of Mahatma Gandhi's favorite foods?  and what did Henry Thoreau eat while residing at Walden Pond?  PURSLANE . Purslane, long considered an obnoxious weed in the U.S., is, in fact, full of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids!  And now this overlooked gem - considered 'one of the most nutritious greens in the world' -  is receiving the attention it is due. Usha Palaniswamy of the Department of Plant Science, University of Connecticut, reports that, "Purslane is receiving much attention for cultivation by the United States Department of Agriculture as part of their effort to bring about a modification in the western diet with increased intake of fresh fruits and vegetables." Purslane contains a high concentration of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), one of the highly sought-after Omega-3 fatty acids. It has several times the concentration of ALA than is found in spinach.  So throw away those fish oil capsules and grow your own Om...
Read more

My one day Class Wednesday April 16 in NY - Jan Johnsen

Image
I am teaching a one day class on Wednesday April 16 at the NY Botanical Garden  It is a fun, eye opening and fun class!            (class size is limited.) I  share my insights into landscape design and how to use various cultural and ancient traditions in a garden. I discuss how to use the compelling duality of Yin and Yang in a setting, explain how each of the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) affects us differently, which proportions create a more harmonious setting.  I also show how to place rocks in the landscape according to the Japanese understanding. Everyone loves this. and of course, I discuss Color and its effects on our wellbeing... I show 2 beautiful powerpoint to illustrate my talk..  Handouts reinforce the information I provide. Here is what students have written: No wonder you were instructor of the year! Your talk was delightful, Jan. You gave us all a t...
Read more