JARS v64n2 - In Search of the Perfect Label Strategy
In Search of the Perfect Label Strategy
Kath Collier
Boring, Oregon
Reprinted from the Portland Chapter Newsletter, June 2009One of the most frustrating things is to have a plant in the garden that you love, but you can't identify. Sure, you might remember purchasing it, planting it, but the name can escape you. There are a few things that you can do to remedy this problem: (1) Make a map of the garden with every plant identified, (2) Keep a database history of every plant purchased and planted, (3) Make sure you have a fool proof labeling system.
Okay, I confess. For several years I did (1) and I envied another member for her ability to do both (1) and (2) well, and actively sought the Holy Grail of foolproof labels. The quest began around 1984 when a friend's child pulled up all of my stakes in a large herb garden planted earlier in the day and not yet documented. "Look, Daddy, at all of the little flags I found!" were words that brought tears to my eyes. We had a great herb garden. Unfortunately, we didn't know what most of the stuff was.
It pays to think about fool-proofing your labeling strategy and taking precautions against all of the bad things that can and will happen to your labels. Dave and I now label plants at least two different ways. The first label created is fairly large standing about 21-inches tall (from Paw Paw Everlast Label Company) - they often advertise in the ARS Journal). Even this label, however, can be covered up by growth or accidentally pulled out, run over, etc. We either paint the tag or affix a special computer generated tag to this stake.
We have also been experimenting with some weatherproof white labels from Avery (#1550) that are designed for laser printers (which we don't have) that are supposed to stand up to the toughest weather conditions. These guys resist moisture, scuffing, tearing, and smudging if they are printed on a regular laser printer. Once printed, these labels can be attached to glass, plastic, metal, and more. The American Iris Society used these to create labels for an international tour in 2005. The labels were put out in 2004 and we still have some stakes that look nearly brand new - very readable - and still firmly attached to metal posts. In lieu of the laser printer, Dave carefully sprayed the finished labels with a couple coats of clear sealer. We'll see how this works. The label itself may last, but the ink (which is water based, rather than a laser's wax based ink) may fade. The quest goes on.
There are some wonderful enamel based pens in the craft store that will write on nearly everything including these metal labels. One could easily write on labels made from metal mini-blind pieces or metal strips made from the inside of a soda can, wood stakes, and probably rocks. The trick is to let the paint dry before handling and inevitably smearing the paint.
We also typically create another smaller metal tag using a pen or stylus. Impress-O-Tag from Amerkron Products in California (559-568-1600) is almost indestructible with its dual metal layer and embedded writing. The tag is not highly readable from a distance, but once is has been loosely wired onto a stem it may last forever assuming it doesn't get ripped off or mangled.
Finally, if you are really worried about losing the label, take a plastic label and write on it with a #2 pencil. This label will last for several years, particularly when buried in your compost pile (where it does lots of good!). What this tells me, however, is that these labels will not fade and might last for YEARS if they are protected from the sun and buried near the plant! They would also be vastly more useful out of the compost pile. Ah yes, the quest continues!
Kath Collier is President of the Portland ARS Chapter and ARS Secretary.
