I had never really given much thought to plant identification when I first began gardening. Somehow, I figured I could/would simply memorize all the plant names. It wasn’t long before my garden outgrew my memory! I searched and tried all sorts of markers, but few could stand up to our temperamental weather here in Indianapolis. Another problem I was not prepared for was how the wildlife would take to my markers. I never caught anyone in the act, but found many of the flimsy metal markers chewed and sometimes several feet away from where they were staked. I suspect it was the work of all the baby foxes– no proof though.
A few of my new additions for 2010.
Yet another challenge was how difficult it was to keep the writing on the tag. I tried everything, lead pencil, a sharpie, and even wax pencils. It went on clear but a season or two later, it was as if I were trying to decipher a doctor’s handwritten note.
Imagine my joy (yes, joy) when I stumbled upon a company called Gardenmarkers.com. These were the elusive markers that I had seen at so many public gardens and museums!
The flat face stake is made of galvanized steel and has a hinge behind the face.
So far, I am very happy with the long sturdy stakes and easy-to-read labels. They cost more than the average marker, but they are not the most expensive marker on the market. One thing to remember when ordering is that plant labels and stakes are sold separately.
In addition to the plant markers shown above, there is another style to choose from. Tree labels are also available. The website even has Plant Encyclopedias to help find the correct names for your plants and trees.
Note: This is a personal endorsement. I am not affiliated with Gardenmarkers.com in any way.