Plant labels

A good label for outdoor use can be made from soft, pure aluminium 
strip, sold by roofing merchants as flashing for aluminium roofing.  
I obtain it in strips about 2" wide, pre-primed with a grey paint which 
makes it reasonably unobtrusive in the garden.  I cut it to the 
required size with scissors (it's very soft), place it on a yielding 
surface, such as cardboard, and write on it, firmly, with a ballpoint 
pen.  This embosses the lettering into the aluminium. 

Being soft and flexible, it can be wrapped around a plant stem and 
will open out as the plant grows, or can be stuck, carefully, into 
the ground, or can be wired on with aluminium wire.  It will also 
accept adhesive labels from the Brother P-Touch labelmaker, another 
excellent aid for gardeners.  Ideal for repetitive printing of long 
plant names, and the labels seem very durable, and will stick to pots 
or labels or even plant surfaces.

I presume north americans do use aluminium roofing, so can obtain the 
flashing.  If not, thin copper sheet should also work, but might cost 
more. 

Nick Miller
Rotorua, New Zealand
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index