the label in the Babiana odorata pot

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Rod, thanks for your tips. 

 

Yes, the mini-blinds lately are quite flimsy!  Not making points on them will be one less step and make the wimpy ones stronger!  How long do you make them for the garden so that crows do not pull them out?

 

I had not thought of writing on both ends, but yes the parts underground do not fade like the exposed parts eventually do. 

 

I also used to use the white plastic sheet ones, but they get brittle after a few years and have no chance with moose.  I have to pick up all the little pieces and try to keep them together long enough to get a new tag written AND then remember where the broken tag came from!  There were just too many places for the system to break down, so at least the mini-blinds were still readable. 

 

Mine are about three inches above the soil level because that is a little short of the depth of mulch I put on them when I have enough of it and time.  But later it is broken down and disappears leaving the tags high.  Writing on both ends will do the trick. 

 

Thanks, Debbie

Anchorage, Alaska 

USDA Zone 3-4

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Hi Debbie,

 

Yes mini-blind slats with pencil. Crows like to pull them up here. In the garden I push them leaving only an inch or so above ground. Just enough to grab and pull them out if I want to check the ID on something. Mostly I rely on my maps. The big problem lately is that the blinds I've salvaged are very thin. OK for pots but really too flexible for the garden. They seem to do better if you don't point them.  The similar white plastic "stakes" that come in sheets also work well and actually are easier to mark but do get brittle in a couple of years. I stick with the blinds because the are free!

 

 For those that haven't used this system it's important to mark both the top and bottom of the slat. The top marking will weather but that below the ground will last for years.

 

Rod

From: Debbie Hinchey <dhinchey@alaska.com>
To: iris-species@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, February 5, 2011 10:44:18 AM
Subject: [iris-species] Re: Babiana odorata

I noticed the label in your pot.  Is it made from a slat from window mini-blinds? 

 That is what I use for all my labels.  I use #2 pencil or a Brother Label maker for notes on the mini-blind.  So far this is the best I have found for durability, but I am always looking for something better.   

Is this what you do too? Or do you have another technique that works better for durable labels? 

 I have moose stepping on them and Magpies pulling them out all the time.  I can cut them into many useful sizes with a point on one end and round the corners at the other end so that I do not cut my hands when weeding.  I prefer to not use the white ones because they show up too well in the garden (like miniature tombstones in spring) but I use what I am given.  I also like the recycling aspect of using otherwise trashed blinds.

 Debbie,  Anchorage, Alaska,  USDA Zone 3 - 4