Waterproof marker pens that actually work in the garden

YoungBlueEyes

I don't know about the ones in your link but I have neighbours who have slates as their house numbers with decoration on them (one has a dog, one has a rosebush). They're both years old with no issues. Just market stall things I think, nothing swish or expensive. 

LessImpecunious

ArbitraryRandom said:

I've just had a load of trees planted in my garden and I was thinking it might be a nice idea to get a little sign that has the variety, rootstock, and when it was planted... You see them in posh open gardens sometimes.

Maybe the labels used by arboreta/botanical gardens could be the thing Arbs? I found a couple of examples online, though pricing looks possible pricey or unclear? Imagine this kind of thing would last well though...Guessing someone like @Dustyevsky might be able to advise best sources... See e.g., https://www.winterling.co.uk/other and https://www.gardenlabelling.co.uk/

Emmia

would something like this work? 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1352035225/botanical-plant-label-personalised

ArbitraryRandom

Yes, there's a few different options at different price points and some are really neat and simple like that one.

I'm just wondering how long they'll reasonably be expected to last (no one ever seems to come back to review three or four years down the line!) - one of the main reasons for thinking about getting some done now is because I can guarantee I'll have forgotten the pertinent details by this time next year so a sign that's only readable for a year or two will just taunt me...

I'm leaning towards something in slate as they're not hugely expensive and fit in with my general aesthetic, but it would be good to hear any more experiences or recommendations (and apologies to Less for highjacking the thread - it seems a logical extension for plant labels that are needed to last beyond the season)

GreenBucket24

LessImpecunious said:

Emmia said:

I use pencil on my plant labels, seems to last longer without fading.

Agree - I actually use pencil on plant labels - rubs of easily (but requiring effort, so only when intended) when I need to reuse...it's the plastic sacks that are the main problem...

@LessImpecunious @Emmia I use a thick black marking pencil for the garden, it can write in metal plant name plates for long term; and use permanent marker pen for the plastic tags for short term. 

LessImpecunious

GreenBucket24 said:

LessImpecunious said:

Emmia said:

I use pencil on my plant labels, seems to last longer without fading.

Agree - I actually use pencil on plant labels - rubs of easily (but requiring effort, so only when intended) when I need to reuse...it's the plastic sacks that are the main problem...

@LessImpecunious @Emmia I use a thick black marking pencil for the garden, it can write in metal plant name plates for long term; and use permanent marker pen for the plastic tags for short term. 

GreenBucket24 said:

 I ... use permanent marker pen for the plastic tags for short term. 

How do you remove the permanent marks when you re-use the labels?

Emmia

LessImpecunious said:

GreenBucket24 said:

LessImpecunious said:

Emmia said:

I use pencil on my plant labels, seems to last longer without fading.

Agree - I actually use pencil on plant labels - rubs of easily (but requiring effort, so only when intended) when I need to reuse...it's the plastic sacks that are the main problem...

@LessImpecunious @Emmia I use a thick black marking pencil for the garden, it can write in metal plant name plates for long term; and use permanent marker pen for the plastic tags for short term. 

GreenBucket24 said:

 I ... use permanent marker pen for the plastic tags for short term. 

How do you remove the permanent marks when you re-use the labels?

This is why I use pencil, a thick slightly soft one rather than a harder one. 

I find markers tend to fade (even fade resistant ones)

GreenBucket24

LessImpecunious said:

GreenBucket24 said:

LessImpecunious said:

Emmia said:

I use pencil on my plant labels, seems to last longer without fading.

Agree - I actually use pencil on plant labels - rubs of easily (but requiring effort, so only when intended) when I need to reuse...it's the plastic sacks that are the main problem...

@LessImpecunious @Emmia I use a thick black marking pencil for the garden, it can write in metal plant name plates for long term; and use permanent marker pen for the plastic tags for short term. 

GreenBucket24 said:

 I ... use permanent marker pen for the plastic tags for short term. 

How do you remove the permanent marks when you re-use the labels?

@LessImpecunious
I will wipe with paper towel damped with an isopropyl alcohol, and there disappears, when dried i will rewrite with a new name as necessary. 

Hermann

Pentel N50 permanent markers, available as bullet point or chisel point, are the ones to use if you want a pen. Use them on stick in plant labels (some of the professional ones have one side for pens and the other for pencil). Surface does need to be wiped dry.
They do fade eventually but last a good few years.

Can be cleaned with wire wool/nylon scrubber & Isopropyl.

Alternatively use a decent garden pencil.

LessImpecunious

Hermann said:

Pentel N50 permanent markers, available as bullet point or chisel point, are the ones to use if you want a pen.

Alternatively use a decent garden pencil.

Thanks - I've found the N50 seems to have worked well on my old plastic sacks, which I use for keeping sieved homemade compost, leafmould, or various mixes in. I just use a fairly soft pencil on labels (which rubs off easily -usually - with a bit of spit and polish - always to hand, unlike ispropyl alcohol!). Didn't know there was such a thing as a garden pencil though...sounds like that could go on my next birthday or xmas list!