[rozalia]

As part of our local Horticultural societies' 100th anniversary we are opening our garden mid July for 2 days. I want to put labels near the major plants that we have and past experience hasn't been good - black permanent pen on white plastic labels seem to fade to nothing, ditto on metal labels.  Has anyone got advice for labelling that will last more than a season? Thanks, Rose

[Asherweef]

Copper that you can engrave? They do them in Wilkinsons...

[archibtbm]

wooden labels with the names etched in using a dremel or soldering iron ?

[rozalia]

Thanks - my husband suggested copper - its just the etching bit that's putting me off.  Will pop into Wilko's late in week and see what they have label wise in copper.  Rose

[pigguns]

Am having great success finally with those thin wooden coffee stirrers written on with permanent marker, and some wooden barbeque skewers that have a 'thumb' flat bit at the top. 

[snowdrops]

A couple of years ago I bought some large slate labels from Wilcos for my permanent planting. I got one of those white pen markers to. Write on it, it seems to have stayed on it, I'll check later.

[Asherweef]

I love the big wooden ones you can get - just can't justify them at the moment 

[agapanthus]

I use 1" x 1" x 12" pieces of kindling with ballpoint pen...haven't faded in 2 years.

[crh75]

A soft pencil works better than permanent markers on the white plastic labels in my experience.  Also easy to rub off to reuse.

[surbie100]

I have black plastic labels from ebay, written on with a white chalk pen. So far the text has lasted 15 months outside with no fading or chipping.