Plant Labels & Master Lists

[crmauch]

Originally Posted by Stvrob

I use a similar system except I don't use aluminum tape. I will cut a soda can, open it up, and use a ballpoint pen. As with your tape, the ballpoint indents on the surface. Then I take a sharpie and trace over the lettering, then immediately wipe it off with bit of alcohol and paper towel. The permanent ink is left behind only in the indentation left by the ball point.
Trim the corners so they are round, and poke a hole and you have a durable little dog tag that is legible for years, even if the ink has faded.

For fruit trees, or perennials in pots, I also use aluminum cans, but I actually fold mine over and fold the edges over to reduce the chance of being cut by the aluminum. For those being attached to fruit trees, I'll punch a hole and then flatten the puncture to thread a wire attachment (I used to love when my kids were younger the plastic wrapped wire that tied the toys into the box). I find the pen's indent is enough to read and don't do the sharpie part. Some of the commercial aluminum tree labels can be attached and destroyed by birds, but the doubled aluminum are almost permanent.