Success at Lily Labeling?

For many years I have tried to figure out a way to label my lilies. I have used those metal markers with permanent ink pen, only to find in the Spring, the print faded. I have saved the photo marker from nursery places, to stick in front of the plant, but those only last a few years. B & D lilies says to bury the label near the plant. The trouble is, I want to see it. I know people who create books with pictures or diagrams, these are a great back up for me, but as I said, I want to see the labels with the plant. Help!

Get yourself a Brother P-Touch laeler and use the laminated label. 3 years and you can't tell the new ones from the old labels. I put them on the slide up metal plant stakes and love the clean look of the labels. They have White, clear, and some colors.

Yep, P-Touch is the only way to go. :)

Thanks for your input llilyfan & Moby. It's been driving me crazy for years. Perhaps I found an answer.

Good deal. :)

Sue - what is Orange Mountain? lol

This, perhaps? http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/75769/index.html

Oh, that is very pretty! :)

Sure and glad to see mine is similar LOL

Wow, look at that! Now if that had been in the PF, I would have known for certain. ;)

I'm beginning to really like orange flowers more and more. :)

I've been using clear mailing labels (Avery) and printing the plant names off on them using a laser-jet printer. Seems to work quite well for me. A guy that runs a daylily, iris, hosta nursery told me he'd been using them in the gardens for the past five years and they are still as clear as the day he put them out. I put some out last summer and they are just fine and look just like new.... Of course, no matter what you do, put the name of the plant on the back side of the label just for good measure. :)

Diann

I have another lily that looks so simiar in flower, but is quite a bit taller and has totally different foliage.

All Around

I got a Brother P Touch for Christmas & just bought batteries for it today. Then I got the EON label markers. It should make for a fun winter project. Thanks for the tips. With the warm weather, I may be able to stick them in the ground sooner than I thought. Very strange, this weather.....

You must have been a good girl! (like we had any doubts) You're going to love it. Once you get them labeled, you'll barely have to worry about them again ~ barring any playful puppies or garden missteps.

The EON Labels are the 15 inch size. Any tips on not poking into lilies that are already in the ground? You know, not sticking them with either of those prongy things?
I keep thinking I'll be more organized with this. At least I'll have an organized look ;0)
Don't know if I've been that good this year, but thankful none the less.

I had little luck with the T-markers. As I mulch heavily with leaves in the fall, I found they pulled out too easily when raking out the leaves in the spring. The plastic stick labels were to brittle. (Broke off). I have gone to using a flexible white stick marker and using the Sharpy Industrial marker. They last a couple of years but I can touch them up when they get faint. The flexible markers don't break if you accidentally step on them.

Flexible? What is the brand?

This inquiring mind wants to know that too. I don't use markers anymore, unless I know it will be temporary, like for seeds maybe. It's pencil all the way for me. But then, they aren't meant to be read from an upright posture either.

Any plant markers that might get picked up by mulch raking get jammed into the soil to ground level in the fall.

Does the P-touch have different size font options? sure would be nice.

After talking to two gentlement touring the gardens on tour at NALS, they shared this tip with me. They were from Calif., I think Imperial Valley, HOT HOT HOT.
They use the metal markers, tape and then put clear "duck tape" over the marker. I allow it to go clear around the marker. I only started using it after NALS.
Forgot to say its also water proof.

Will be able to tell more after the summer heat, if it is as hot as it was this past summer.

Maxine

I get them here by mail order.
http://www.nationalband.com/nbtplant.htm

They come in various sizes and colors.

P-touch looks like it adjusts the type to fit whatever size tape you use. I haven't had any success with any kind of marking, sharpie black or marking pencil. I've used metal markers, plastic white and wooden sticks. I once had a nightmare that my neighbor went through and took all of my markers out and mixed them all up. What does this say about me???

Sharpie Industrial is far better at staying on the marker than regular sharpies. Available at Staples...

Hmmmm, not sure if I have ever used the "Industrial Sharpie". Sounds powerful! ;0)
Well, now I have thisP-Touch thing to a give a try . It works pretty slick. I did all of my Buggy Crazy order from the Fall on the tape that it came with. I ran out...eeeeek!

Lefty ~ you can get as fancy as you want with P-Touch, depending on the model. They go from a 'couple of fonts' model, or hand-held, or up to really fancy models. But what you really want is one that takes the TZ industrial tapes which are extra sticky and weather resistant. Most models can use it.

The one I have is PT-1950 which is about middle of the road with several font sizes and other options like bold, italics, shadow, and is "PC Ready" requiring a USB cable. I just happened to have one that fit (it went to some other gadget) and you can use all the fonts that are on your computer. This printer can take 1/4 to 3/4 in. tapes.

Got mine at Office Depot for $70 with a $20 rebate. http://www.advizia.com/brother/Advisor.asp?User=ptouch&Rnd=248

I have a more scaled down model. PT-1830. Fits 1/4-3/4inch tape. Seems like it should do the trick. I am still surprised how easy it is to use. Moby, yours sounds super fancy. Sounds fun.

After using the P touch last year, and the labels faded in the sun, bought a cheap labeler at Walmart that indents the name into the tape. I figure if it fades, I can still "feel" the name and make another marker.

Did you use the laminated TZ tapes?

Thanks Moby! Your info is exactly what I was looking for. I didn't even realize there were different models of P-touch, and PC ready, how cool is that!

It's way cool ~ you can copy and paste from your own database or even your DG journal. If you want it portable, just pop in some batteries and you're good to go.

I also use the TZ tapes and they seem to hold up well.

Moby, I don't really know what type of label it was. A white one with black letters, and after 3 months they were faded almost beyond reading. So maybe I should check and get the TZ labels, and try again.

I sure would try again, defo ~ maybe you had regular tape. My labels, and everyone that I know that uses them, are still looking great after 2 and 3 years.

defoe... hey girl, good to 'see' you again. I am going on 4 years with my first batch of PTouch labels and still they look like new. Definitely try the TZ--laminated tape and give it another shot!

Moby- do you use extra strength adhesive laminated or the regular laminated? The order form that came with my p-touch has almost all laminated as options.

You just had to ask that, didn't ya? lol I pulled out my printer and the tape is TZ laminated, extra strength adhesive and is resistant to abrasion, heat & cold, spill and UV light.

Anyone looking to make a new purchase, just make sure your printer can take the TZ tapes if you're wanting it for outdoor labeling use.

Thanks, Moby. What came with mine is the regular strength. Hmmmmmm, since I did the Buggy Crazy Bulbs from fall with that one, then maybe I'll try and compare the next roll, being extra strength laminated, with the spring stuff. I actually really hope they both work.

I used the tape that came with mine, too, and didn't think about it until it was already done. Haven't seen any labels go to pot after 2 years, but in the long run it might make a difference.

One more question, what is your label preference? Black on clear? Black on white? Other? Again, I am using the EON zinc markers, the plate has a silver look to it.

I kinda like the look of the black on clear but black on white is much easier to read.