What do you use to cut the rods with? Is there a laminated tape that will not fade, or can I write on the rod with my paint pen?

What a great idea ... thanks for sharing this tip!

Good Idea!!! How much do the rods cost?

I'll try anything!
I've lost so many names....

The tape is peel backed, right?
How many winters has it survived?

I like this idea! I also want to know how easy it is to cut and $. Do you use the regular tape or heavyduty labels?

I cut the rods with my power mitre saw.

The standard brother laminated tape seems to last. I have not had any failures in the past 3-4 years. Brothers also has an industrial Tape that I have not tried. A little more expensive, but might last even longer....

I suppose you could use a permanent marker to write directly on the stake, but normal permanent markers will fade within a year. Industrial permanent markers (Sharpie Industrial) would solve that problem.

the 4 foot rods from Tractor Supply were $1.09, but they have increased to $1.29. Still a very good price. After cutting, that is ~$0.25 per plant stake. The .5" tape is ~$11 per 26 ft roll on Amazon. If you use 3" for a label, that works out to about $0.11 per label, for a total of $0.36 per marker. this price does not include the Brother label printer. At any rate, 3 for a dollar sounds good to me:)

I have additional photos on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/5...

Those fiberglass rod - plant labels look so amazing! Here in Florida, the plastic labels get brittle and break apart quickly in the heat and humidity. I tried some thin aluminum type labels a few years ago but they got all bent and wonky and didn't hold up for long either.

Great tutorial and photo's on your flickr page! I've got to show that to my husband to see if he'd be willing to cut some of the rods for me. I don't know if there's a Tractor Supply store nearby but I'm going to do some research to see if I can find the fiberglass rods somewhere locally!

I have seen them at the box stores as well, Lowes, etc. any place that would sell fencing supplies should have them. One thing to be very aware of is that they are fiberglass and will shed if splintered causing painful splinters. We use a rubber cap here at the farm to drive our posts in but a block of wood on the end of the rod should keep the hammer from splintering the end. Great idea.

crittergarden said:I'll try anything!
I've lost so many names....

The tape is peel backed, right?
How many winters has it survived?

Sorry, i missed your question in my last response. The tape has a back that you peel off.

I really like this idea.

What a cool idea!

Just today I ran out of metal tags, so this idea came up just in time for me to label bulbs! I love this way for plants that only need identification when they are in a show or if I'm digging to share. This way I can push the rod below the soil and know the name will stay safe from crows, lawnmowers and children! (and suddenly I'm grateful for soil loamy enough that I can push a 9" rod in by hand! Sorry, Joy!)
Some of my plants have Brother P-touch tags that are more than 10 years old, and they still look like new. That's amazing considering our weather ranges from -10 to 110. Typing out a tag has got to be easier than trying to write legibly on a rod. Well maybe not, if you're one of those people who carves landscapes on toothpicks.
Thanks for the super idea, Frank!

You won't find me carving anything on a toothpick. I'm with you Cindi, I love my P-touch label maker.

Here's mine
SODA BOTTLE PLASTIC
COATED THINLY WITH GORILLA GLUE
DOUBLE THE PLASTIC TO KEEP FROM BEING SO THIN

That's a good idea! ....and welcome to ATP!!

Welcome, jimard8!

jimard!

Cindi what IS that flower on your pic????

Critter, my icon photo is 'Ketchup and Mustard' rose. Very appropriate name, isn't it!
Hi, Jimard! Are the edges of your label sharp? Do you cut them with scissors or heat of some sort?

Thank you all for the welcome ..
No , if you cut them with kitchen scissors (Idid) no sharp edges unless you get tags , those you can trim ,
Also doubling the plastic one over the other , further reduces sharpness of any plastic being thin .

Disadvantage is over time outside the glue may turn orange .. might , it is made from foam insulation technology , but it's good..

The advantage is the soda bottle , water bottle plastic , does not break down from weather ..
Here's small one used in starter pots (wintersow) and a 1/4 round for the garden with the one shown before .. These are a 2 liter , water bottles are thinner only as to shape ?'s are often as easy and durable ,