I have been using Kincaid SS markers for ~10 years. My preference for labels has been laser printed waterproof stick-on white or "Avery" 1 X 2 5/8 labels. I print them from an Excel spread sheet using Word mail-merge. The printing fades after 2-3 years, however, re-printing and re-labeling is quick and easy.

Leon for starting this tread!

We have discussed markers in various other treads before, but it is good to have all the information in one place.

I am still deciding what to go with...

At the moment I'm leaning towards the heavy duty zinc and the galvanised wires - I'll keep mulling for a couple of days. I'll also have to buy a p-touch printer. Thank you, Leon and everyone else, for all the helpful information.

Mika you are right! Those black metal markers work out quite expensive but I started off using them 5 years ago for my roses and don't want to change. I like the black because they are not so obvious. This year, with the new iris and daylilies, a total of EUR80.- for labels also got me thinking. So I went for the cheaper white plastic markers which I have used on some of my seedlings. They didn't look half bad with the white P-touch tape. Last month however, while I was cleaning up around my seedlings, I accidently knocked one with my trowel and it shattered into three pieces! Obviously 2 years of exposure to the elements was too much. My DH was sympathetic to my dilemma and started experimenting ....


Not the best pic!
At the top is a marker DH made out of some copper pieces he had lying around. Would be perfect but on checking the prices for copper sheeting and taking into account the time to make it - TOO EXPENSIVE!

The bottom one is the plastic marker which has proven impractical for long-term use.

The middle is aluminium which DH came up with. Cut from a 1m piece. It is 1.5cm wide and 12.5cm long and won't rust and very quick to make. Works out to CHF0.41 per marker! The clear P-touch tape with black print looks perfect on it!

So that's how I am going to label all my new iris and daylilies!

Thanks, Sharlene - more food for thought. Don't suppose you have a pic of the aluminium one with a label attached?

Mika, I do but it is dark outside now - if it's not raining tomorrow I'll pop out and get a pic of it.

It sounds attractive!!

I'm really liking the black labels with the white print. I would still use the Kincaid markers -- but I might switch to the black tape!

I have just placed an order with a German company for 250 galvanised steel markers with wires. Quite a lot more expensive than Paw Paw but with free shipping and no customs to pay. They had a couple of other items I wanted, at good prices, so I decided to stop prevaricating and go for it...
If I like the markers I can reorder (I'm afraid that 250 won't be enough, but the price doesn't get any cheaper for larger quantities).

Now to find a good value p-touch printer...

Good for you Mika!!

Nice!

Where did you get them??

@cliftoncat and now I ran out into the rain to get a pic for you Glad you found some.
And like Lilli, I would also like to know where you found them - you never know ....

Anyway here is the pic that you asked for.
This was just a trial and the aluminium was a little to narrow for the tape - only 10mm wide - but you can see what the clear tape with black print looks like on the aluminium. Will probably look just as good on the galvanised markers.

Thanks, Mary Ann. It's surprising that there's nothing like the Kincaid/Paw Paw type of marker in the UK. And I was getting very fed up with labels becoming illegible because the writing faded away.

@sunnyvalley, @IrisLilli
Sharlene and Lilli, in case you're interested, I bought the markers online from pflanzschild.de at a cost of 189.90 euros for 250 markers (inc VAT and with free shipping).

Ah - two replies before I added the details!

You're right, Sharlene, your aluminium marker looks really good. Perhaps I'll go for a mix of those and the galvanised steel ones... Sorry you got wet on my account!

Mika!

I looked at those before and I like the narrow vertical ones, 'cos they would be less conspicuous... and I would only need them for the irises... I think... Hmmm...

Sharlene, that looks very good!
Maybe I can find a source of inexpensive aluminium strips and make them look just as good by using labels similar to yours.

Mika - I looked at those as well.

PS - didn't get that wet - so glad we're getting some rain again

Wish we were too!

Ditto here. We need rain. Rain, rain, rain.

98 degrees today... Rain would be nice...really nice...