Fruit bush/tree lables

[SimonCole]

I find that plastic name tags using permanent pen fade away. I want something that will last, but am on a shoestring budget. Any advice would be much appreciated?

[TonyF]

A bit more expensive but they do last and can be reused, I use CD marker pens, last at least three years.

I also reuse them year on year, just change the dates on the labels but CD pens work fine.

[bubblewrap]

I find that plastic name tags using permanent pen fade away. I want something that will last, but am on a shoestring budget. Any advice would be much appreciated?

Can you get use of letter punchs? If so beer/drinks cans cut to size, stamped & tied with plastic cable ties!

[shirlthegirl43]

Can you get use of letter punchs? If so beer/drinks cans cut to size, stamped & tied with plastic cable ties!

Cool idea BW. Are the cans soft enough to mark with an old biro?

[TPeers]

If you can get your hands on a pyrography machine, scribed wooden lables last ages.

Or you could try the Victorian route of heating a skewer, be careful how you hold it though!

[bubblewrap]

Cool idea BW. Are the cans soft enough to mark with an old biro?

Don't know but any sharp metal point should do it But I think aliminum cans would be easier.
This only an idea not tried myself.

[Nicos]

Aren't the cut cans rather sharp??

[bubblewrap]

Aren't the cut cans rather sharp??

You will know if they are sharp handle with care anyway you can get a nasty cut off paper.

[Flummery]

I haven't tried it (Gin doesn't come in cans!) but if you can use aluminium cans you should be able to turn/roll the edges.

[SimonCole]

Thank you all for your ideas I'll try all of them and compare!

[Two_Sheds]

have tried loads of diff combinations of pen/plastic marker over the years. Last year we managed to buy plant labels with pencil THAT YOU COULDN'T WRITE ON! (one of the quid shops)
Best labels - Asda (also do a waterproof pen to go with them, but pencil lasts longer)
This year I have some leftover white paint, so I'm going to dip bits of wood in it and write on them.

[Birdie Wife]

Have a look at Alitags, we use their labels for lts of jobs on the reserve up here and they are very weather resistant, plus all you need is an ordinary pencil for marking them. They do labels in different shapes and sizes, aluminium, bamaboo, teak and copper (which oxidises to verdigris). We've only used the aluminium ones here but I can definitely recommend them.

[NOG]

Buy a B2 Pencil and use that.

[Snadger]

I agree with the CD marker pens, thats what I use!

I also cut the labels from Cravendale 4pt milk cartons and get 30 labels from each carton!

[Hazel at the Hill]

I have been following the grapes advice and making labels cut from milk cartons, however, being somewhat slow of brain at times, it took a long time for me to realise that you are not using the 1pt cartons, but larger ones.

In fact, it took a rather unkind chum to laugh wildly at my little 3" labels pointing out they were comically small.

I am now buying my milk in 2 pt cartons and will be starting again.

Hrumph.