If you want to mark important trees and shrubs, copper labels last forever, and are easy to make.
How To Make Copper Plant Labels
I’m very excited. Last night I made copper labels for all of our fruit trees. All it took was; some 1” labels, which you can buy, but I won them at a gardening event; metal stamping set; wood scrap; and a hammer.
To do the stamping -
- Pick out the letters needed from the stamping kit.
- Place label on scrap wood.
- Align stamp for placement on the label.
- Hit lightly with the hammer.
On the top row I stamped the type of fruit, such as, apple, pear, etc. On the second row I stamped the variety. For instance, I have one new apple tree. I stamped the top row with the word APPLE, and the second row with, PINK LADY, which is the variety.
That way, ten years from now I won’t have to guess at which tree is which. Of course some varieties, like the plums are different colors, so that helps, but when I pick three different varieties of cherries it becomes a little more difficult.
The next step, which I’ll do today if the rain stays at bay, is to put them on the trees. They came with copper ties. Since the trees are tiny I’ll put them around the main trunk, so that there are many branches to hold them in place. I need to remember to check them several times throughout the season, though, as little trees grow fast and I don’t want to girdle the trunk. As the tree gets bigger and has branches that will hold it better I’ll move it there. Once the tree gets a little mature with stronger bark I may just nail them vertically to the actual trunk. Otherwise I’ll have to keep moving the labels periodically. That’s gets old and can easily be forgotten when trees get covered in leaves.
Not Just For Fruit Trees
You can use this method to mark any trees and shrubs you want to remember the name of, whether common or botanical. It does take a little practice to get the letters lined up well. My first markers don’t look as nice as the last ones I did, but they all work beautiful or not.
Share Your Labeling Methods
What labeling methods do you use for plants you want to remember. I’m especially interested in non-woody plants that you can’t tie or nail a label to.
