I live in an agricultural area and that means that when you drive outside of town you will see crops growing.  Many of them are easy to identify such as corn and wheat.  But oftentimes I will see some plant that I am not sure what it is.  Especially if it’s in the early stage of growth.  And inquiring minds want to know!  Sometimes the farmers will post labels along the roadway stating what is growing but more often I drive by just wondering what it was.

What does that have to do with today’s craft?  Well, I believe that our gardens can and should be more than just a place to grow food, herbs, and flowers.  A garden should be a place to sit and reflect.  To watch the birds, butterflies, and bees.  And it’s best to do this in the garden not sitting on the sidelines.  Set a small table and a chair or 2 in your garden.  Or include a bench so that you have a place to retreat to.  And invite your friends and family to join you.

Just like those farmers need to tell us what they are growing, it is nice to label your plants so that other people will know what you have growing.  And it’s just fun to see little signs in the garden marking your special plants.  Before we get to the craft, here are a few ideas of things you can use to label your plants.

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Things that can be turned into Garden Markers

• Painted Rocks
• Shaved Sticks
• Stamped Spoons
• Wine bottle corks
• Scrabble Tiles
• Frozen juice lids
• Plastic Milk jugs
• Painted Fence boards
• Terracotta Pots
• Broken pottery
• Mason Jars
• Bricks
• Plastic spoons or knives
• Glass bottles
• Wooden blocks

As you can see, there are so many materials that you can use for this purpose.  Here are 3 things that you want to be aware of when making garden markers.

3 Tips For Making Your Garden Markers

#1…Make your Markers large enough to read at a glance.

Your plants will be growing and oftentimes the markers get lost in the garden.  If you have to dig around in the bed to find out what’s growing then your markers are too small.  They should be large enough to see all through the growing season.

#2…Use a medium that will not be washed away or fade during the growing season.

Felt pens often will fade during the growing season with exposure to sun and moisture.  So you want to use something that will last.  Paint is a good choice or you can use a wax pencil.  Try a paint pen to give you fine details.

#3…Add a protective coating to help your Markers last more than one season.

To help your garden markers last longer, consider giving them a coat of shellac or polyurethane.  This will add a layer of protection to your markers that can help to keep them vibrant longer.

For my Garden Markers, I am using paint sticks.  Since we painted our house this past winter, I have an abundance of paint sticks and paint samples to use for this project.  Paint sticks are not expensive and they are larger in size.  If you haven’t painted recently, then just purchase a bundle of stir sticks at your local garden center along with a sample size paint container or 2.

To Make Garden Markers

1. Completely cover your paint sticks with a coat of paint.  Any type will do.  Allow to dry.
2. Add a second layer of paint in a different color, but do not cover the first layer completely.  This adds a decorative dimension to your markers.  Allow to dry.
3. Paint the top 3 inches of your marker with either black or white paint (very light color will work).  Allow to dry.
4. Use a black or white paint pen to write the name of your plant.  Allow to dry.
5. Completely cover your garden labels with a coating of polyurethane sealant.  You can either paint it on or use a spray product.
6. Once dry, you can also add fun details such as bakers twine wrapped below the words.  Keep in mind that anything you add on will probably only last for the season.  The markers, however, should last for several.  They can also be painted over again for next year if you change out your garden plants.

Growing vegetables and herbs provides so many benefits.  And it’s especially nice when you can tell at a glance what’s growing in your garden.  You can certainly buy garden markers.  But crafting your own is a wonderful activity to do on an early spring day.