How To Make Simple NO FADE Garden Plant Markers

This tip is the result of a counterintuitive idea that came to me after reading a gardening tip in a magazine from 1876. Sometimes doing things "backwards" gets you much better results...
For details about all my Whizbang gardening ideas and products, stop by The Planet: www.planetwhiz...

[@tarve2010]

Is there a way to do this without using chemical sprays?

[@herrickkimball]

Yes. You can use shellac, which comes from a bug. www.madehow.com/Volume-4/Shellac.html Otherwise, I don't know. You would have to experiment to find another suitable product.

[@angelabluebird609]

@@herrickkimball Great Big Thanks.

[@d-rayphelps1630]

Awesome!!! Don't have to know why it works so long as it WORKS!!! Thanks for sharing this with us! Have a good one and May God bless y'all, Bocephus!

[@MichelleDavis-n7p]

Short and to the point. I like it

[@annashaw4329]

Going right out to try it! No matter what markers, pens, etc I've used on my plant collections, the labels always fade and I'm crazy frustrated. Thanks for sharing!

[@laaffitout]

Another excellent idea from you, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You are pure genius!

[@susanbowers247]

I am definitely going to try this.

[@myretiredhobbiesgainesvill8140]

Great video. Thanks for sharing a way to make garden markers that won't fade.

[@sandracarlisle1726]

oooo so glad I stumbled on your video. I was about to order plant labels. THANKS!!!

[@stuartthomas4836]

Great idea. Now we know in the UK. Thanks

[@angelaleeds2798]

Brilliant - thank you for sharing! Lost all my labels last year, had no idea what was going on out there, the garden was the wild, wild west. :D :D

[@skyriverwalker]

Awesome! Mine have always faded so now I know just what to do!

[@kirstenwhitworth8079]

Thank you! You have no idea how long I have been searching and how many methods I have tried. It's worth a try - if I can find the graphite pencil.

[@marthanimrod8028]

THANKS SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

[@GabrielRodrigues-nr6wc]

This video is SO underated.

[@Patriot3501]

Thank you! Finally a solution 🤗

[@penniedavidson4560]

Going to try this thanks

[@ShushLorraine]

Wow that's great advice! Thanks!!

[@kathleenwarner8700]

Love that tip!

[@thaitichi]

Very cool! Would love to know the science behind why this works.

[@mattiecopeland8741]

Great information for tags for my garden. Thank you..

[@margaretg7861]

Brilliant idea ..

[@ruthhunt5710]

Perfect!

[@BayviewPaula]

That's brilliant! What about reusing the garden markers?

[@herrickkimball]

They can be reused until the wood eventually weathers too dark to read the lettering. It would also be a simple and fast thing to sand each stake to bare wood, then use again with new writing.

[@CEE2802]

​@@herrickkimballshould one paint the bottom part with enamel or some linseed oil to keep it from rotting?

[@herrickkimball]

@@CEE2802 I wouldn't bother. I use my markers for only one or two seasons. The wood does not rot in that time.

[@katherinefox8124]

Way cool!

[@RoyatAvalonFarms]

This would be a good method for surveyors/engineers setting grade stakes on a jobsite. We've used a pump style paint marker and then spray a very light coat of orange spray paint over the writing to make it last. The paint does fade over time but the lettering stays for a long time. But it still doesnt work after an operator has run over it ;)

[@shayb3733]

Will the spray stop the stick from mildewing/ rotting in the soil? I’ve got popsicle sticks I wanna use. I also have plastic T labels and I’m wondering if it would work on that too? Thanks for this idea.

[@herrickkimball]

@@shayb3733 The spray just “fixes” the graphite lettering so it won’t disappear in the sun and weather. The markers are pretty much for one season. The wood won’t rot in that length of time. Don’t know if this will work on plastic.

[@rosemarycostello9312]

I am so excited to try this! Just ordered everything I need to get started. Excited to finally try something that seems like it will work!

[@edifying]

Have you tried this particular method with other writing materials such as a grease pen, sharpie, ink, etc.?

[@herrickkimball]

I've tried all of those. None work as well as this idea. 👍

[@_wormlet]

Damn, I don't suppose I'll find those particular pencils over here in Ireland. Wonder if Faber-Castell or Staedtler would be good.

[@SpikeMcLarty]

All general-use black pencils use a similar “lead” that’s a mixture of clay & graphite. Look for any pencil that writes a dark line you like - a #2 is roughly equivalent to an HB, but you might find you like a B2 or B3. I think this technique will apply equally.

[@KeithKropf]

Much easier is to use an oil based black paint pen. However, my wood sticks completely rot out below the soil If they are laying on the surface they last longer.

[@trudifido8086]

I just dipped the stick into the can of urethane, (which I had) then wrote and then smeared the urethane around with another stick, think this will work ?

[@herrickkimball]

Not sure but I think so. It’s worth a try. 👍

[@AYWalton]

Does the thickness of the wood matter?

[@herrickkimball]

No. 👍

[@raywang727]

Can I use resin for plant labels?

[@lesliekendall5668]

Have you tried it on metal plant markers? I paid so much for those things so I'd have nice markers in my medicinal herb garden and same thing, they fade to nothing. Tried masking tape last year....they're now laying in the dirt next to the marker.

[@MrBarmstr]

Try a paint marker.

[@eric3434]

Sprocket -> Playback Speed -> 1.5 Your welcome

[@mariap.894]

I do 2x and loved it!❤

[@musheopeaus4125]

They had polyurethane in 1878 ?

[@seekersees693]

1937

[@gw6797]

😂😂😂

[@liseforget1687]

Toxic products in the garden is a bad idea. The lacker is “gone” in your soil and food.

[@slowgomera5611]

the tip used chemicals ,for just that .....wake up man.ffs

[@analogdistortion]

You are made of chemicals