There are all sorts of creative, low-cost ways to make your own plant tags, markers, and labels for the garden. Grab some art supplies and repurposed household items and get crafty.
If you need tags for indoor seed starting, see Best (Cheap & Easy) DIY Tags For Indoor Seedlings.
Make Your Own Creative Plant Markers
If you need simple, low-cost ideas for marking garden plants with a crafty touch, there are plenty of creative options.
In the spirit of earth-friendly gardening, have a look at the ideas and repurpose whatever you can using household items like wood scraps and kitchen utensils to create your own unique tags.
These markers are perfect for annuals like flowers and vegetables where you just need to keep track of the plant for a single growing season. I have a tutorial here on long-lasting outdoor plant markers as well.
Getting crafty with paint and pens can be a great way to engage kids who might not otherwise have a keen interest in planting the school garden or helping a parent or grandparent with the veggie patch. Once they see their art in the garden, they are engaged!
For help choosing the right art supplies, see the tips section. For example, some marking pens are long-lasting and others are not (despite being sold as “permanent”). I also have tips here for getting used items cheap.
Contents
- Plant Tag & Marker Ideas
- Tips For Getting Started | Recommended Art Supplies
- More Ideas
Creative Plant Tag & Marker Ideas
These are not intended as long-term plant markers but instead creative and inexpensive ways to create basic plant tags that act both as plant markers and garden art for a growing season or two.
Mini Terracotta Pots
Created with:
- Acrylic paint and markers
Start with clean, dry mini clay pots. I like the 2.5-inch size.
Draw your letters and designs first with light pencil.
Fill in with marking pens and acrylic paint pens or craft paints and fine brushes.
Wood Slices
Created with:
Buy ready-made wood slices made for crafts or make your own.
Make holes for threading twine or wire if needed.
I have tips on getting started with the art of wood burning here.
You could also use acrylic paints, markers, or paint pens.
Popsicle Sticks
Created with:
While popsicle sticks are an inexpensive, popular option, some types do not hold up nicely in wet weather. It’s good to test them first to see how they do.
Seed companies and garden nurseries also sell tags like this made from birch which list as a sustainable, longer-lasting option.
Clothes Pegs
Created with:
- Acrylic craft paints and marking pens
These are sweet!
Paint the unfinished wood doll clothes pegs to look like little people starting with the background layers including face, hair, and body.
When paint is dry, fill in details like faces and plant names with marking pens.
Metal Lids
Created with:
- Acrylic craft paints and fine tip markers
Any canning jar lids or lids from food jars will do.
Start with a clean, dry lid. Punch or drill a hole for hanging lid with twine or wire.
You could also decoupage images on the lid using outdoor mod podge.
Tape
Created with:
- Marking pen, pen, or pencil
This is very simple but sometimes simple is best! Write the plant name on tape and stick it on the flower pot or a plant tag.
Basic masking tape may be all you need or kick it up a notch with some pretty washi tape.
Mini Bamboo Stakes
Created with:
- Acrylic craft paints and marking pens
Start with these basic bamboo plant stakes and dress them up however you like. Here I painted each oval in a distinct color. When completely dry, I wrote the plant names with marking pen on each tag.
Rocks & Stones
Created with:
- Acrylic patio craft paint and oil-based paint pens
These stone markers work nicely when you have an in-ground garden and want plant markers at the base of each plant.
This has a complete tutorial on how to paint stones including recommendations for the best craft materials to use.
Wooden Spoons
Created with:
You may have old wooden spoons in your kitchen that are ready for a new life or you can get them at a dollar store.
Here I wrote the plant names using a wood burning tool but you can also use acrylic craft paints, marking pens, and wood stain, or some combination of these things.
Mini Blackboard Tags
Created with:
I love these little blackboard tags. They look really sweet placed in vegetable and herb containers.
Other options for writing and decorating these tags include paint pens, chalkboard markers, and acrylic craft paint.
Bamboo Paddle Skewers
Created with:
- Acrylic craft paints and paint pens
You can get a bag of these paddle skewers at Amazon or a dollar store. They come in various lengths from 6 to 12-inches. I like the taller ones for labelling plants in the ground.
If the wood surface is really smooth, you may want to lightly sand it before painting.
Plastic Toys
Created with:
Goodness knows some of us have a lot of plastic toys sitting unused in a box somewhere.
Dig out those dinosaurs, giraffes, and elephants and turn them into plant markers.
That child who isn’t sure about planting a veggie patch may just get a kick out this idea. Dinosaur kale, anyone?
Black Metal Tags
Created with:
- White paint pen
Start with these black metal plant markers. Mine came with a nice white paint pen but colorful paint pens would work nicely too.
If you use paint pens (not other water-based marking pens), these markers should last outdoors for many years.
Wooden Letters
Created with:
- Wooden alphabet letters
You can find these letters at dollar stores and craft stores. I bought a big bag of them at a thrift shop.
Made from wood or pressed paper, you can attach them to a piece of wood or stir stick.
To dress it up, paint the letters and/or the stick.
I attached mine with GE II Silicone Sealant which is my go-to adhesive for outdoor garden art projects.
Polymer Clay
Created with:
- Polymer clay & acrylic paints
This idea could send you down one big, crafty rabbit hole.
The easiest option here is to buy miniature foods and attach them to plant tags using a durable adhesive like this.
The craftiest option would be to make your own from polymer clay.
Or, instead of making mini foods, you could sculpt the actual tag or label out of polymer clay. The plant name could be embossed with alphabet stamps, painted, or handwritten with a pen-like tool.
This is a good beginner tutorial for getting started with polymer clay.
Tree Branches
Create with:
- Paint pen
- Wood burning tool
- Wood carving
- Acrylic craft paints
If you are pruning trees or shrubs with the right size branches, use them for rustic plant markers.
Cut the branches to the desired length. Peel away the bark and write, paint, or wood burn the plant name into the wood.
Chalkboard Plant Markers
Created with:
- Paint pens
Another favorite chalkboard plant marker! Once in a while these markers show up at the dollar store and I buy a handful of them. These ones are tall (18-inches) and fairly durable yet rustic (which I love).
If you use a paint pen, it will be permanent. Alternately, chalk works for temporary uses.
Laminated Seed Packets
Created with:
- Laminating sheets
It’s very handy to have your seed packet or plant tag available right in the garden to refer to during the growing season.
One way to do this is to laminate the empty packet, hole punch it, and display it by the plants. You can see self-adhesive laminating sheets here.
I like the idea somewhat. The drawbacks are, it does require empty seed packs, and, even with the laminate, the packet may fade in the sun.
Binder Clip Blackboard
Created with:
- Paint pens
This chalkboard tag has a good idea attached to it—clips for attaching the tag to a small flower pot.
Related to this, binder clips are great for attaching a seed packet or label to a plant container or stake. Keep this in mind if you’re stuck for an easy solution.
Soft Metal Tags
Created with:
- Pen tip and paint pen
These metal tags are popular with some gardeners. Made from soft metals like aluminum (see them here at Amazon), you can take a pen tip and emboss the plant name into the surface.
If you want the tag visible from a distance, follow up by tracing the letters with a dark paint pen as well.
Alphabet Beads or Tiles
Created with:
- Alphabet beads and string
Alphabet beads intended for making necklaces and bracelets work nicely as plant tags, either hanging from a metal stand or plant containers.
Scrabble letters also work. Attach them to paint stir sticks or other scraps of wood using GE II Silicone Sealant as adhesive.
Glassware
Created with:
If you check your local second-hand thrift shops, you may find little glasses like these ones.
Placed upside-down, they make really pretty markers for potted plants.
Tips For Getting Started
Marking Pens
There are two basic types of marking pens. Depending on the use, you may prefer one over the other.
I did this side-by-side test over a long winter to see how these markers endure crazy weather conditions.
- Sharpie (and similar) “permanent” marking pens
These are not truly permanent because they can fade in the sun and wash away in harsh weather. They are water-based and can usually be removed from most surfaces with soap and a scrubber. - Paint pens
True “paint pens” are truly permanent because they hold up year-round outdoors without fading. They are oil-based although it may not say this on the product labels. Typically they work on a range of surfaces including wood, glass, plastic, and metal.
Garden stores often stock paint pens marketed as “garden markers.” If they are oil-based, they are the same as paint pens found in office supply and art supply stores.
If you do need to remove paint pen this article has paint pen removal tips.
Check that your marking pen has the tip size (or sizes) you like. They come in everything from extra fine to thick.
Acrylic Craft Paints
There are several types of craft paints I like:
Basic acrylic craft paints | A good little kit with a nice assortment of colors goes a long way when painting small plant tags.
Acrylic patio paints | These have something in them that seems to make them more weather-resistant than regular acrylic craft paints. I use them for things like stone painting when you want a good, durable finish that lasts a long time.
Uni Posca paint marking pens | These are marking pens that dispense acrylic paint. They are a good option if you want a little more control than you get with paints and brushes.
Start with clean & dry materials | If you are using repurposed cans, jars, glasses, or other items (I’ve provided lots of ideas below), be sure to remove any labels and wash and dry thoroughly before getting crafty. Some art supplies will not stick if there is any grease on the surface.
Design Ideas
If you want to paint flowers, fruits, or vegetables on your plant markers, I highly recommend getting a design reference book or looking up simple painted images if you could use a little help.
- Plant Lady Embroidery | This book has hundreds of botanical embroidery designs. I refer to it fairly often when creating simple painted pictures of natural items.
Tips For Success
- Think about how you want to display your plant tag or marker before choosing materials. Do you want a stake that stands in the ground? Or a smaller tag that sits in a flower pot? Will you hang the tag on a metal stand? Or maybe it’s a rock that sits on the ground?
- Before you start crafting, test your art materials first by making a sample. This way you can sample design ideas, make sure your lettering will fit, and ensure the art supplies work nicely. For example, I always check that markers will write smoothly and not bleed on wood surfaces before settling in for an afternoon of crafting.
- Use a light pencil to plan out your design and lettering before committing pen or paint. Have a good eraser handy to remove any lines that might show through your paints.
- Let each layer of paint dry thoroughly before adding the next layer of paint or marker. You can use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process.
- If you want to extend the life of your handmade plant tags, take the final step by applying some sort of protective finish. Using a few layers of clear gloss spray polyurethane is one option.
More Ideas
Materials
When it comes to making creative plant tags, markers, or labels, anything you can paint or decorate that is sturdy enough for the job is a good candidate!
Have a look around your home and see if you’ve got some items just waiting to become plant markers or tags.
If you want to attach pieces together, my go-to outdoor adhesive is GE II Silicone Sealant (clear, outdoor, waterproof).
Here are some ideas for materials, either repurposed or ready-made.
Wood
When decorating wood, art supply options include acrylic paints, markers (water-based or oil-based), chalkboard paint, or a wood burning tool.
Smooth surfaces can work nicely for markers or pens but you may need to rough up the surface with sandpaper and/or prime it to get paints to stick.
- Scrap lumber (small pieces) | 1×1 or 3/4-inch wood slats
- Paint stir sticks
- Wooden spoons
- Popsicle or lolly sticks
- Corks (attached to dowels)
- Clothes pegs
- Large wood thread spools
- Branches or twigs, wood slices
- Ready-made bamboo and white birch tags are considered more sustainable than other wood options. Using up scrap lumber destined for the trash is best.
Metal
If a metal is soft, you can use alphabet stamps (made for leather or clay not ink stamping) or hand-write plant names by pressing a thick-tipped pen into the tag, essentially embossing the letters.
Otherwise, paint pens and wax pencils also work.
- Scrap metal from your kitchen food jar lids, canning jar lids, cutlery
- Metal washers
- Bottle caps
- Blank plant markers: stainless steel, zinc, aluminum
- Aluminum tape (emboss plant names by imprinting with pen)
- Repurposed pop cans
Plastic
Paint pens are very good on plastic and will not fade or bleed.
Acrylic paints may or may not adhere depending on the surface. If you need to, use a spray primer first to help paints stick.
It depends on the surface but HB #2 pencil usually works on plastic unless the surface is too slick or pencil quality is not great.
- Window blind slats (lead-free)
- Plastic cutlery
- Food containers including tubs from yogurt, ice-cream, margarine
- Plastic flower pots
- Corrugated plastic (also called corflute or coroplast)
- Laminated paper or seed packets
Rocks, Stones, & Shells
Paint pens and acrylic patio craft paints are both good options for these surfaces.
- Ethically-sourced only, of course.
Clay, Terracotta, & Ceramics
Paint pens and acrylic patio craft paints are both good options for these surfaces.
- Clay pots (broken or whole)
- Ceramic tiles | Use paint pens for lettering
- Polymer clay | Create your tag and bake in oven to harden it
- Bricks | You can paint them but they may absorb a lot of paint unless you prime the brick first.
Glass
Paint pens and acrylic patio craft paints are both good options for these surfaces.
- Clear 1-inch glass gems | Use Outdoor Mod Podge to decoupage plant names or images onto the flat bottom of the gem and then attach everything to a wood slat or paint stir stick.
- Food jars, juice or wine bottles
Toys & Games
Paint pens and acrylic patio craft paints are both good options for these surfaces.
- Plastic toys | Use paint pens to write plant names on toys (fun!)
- Scrabble letters | Use this adhesive to attach to wood slats
- Alphabet beads | Glue onto wood or hang on twine
Time to get crafting!
All your DIY plant tag options (both practical and creative) are listed here.
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
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