These DIY plant markers are a great use for old mason jar lids. Enjoy the free herb and vegetable labels that you can print out for yourself.
Plant markers and garden stakes are always nice to have. They are useful and can be decorative like this group of cute DIY plant markers I'm sharing today.
They are great for your own garden but would also make a nice gift. You could even simply stick one of these in a nursery pot as part of the gift. Similar to the garden charms made from clay that I shared in the past.
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How to Make Garden Markers
All you need to do is print out your labels and glue them to the top of mason jar lids. If you don't have any old or leftover lids you can buy mason jar lids at the store or online.
If you have lids that have words on them you may need to use a heavier paper for your labels or cover the words with paint before gluing on the label.
Feel free to print out and use these cute vegetable labels and herbal labels for yourself.
I used these plant stakes for my garden markers. They are actually support stakes.
However, you can easily bend them down as shown above and glue the lid directly onto the round part. I was amazed that they fit perfectly. Use something like E6000 or Gorilla Glue to ensure it will stay in place.
You can also twist the support stake around and punch a hole through the garden marker to hang it as shown above. It takes a bit of pressure but you can definitely use a paper punch to make a hole in the metal lids.
Finally, you could get thrifty and use a black wire hanger. Cut it down to size and either glue the lid directly to the wire (see above) or use some pliers to twist a loop that you can then hang garden marker on.
How to Protect the Garden Markers
I mentioned using Gorilla Glue and E6000 to glue the lid to the stake. Both of these are pretty durable and should last a while.
I would also suggest Gorilla Glue as a good spray adhesive to glue the label to the metal lid.
Finally, use a good sealant that will help with moisture and sun damage. I used several coats of this Krylon spray that is meant for indoor and outdoor use.
I love the way these plant tags look in the garden.
Karen Howard
Hi Patti. I thought I'd come & see more of your prijects & DIays. I love printables too, so I was happy to ser you had an assortment. I am just about ready to start my peony wreath. I can't print at home , so I sent these to my.othet email I use at the library& I will print them when they reopen soon. I have been to Pennsylvania- Rt. 10 I think; it went through the beautiful Amish Country on the way to Philly. That was many yrs. ago when I was 17 & again buy bus at 18. I loved it. I am 60 now as of March 9th. Where abouts do you live in PA ? Thanks so much & have a lovely day.
Patti Estep
Karen, I so glad you are enjoying the blog. I live south of Pittsburgh. Sound like you were near Lancaster, PA. It's a lovely place that I have also visited years ago, not too far from where my husband grew up.
Barbara Warner
Patti,
I'm going to try these plant markers. I like to identify my perennials, also, especially when I plant new ones and might not remember next spring just where I planted them. Especially late comers who don't sprout until later in the spring and I'm already cleaning up last fall's debris. I will use a paint pen and exterior sealant. I spent tons of time a couple yrs ago painting stir sticks and gluing Scrabble tiles to spell out names on the sticks, and the weather demolished them. I appreciate your help.
Ramona Meurer
Hi Patti, Do you have ideas to make permanent perennial flower markers. We have tried metal stakes that we used permanently makers and garden shop markers. The
Sun and weather washed the writing off. I used wood stakes with magic marker it didn’t last. I have around 100 perennials and I can’t remember all the names of them. Any ideas?
Ramona From MN.
Patti Estep
Ramona, the sun is a big problem with this issue. Some people swear by a paint pen. I would try using a spray coating for outdoors too and that should help.
Carole West
These are great and you know how much I love adding artistic details to any growing space. You've given me an idea and those chives look awesome. I transplanted mine for my travel garden, but they look pitiful so I'm going to harvest to the base and let them can regrow. This container gardening thing has become my new challenge. Keep creating - you inspire me each week.
Patti Estep
Thanks Carole. You are always so kind and uplifting. I certainly appreciate it.