Lovely labelling project

You can use all sorts of materials to label your plants, from painted stones and pebbles to lolly sticks. Put your creative hat on and get inspired!

Plastic pot
These use plastic dessert tubs, the most attractive of the labels. Cut off the rim so the sides are flat and then cut down towards the base to make the ‘petals’. The plastic is less likely to split if you do this in the warmth, then shape the ends of the petals. To flatten the ‘flower’ hold the tub base above an electric hob till it warmed, then gently held it flattened on the worktop till it cooled – it only took a few seconds. Paint the petals in one colour and, when they dry, the centre in yellow, with the name painted on it. The ‘flower’ was attached to a split cane with strong tape but you could use a glue gun.


Stone
You will need a waterproof, gloss paint for your stones. You may have some stones lying around the garden and used these but most garden centres sell pebbles that would be suitable. These work well in a rockery.


Aluminium tape
You can buy metal labels but or make your own with aluminium sticky tape sold for flashing and repairs. Cut a length, peel back the paper and put a split cane in the centre and carefully stick the two halves together. It is best to write on the label with it laid on a slightly soft surface, such as a newspaper, so the pen makes distinct indentations in the metal. It would be easy to make these more elaborate with patterns, and they should last ages in the garden.


Lolly sticks
You could use any thin wood to make wooden labels and paint them white as run-of-the-mill labels but these lolly sticks are from a craft shop and then painted with bright acrylic paints. These dry really quickly and you can use permanent marker to write on them, or pencil. A coat of varnish would ensure they lasted longer in the garden.