Stick Plant Markers | Little House in the Suburbs

I’ve been whiling away part of the winter planning my Spring garden and whittling these plant markers.

If you think you might like to make some, here’s what I did.

Find a stick. Any stick will do, from the size of a fat kindergarten pencil to about an inch in diameter is about right. I cut mine about a foot long, to make them harder for the tinies to pull out of the ground. Wishful thinking, I know. They move a full size mattress and box springs clear across the room regularly. They could pull these out just looking at them.

Make yours as long or as short as you want.

Saw a segment of branch at an angle with a handsaw or pruners, then whittle it at more of an angle, making a larger surface area to stamp on.

Round over the end to make it less weapon-like.

Get out your stamps and your seed list. I used a simple typewriter font set. You could also just write the name with a Sharpie.

And stamp (or write) the variety name on the stick.

Optional: I dip the end with the stamp in a can of spar varnish and let dry. It takes about two days for the varnish to dry completely.

Then get out there and plant spring peas.

8 Comments

Tanya Walton on 02/16/2011 at 2:24 pm

These are so cool…and so simple!! I hate that plant markers are always so mundane looking and I have been cutting back plenty of things of last in the garden so i think I will make some of these…a great little gift idea too… 🙂

Lindsey M. on 02/17/2011 at 12:08 am

these are lovely! thanks for sharing.

Naturally Carol on 02/18/2011 at 7:02 am

Love that tip…they are practical and look great!

The Unusual Farm Chick on 02/19/2011 at 4:24 am

Wonderful idea. Perfect for blending into the garden look. I have been eyeing the metal stamping set at the hardware. I may experiemnt with using them to indent the words on markers like yours. Love the ink stamp idea but this gives another excuse to buy that set I have eyed for awhile. 😉 Thank you for sharing this.

Tanya on 02/21/2011 at 5:27 am

Really great idea guys. Again, it’s the simple things. Showed Craig and he loved it too. Thanks for sharing.

Heating Allen Town PA on 02/22/2011 at 7:49 am

This is really cool! I wonder if I can also do this, I’ll try to make one on weekends and I’ll tell you if I succeed or not.=) thanks!

Terry on 03/01/2011 at 11:37 pm

My mother would love these. She’s a member of Stampin’ Up.

MollyBee on 03/09/2011 at 10:25 am

Perfect for my herb garden. Until they come up, I have no idea what is where. These twig markers are excellent. I am so glad I found your website. So many cool ideas.

Tanya Walton on 02/16/2011 at 2:24 pm

These are so cool…and so simple!! I hate that plant markers are always so mundane looking and I have been cutting back plenty of things of last in the garden so i think I will make some of these…a great little gift idea too… 🙂
Lindsey M. on 02/17/2011 at 12:08 am

these are lovely! thanks for sharing.
Naturally Carol on 02/18/2011 at 7:02 am

Love that tip…they are practical and look great!
The Unusual Farm Chick on 02/19/2011 at 4:24 am

Wonderful idea. Perfect for blending into the garden look. I have been eyeing the metal stamping set at the hardware. I may experiemnt with using them to indent the words on markers like yours. Love the ink stamp idea but this gives another excuse to buy that set I have eyed for awhile. 😉 Thank you for sharing this.
Tanya on 02/21/2011 at 5:27 am

Really great idea guys. Again, it’s the simple things. Showed Craig and he loved it too. Thanks for sharing.
Heating Allen Town PA on 02/22/2011 at 7:49 am

This is really cool! I wonder if I can also do this, I’ll try to make one on weekends and I’ll tell you if I succeed or not.=) thanks!
Terry on 03/01/2011 at 11:37 pm

My mother would love these. She’s a member of Stampin’ Up.
MollyBee on 03/09/2011 at 10:25 am

Perfect for my herb garden. Until they come up, I have no idea what is where. These twig markers are excellent. I am so glad I found your website. So many cool ideas.