I put this video together today just for fun.  I had tried the aluminum can method, which was fine, but I wanted a 2-sided tag with a cleaner look.  Dirt cheap if you want an endless supply.  I'm very pleased with the results.

Thank You for posting. Securing the tag with that telephone wire is a great idea especially as the tree gets larger.

I can appreciate the work that goes into your solution.  I'm considerably lazier.  I use these tags:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALUMINUM-IMPRESS-O-TAGS-Plant-label-tree-marker-tag-marking-metal-100-labels-/361261661753?hash=item541cdf7e39:g:-JsAAOSwnDxUhKPu

I bought mine a little cheaper from Grainger, but they no longer stock this part.  These are $20 delivered off ebay.

It's a 1 x 3 3/8 inch tag with wire to secure it in a pack of 100.

No muss, no fuss, no sharp corners or cutting.  The only tool I need is a ball point pen.  I'm sure along with my sweat I'd shed some blood if i had to cut my own tags.

At 20 cents a tag it's not free, but they last forever and could in theory be reused.  I put them on all my permanent labels (grafted limbs on fruit trees, tomato varieties I always grow and my figs, for example).  Single season stuff in the garden gets the plastic version of a popsicle stick.

Since I can never find my tin snips, I'd spend more time trying to make up a label than actually accomplishing anything - I can always find a ballpoint pen.

When I'm really trying to impress someone with a fig or tomato I use my letter press/punch from Harbor Freight to spell out the name on the tag - very pretty, but too time consuming.



Andrew

Those look great, Andrew.  I really considered going this route, but with a strong cup of coffee yesterday, I looked at what I had on-hand and was motivated enough to 'just do it'.  haha
Any other day I probably would have just bought the set.

I think the 'what I had in hand' is a major part of it.  If you already have it, why buy it?

I'm just lazy, and with the letter punch, 'VdB' on a tag looks really nice <g>.


Andrew

   I've purchased these directly from the manufacturer for half the cost of the ebay tags, as little as eight and a half cents each...    http://www.amekron.com/shop/

Yes, if I needed 11,000 at once I could get them there for $.085 each.
Even 500 is far too many for many, many years of use - and that's still only $.0115 each.

I wonder what the shipping is on 11K of these things.

I bought 2 boxes once upon a time and I still haven't opened the second box of 100.

Thanks for the input, but 'wholesale' is a far larger order than most mere mortals will ever need.

Andrew

 Andrew, the 600 that I purchased cost me $16 for shipping coast-to-coast.   

    Your question about shipping 11k got me to wondering as well...   they quoted $84,  as the shipment exceeded 100lbs.

I use the vertical blinds also, but i write on them with a pencil it lasts for a long time 

Hey Frank, Thanks a lot for posting this! This is very economical to say the least. : )

Yes, as Mario said, just write with a pencil (not a pen or marker!) on a piece of blinds directly. Will last forever and not super shiny as with foil.

Frank, thanks for a video and a chance to discuss this yearly topic :)

The shiny tape combined with my handwriting is sure to solve the bird problem.

Thanks guys.  If anything, it's 4 minutes of entertainment.  ;)

So happy to see this.  Thanks for the info.  Its so fun to see people's creativity emerge!

I've been struggling with tags.  I've been using thecut  blind pieces but they get brittle and break or the writing fades and then I've lost who's who!  Using the aluminum is so smart! but too busy  just now building a new FIG HOUSE in the back yard.  I'll just order some of the tags.  I've got 100's of plants to tag!  MAking my own will be a good winter project!

Excellent and very creative Frank.

Hahahaha!  NOW I remember where I first saw the aluminum tape used for making labels.  They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I obviously think this is a great idea.

I think I can go through a few hundred tags so I'm going to order a box.  Maybe I'll bring some to Dennis's Fig Fest for people just need a few.