Botanical plant labelling at Trewithen
We have trialled many a labelling system over the years from lead tags embossed with a number relating to a list, to plywood, plastic plant tags with "Dymo" embossed stickers, "Brother" hand held garden labeller machine. All have their uses but vary in practicality and longevity.
Over the past 12 months we have worked on a system that echo's the traditional Botanical garden label i.e. engraved black on white laminated plastic. But personal to the garden here.
After several years looking for a labelling system we went with a laser engraving machine.
Old "Dymo" tag label
Old "Dymo tag label
"Brother garden labeller" printed tag label
The new process
We source A4 sized sheets of laminate. Measure and cut to 20cm by 6cm, efficiently we get 10 labels per sheet with these dimensions and they work out to be the perfect size for our mounting method, more on that in a bit.
Blank A4 sheet
Cut "Blanks" for labels
screen shot of Hortis plant data base
Inputting data to the laser machine software
Laser etching
A label being laser etched. Plant information is taken from our Hortis plant data base and added to the label design in the laser machine software. The process only takes a few minutes.
A newly finished label
The label consists of the following information. Top left is out accession number, 8 digits with the date as the first four numbers then the other four making a unique number related to that specific plant. Top right id plant family. Then Genus, species and if needed cultivar. Bottom left, if relevant, is where we sourced the plant or other relevant information. Bottom left is country of origin.
Mounting the label in the garden
We have come up with several ways to mount the labels. One is to "upcycle" old rails from post and rail fences, plain then and cut a 45 degree angle on which we mount the label. Other methods are to hang the labels or produce a smaller "Tag" label at 10cm by 3cm half the size of a standard label.
Hanging label
Tag type label