How to Make Recycled Plant Markers

Old, tarnished silverware can be given new life.

Vintage silver-plated utensils can literally be a dime a dozen at yard sales and thrift shops. Though the pieces may show tarnish and their plating so much wear that the base metal shows through, most people are loathe to throw them away. The patterns worked on the handles are often so lovely and intricate, it would be a shame to let them go to waste. You can recycle these little pieces of cultural history into whimsical plant markers for flower, vegetable and herb beds, reusing them year after year.

Things You'll Need

• Old silver-plated forks, variety
• Black permanent marker
• Dishwashing liquid
• Rag

Instructions

1. Find old forks in the silverware bin at the thrift shop to make recycled plant markers. Don't pay more than 25 cents for each fork. Try to vary the pattern. Condition is not important, as long as the handle is relatively smooth.

2. Lightly wash the forks in soap and water to remove any grease or dirt from the fork handles. Dry thoroughly.

3. Write out a list of vegetables, flowers and herbs to plant. Measure out the standard width and length of your silverware handles. Practice writing (or printing) the words in the same size space. Determine if you want to write plant names from the left to right, horizontally up the handle, or vertically, with the first letter starting at the top of the handle and going down.

4. Lay out your forks on a sturdy work surface. Use the permanent marker to label each of the silverware plant markers. Save the longer handled dinner forks as plant markers for plantings with the longest names, or abbreviate if necessary.

5. Stick the tong portion of the fork plant markers directly into the dirt or potting soil. Note these markers can be reused for a variety of plants. Use nail polish remover to remove writing from the fork and relabel as needed. Recycle these plant markers again and again.

Tips & Warnings

• Make a bunch of recycled plant markers, tie them with a ribbon and give them to a friend or family member starting their spring gardens. These fork plant markers are super helpful in identifying certain herbs and plants in the beginning stages. Using a relative's old, tarnished silver can make the gift more meaningful.

• If you have a whole set of old silver, save large serving spoons to use as makeshift garden trowels for seedlings and potted plants.

• Butter knives make effective plant markers as well.