Easy DIY Garden Markers Made from Clothespins
I’ve been busy puttering outside and planting some early lettuce, carrots and radish in the garden. To keep track of what’s planted where, I wanted to make a few garden markers. They’re nothing fancy but they were really inexpensive and ridiculously easy to make, plus they’re cute.
Yes, they’re clothes pins that I painted and attached to a stick from the yard. I used the leftover exterior green paint that I used on my garage door last year and simply wrote the name of the seeds on each using a waterproof Sharpie.
I was going to find a way to put some pretty lettering on them but there’s not much writing room on a clothes pin, and I wasn’t sure how it would hold up with the weather, so I just kept it simple and went with the Sharpie. Just for fun, I dipped a couple pins into white paint to add a little stripe.
The possibilities are endless and it’s a fun project to do with the kiddos.
Like I said, not fancy, but fun and functional and it only cost me $1.59 for the clothes pins. If they only make it one season it’s not a big deal. I can make more next year or to try something else.
With the garden taken care of, we can turn our attention to hanging outdoor cafe lights (to light up the garden).
A quick update:
My garden markers actually made it through the season quite well. I’ve gotten quite a few comments about using a Sharpie and having it fade but I didn’t run into any issues. As a matter of fact, I’m using my markers again this year. Love them!
Have you been able to plant anything in your garden yet? Would you make your own DIY garden markers?
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Barbara Chapman
Tuesday,April 9, 2019 at 12:06 pmSo simple and elegant at the same time! Love this idea, Kristi!! We recently moved out of our trailer and into a home here in Texas and I am looking at the yard and trying to figure out where all the garden rooms will be. Next fall, lettuces for sure! Just doing herbs and tomatoes for spring and the roses will go in the ground pretty quickly here.
Happy planting and happy spring to you,
Barb 🙂
Kristi
Monday,April 15, 2019 at 5:37 pmThanks so much, Barbara! Oooh, a new garden! How fun it will be to plan and plant it. We moved into our house 3 years ago and have grand ideas for our garden but house projects, namely the remodel of our Minnie, has taken over. I’m not sure if it will get done again this year but I’m hoping. Best of luck with your new garden. Happy Spring to you! 🙂
Jean
Wednesday,February 27, 2019 at 10:24 amI found you when Rhoda ran your blog some time ago and I really love what you do! I absolutely adore
this idea for tags for your garden. How cute is that? I can’t wait to get home to Oregon so that I can do this with my grandson. He’ll love and so will I. I like to have him take all our old leftover seeds from other seasons and plant them.
I need to ask you about your door handles. Where do you get them. I saw the square ones for your front dooe and I’ve been looking for something like that.
Keep up your good work, I love it!
Kristi
Monday,March 4, 2019 at 12:14 amHi Jean and welcome! I’m thrilled that you found me through Rhoda. I love everything she does!
I’m so happy to hear that you liked my garden marker idea. So easy but I think it would be a fun project to do with your grandson. It sounds like he is on his way to being a good gardener and homemade markers will be the perfect touch.
Our front door handle is actually from Home Depot. We had a hard time finding one to fit the old door that we hung but the square one was the perfect fit. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Kwikset-Halifax-Square-Venetian-Bronze-Entry-Door-Lever-Featuring-SmartKey-Security-156HFL-SQT-11P-SMT-CP/205124951
Hope that helps!
Thanks so much for stopping by and say hello!
maria
Sunday,April 8, 2018 at 7:05 pmClever idea for gardening.
Maria
Kristi
Tuesday,April 10, 2018 at 3:45 amThanks so much Maria!
Emma
Thursday,June 9, 2016 at 9:33 amLove these! what a cute iea to try 🙂 Artsy-Fartsy Link Party
Kristi
Friday,June 10, 2016 at 2:11 amThanks, Emma. Such a fun project to do!
Marie
Tuesday,June 7, 2016 at 1:58 pmOmgosh, I love these! Such a crazy smart idea and easy to make as well. Thank you so much for sharing your project with us at Merry Monday this week!
Kristi
Friday,June 10, 2016 at 1:50 amThanks, Marie. They were so fun to make. 🙂
Debi @ Surroundings by Debid
Monday,April 20, 2015 at 8:41 pmThanks again for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop! Stopping in to let you know your cute little garden markers will be featured on Tuesday Treasures! Stop by and take a peek!
Kristi
Tuesday,April 21, 2015 at 1:36 amThat’s great Debi! I will certainly stop in to take a peek. Thanks so much!
K.
prettyshabbyuk
Thursday,April 16, 2015 at 10:40 pmWow, never thought of that, please will you share with my readers, im new to blogging http://prettyshabbyuk.blogspot.co.uk
Kristi
Friday,April 17, 2015 at 3:34 amI would love to share. Best of luck with your blog. 🙂
K.
homeonthecornerblog
Thursday,April 16, 2015 at 3:20 pmI might need to be making these for my mom for mothers day since she can’t ever remember what she planted in her garden. Coming from Feathered Nest link party
Kristi
Friday,April 17, 2015 at 3:33 amOoooo, that sounds like a great Mother’s Day gift. My husband never remembers either. I drew a garden map for him last year. Thanks so much for stopping over from Feathered Nest link party.
K.
plutrell
Thursday,April 16, 2015 at 11:42 amI love clothes pins! You can do so many fun things with them and this is one more great idea. Thanks for sharing with the Thursday Blog Hop!
Kristi
Friday,April 17, 2015 at 3:31 amThey are so versatile, aren’t they Pam? Thanks to all of you ladies for hosting such an awesome party.
Debi @ Surroundings by Debi
Wednesday,April 15, 2015 at 9:48 pmKristi ~
What a great idea! I have a lot of these hanging around and I will them to good use with this idea! Thanks for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop!
Kristi
Thursday,April 16, 2015 at 12:15 amThanks Debi! I appreciate you dropping by today.
K.
liferedesign101
Wednesday,April 15, 2015 at 9:20 pmI LOVE LOVE LOVE these! i have tried many different garden markers and never really liked any of them. I am totally do this. It is easy and cheap and therefor right up my ally! I also use clothesepins and colorful sharpies to decorate little paper holders for my desk- Mail, Bills, Receipts etc. Some just have my name on them. I love clothespins because they really open and shut and hold things. Thanks for the inspiration, Michele ( from Favorite Thursday Things Blog Hop)
Kristi
Thursday,April 16, 2015 at 12:11 amI’m so glad that my garden markers inspired you. They really are great for so many different things and the fact that they’re so cheap helps a lot. 😉
Thanks so much for stopping in from Favorite Thursday Things Blog Hop.
K.
Cheryl
Wednesday,April 15, 2015 at 3:29 pmHi,
I love this idea. Clothespins are so much fun to paint and make things from. I’ve used them for magnets and to display photos but never thought to use them in the garden. I love the color and whimsy they add. Thanks for sharing this idea!
Cheryl @ 22 Applegate Lane
Kristi
Thursday,April 16, 2015 at 12:08 amThanks so much Cheryl. Clothes pins are very versatile and it helps that you get get them so inexpensively.
Thanks for stopping in.
K.
paulasweetpea
Tuesday,April 14, 2015 at 5:23 amThis is an adorable idea! I’ve made all sorts of plant markers over the years and one that I haven’t perfected is one for my tomato cages marking the variety. I intend to use this idea this spring.
Kristi
Wednesday,April 15, 2015 at 2:41 amThanks Paula. I’ve tried different thing too and I’m hoping these will hold up. Hope you get to make them and they work for you.
K.
[email protected]
Monday,April 13, 2015 at 8:57 pmGreat idea and super cute too!….
Kristi
Tuesday,April 14, 2015 at 12:33 amThanks Shirley. Hope you have a great week!
Debbie H
Monday,April 13, 2015 at 7:37 amI am not a gardener. However I have gown petunias and a couple hard to kill indoor plants in the past. I love the results of gardening but I seem to have a black thumb. LOL Great idea with the clothespins.
Kristi
Tuesday,April 14, 2015 at 12:37 amThanks Debbie. I love to garden but it is harder to grow certain things in Florida. We could never really keep a garden when we lived down there (so maybe it isn’t your black thumb 😉 ). It’s great to be able to grow tomatoes again.
Hope you have a great week!