I'm going to undertake the monumental task of tagging all my fruit trees, and am wondering if anyone can point me to a good online source for ordering sturdy metal tags? Do I need to order wire as well, and if so, what gauge? Huge task, but can't just rely on markers pushed in the ground. Too often I, friend, my gardeners, the dogs, coyotes, etc. will accidentally kick them out. And, before I forget (and until I get a map drawn up), I think it's a good idea to tag all the trees with sturdy metal tags that I can impress the name of the tree on. So, any suggestions for online purchase sources for about 200 tags?

You can get both aluminum and copper tags on Ebay. The copper ones are more expensive and are a little harder to write on, but blend in better with their surroundings after they get a patina.

Aluminum:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=aluminum+plant+tags&_sacat=0&_from=R40
(looks like they've already got one labeled for you!)

Copper:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=copper+plant+tags&_sacat=0&_odkw=aluminum+plant+tags&_osacat=0&_from=R40

-Scott

Thanks, Scott, I had seen those, and they're actually in my basket. But, before I complete the purchase, I wanted to ask some of our list members what they've been using. I buy my copper plant markers from Botanikka on Ebay, and they have worked very well. I mark them with a special permanent Garden Marker pen that won't fade in the sun. That has worked well so far, but I can say I have kicked a few markers out of the ground, as have my gardeners and my dogs (and possibly a coyote or two). So, trees must be tagged, or my aging brain is going to forget what's what, lol

As Joe real said some years ago you can make your own aluminum tags from the aluminum in which you buy cakes or tarts.
That's what I do since that time.

Well, that would work, but I don't buy cakes and tarts. I'd be as big as a house, lol! I have zero access to aluminum as a recycle item, unfortunately.

I mostly use aluminium flashing and used aluminium printing plates, cut to size. I punch a hole in each tag and write with a sharp nail.

Aluminium soft drink cans work well, too.

For wire I use copper with a plastic coating. It is small but works better than the tiny stainless wire that comes with the tags. I buy tags from amleo.com

Herschell, thanks, I'll check this out, and great tip about using covered copper wire, I was not happy with the thin metal wire. That will eventually break in my sunny California weather.

I use Impress-O-Tags by Amekron Products. I have a label maker that I print the varieties names on---Have been using them for over 20 years and they look about as good as the day I put them on.

Fred, I think that's what I've bought from Ebay, they look identical. In fact, the photo is even identical. What label maker are you using? I have a Dymo label maker. Are you finding that the labels don't fade? I wonder about the ink fading in our S. California sun or the glue drying out and the labels falling off. My neighbor uses labels like this, and so far, they look great. Nothing seems to have faded of dried up and fallen off, so thinking of re-labeling all my push in markers, and if that works, then do the tree tags the same way.

Mine have not faded and I have had some over 20 years( no exaggeration)

I think they are P-Touch

If I could figure out how to post- I would post them for you

Well, that's very encouraging, then. This would be a big project, as I've got over 80 citrus trees to mark, and I'd like to also re-do the push in markers, too, so I didn't want to tackle this unless I was positive this would last and work. So, between you and my neighbor, guess I'll be buying a bunch of tape cassettes and get going

I don't think you would go thru more than 2 cassettes-- just a guess

Hope not, they're danged expensive. I started trying to label all my embroidery thread in my 356 roll thread case, but that proved to be an outrageous project, lol! Even just typing 365 3-digit numbers was too much to do.

if you need tags, I have lots of used tags that are still in very good shape - your welcome to them. Just let me know