Total Time: minutes
Tools and Materials:
- An Old Vinyl Plastic Mini Blind
- Scissors
- Black Grease Pencil or China Marker
Hint: Do not try this with metal blinds. Steel will rust, aluminum will oxidize.
Step 1: Take the blind apart by cutting the connecting strings where they come out of the headrail and where they go into the baserail.
Step 2: Lift out the connecting cords, then pull out the ladders. Save only the plastic individual slats.
Step 3: Cut the blind slats into pieces into 8 inch long pieces, making sure to trim one end into a point with scissors, or at an angle. Doing this will enable you to stick the point into the garden, flower bed, bedding flat or flower pot easily.
Step 4: As you plant seeds, or root cuttings, mark each flower pot or flat with the markers you made. Be sure to distinguish between color and variety. These markers will not rot like the wooden variety, and will be tall enough for you to see once the plant begins to grow. Using a grease pencil (actually a paper covered marking crayon) will eliminate the erasure of writing when watering. Black, based on carbon pigments, is the safest non fading color.
Step 5: As you save seeds from flowers, use the marker to identify various seed bags. There's no chance of losing it if it is inside the container with your dried seeds, and you will have it to use when planting seeds in the Spring.
Step 6: Now, pat yourself on the back! You have not only made your own markers for the flower pots, herb gardens, vegetable garden, any spots you have planted cuttings or special colors of flowers, you have also recycled, and at no cost and very little time!
This helpful article was provided by DoItYourself.com community member Linda Hobbs. If you are interested in sharing your do-it-yourself knowledge and know-how with the DoItYourself.com community, click here for more details.
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