We’re so excited to welcome Donna from Do Dodson Designs for today’s guest blog! 🌿 If you’re looking to add a personal touch to your garden this season, Donna has a fun and easy DIY project for you—creating unique plant markers using rocks and Dixie Belle Paint products. This simple project is perfect for adding character to your garden while using the versatile paint and supplies you already love. Let’s dive into Donna’s step-by-step guide to making your very own garden markers! 

(The following is an excerpt from Do Dodson Designs. Read the full article here.)      

Looking for a fun and creative way to label your garden plants? Try making these DIY plant markers with rocks! This simple and customizable project will add a fun, creative touch to your garden. 

Six rocks painted with Olive Wood Chalk Mineral Paint that have names of different vegetables written on them with the Gold Marker sitting on a brown tabletop 

DIY Plant Markers Using Rocks 

As age would have it, I’ve decided that old ladies (like myself) should be able to grow veggies. It’s healthier than the store-bought, and how hard can it be to make a garden?   

After planting several rows of various seeds, I decided I needed plant tags to help my aging brain remember what was planted where. Using the seed packets attached to a twig like my Daddy always did wasn’t going to work for me. I need a pretty vegetable and herb garden! 

I decided that river rocks would be an excellent option for DIY plant markers. This would be a fun way to add a pretty touch to my veggie garden. 

What You’ll Need To Make DIY Plant Markers 

Collecting Rocks For Garden Markers 

When searching for stones to make these plant markers, consider the smoothness of each rock. You’ll also want a smooth side when adding the names of each plant.   

If you don’t have rocks, a smooth-surfaced brick would work, too.   

Six river rocks sitting on a brown tabletop

Cleaning And Prepping The Rocks 

Wash each rock with warm water and use an old toothbrush to remove dirt that could be trapped inside tiny holes.  

Next, allow the stones to dry completely by sitting them in the sun, or you can put them in your oven on an oven-safe baking sheet at a low temperature (100 degrees) for several hours to dry them out quickly.  

This step is necessary because rocks are porous and absorb water. Even if they appear dry, the stones can hold water inside. 

Painting Rocks For Plant Labels 

Let’s talk paint! If you want the paint to stick to your rock, I suggest using Dixie Belle chalk mineral paint. I have painted many clay pots and outdoor porous containers enough to know that this paint will NOT wash off. Have you tried it on clothes? Oops! It’s not coming out in the washer. 

I needed plant markers in my garden rows until the seedlings had matured enough for me to identify the plants. After that, they will be removed and stored, ready for use again for the next planting season.  

Using a soft paintbrush, apply the paint to the rocks, painting one side, allowing the paint to dry, and then flipping it over to paint underneath. 

An open jar of Olive Wood Chalk Mineral Paint sits behind rock that is being painted with this paint

I used two coats of Olive Wood (a beautiful shade of green) and allowed it to dry for 24 hours. The second coat ensures the surface is smooth if the rocks have tiny holes.  

If you love this color, check out the new Dixie Belle’s Southern Roots Collection release. I love these earthy tones, and any of them would be beautiful on any DIY project. 

A jar of each of the new 7 Southern Roots Collections paint sitting in a wooden tray with floral pieces and rocks and wooden bowls laying around it

Adding Plant Names To Garden Plant Markers 

Here comes the fun part! Dixie Belle now has a new oil-based Gold Marker with a chisel tip. 

This Gold Marker is perfect for writing on smooth surfaces.  

I started by making a decorative border around the rock—little squares. If you’re not so bold and prefer ordinary, skip this part. Otherwise, go for it. Create a fun design. 

Five rocks painted with Olive Wood sit on a brown tabletop. The rocks have names of different vegetables written on them with the Gold Marker, and a hand is holding the Gold Marker, writing on one of the rocks

I did a few practice runs with my penmanship on paper before attempting. The spacing of the letters is important if you want the words centered on the rock.  

I draw an imaginary line down half of the rock and then count the letters to determine the placement. 

If you’re writing HERBS, you know the R will be the center of the rock. At least, that’s how I do it. 

The reflective shimmer is gorgeous when the light hits it just right. It’s like LIQUID GOLD in a marker. 

The gold marker is oil-based, so it’s a great option, but it does take 7 days to cure fully, even if it’s dry to the touch. I don’t mind the wait because I know these will hold up nicely, even outdoors, and with the frequent watering of my garden veggies. 

Six rocks painted with Olive Wood Chalk Mineral Paint have the names of different vegetables written on them with the Gold Marker. The brown tabletop also has different vegetable names written on it with the Gold Marker.

To make the GOLD pop, I went over the letters twice with the gold marker.   

I also used a few paint stir sticks I had on hand. These make great garden markers as well. Now you have two options. 

Six rocks painted with Olive Wood Chalk Mineral Paint have the names of different vegetables written on them with the Gold Marker. Also Six paint stir sticks painted the same as the rocks sit next to the rocks, a hand holds one of the sticks and the Gold Marker

Optional: Sealing The Paint 

Okay, I tried it both ways—one with a water-repellant top coat and one without.  

After painting and lettering the rocks, I added Dixie Belle’s Gator Hide to a few of my painted rocks to add a water-repellant layer. 

I did notice that the topcoat dulled the brilliance of the gold somewhat. After the top coat dried, I went back over the lettering again with the gold marker, which fixed the issue. 

The other rocks I didn’t seal. 

It’s been two weeks, and they still look great. I found that the rocks held up nicely without adding a water-repellant sealer. Only time will tell. 

Once again, I only use the plant markers until my seedlings are identifiable. So, they will be stored in the garden shed for safekeeping until my next garden season. Nothing lasts forever outdoors. 

There’s GOLD In My Garden! 

And, of course, the painted garden markers turned out so stinking cute! I feel like a bougie gardener now. 

A rock painted with Olive Wood Chalk Mineral Paint with the word Garlic written on it with the Gold Marker sits on dirt with green plants sprouting from the dirt around the rock

These DIY plant markers helped me track what went where in my garden. I got a little carried away with the seeds and knew I needed a way to label them. 

But aren’t they cute?! 

A photo collage consisting of four pictures, one photo is of six rocks painted with Olive Wood Chalk Mineral Paint with the names of different vegetable names written on them with the Gold Marker sits on a brown tabletop; the other three photos are of the painted rocks sitting on the dirt with plants sprouting from the dirt around them.

How fun is that? 🎨 With just a few rocks and Dixie Belle Paint, you can create personalized, long-lasting plant markers for your garden! A big thank you to Donna from Do Dodson Designs for sharing this creative project with us. We can’t wait to see how you all bring your gardens to life with these DIY markers! Don’t forget to tag us in your creations—we love seeing your amazing work! 🌸 

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Guest Author, Home Decor, Home Decor Ideas, How To, Product Features, Seasonal Projects

About the Author

Do Dodson Designs

Donna, also known as Do, is a decorative furniture artist, photographer, DIYer, author of Do Dodson Designs Blog. Do's true passion is attached to the paint brush and encouraging women. She has a successful online group where she teaches women how to merge their passion for furniture painting with business growth.

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