By labeling the plants in their garden, kids learn about them and make the connections between the foods they eat and the plants growing in the garden. Adults also learn a lot from garden signs. Here in the Garden Classroom, parents, teachers, and others often say, "Wow I never knew artichokes could get that big," or "Kohlrabi sure is crazy looking!" Labeling herbs often encourages folks to smell them, as if they were just checking to make sure that the mint smells minty. Interpretive signs can also enrich the educational potential of your garden.

Signs don't have to cost much, and most can be made with reused materials, as you can see in the photo gallery of school garden signs from across the nation. (this one of our many school garden photo galleries.)

You can also check out these school garden sign photos from the Washington DC area. Or take a look at City Blossom’s - What’s the Right Garden Signage for You resource which shares how they design and make plywood signs.

In the Life Lab Garden Classroom, we consider a good sign to be one that you don't have to repair year after year ... unless, of course, you want sign making to be a project for your students year after year.

If making signs year after year, or having the flexibility of changing signs often is desirable, consider making blank signs with chalkboard paint (available at hardware stores). Paint on a smooth surface of wood or plexiglass. You can use chalk paint pens if you want the sign lettering to last longer than normal chalk.

Outdoor Chalkboards

Here are ideas on how to make a weatherproof outdoor chalkboard.

• HGTV Outdoor Chalkboard

• HeyThereHome Outdoor Chalkboard

Plastic Paper

One last sign resource we like is Never Tear paper. You can print or photocopy onto this plastic-like paper, which is much more fade resistant that normal paper that has been laminated. If you have digital images that you want made into signs, it is a good way to go.

And, wouldn't you know, there is a site called waterproofpaper.com 

Installation Tips

Where you put your sign matters. Signs that face the sun will fade much faster than those turned away from the sun.

Is your sign post in an area that is often wet or touches soil? If so, consider rot resistant posts like treated lumber, plastic lumber or metal. Setting wooden posts in concrete can extend the life of a post considerably. Using a Column Base set in concrete will last even longer. Or consider using a Ground Spike which you can bang in the earth.

And, of course, your target audience is important. Make sure to install your signs at kid's eye level so they can read them.