Upcycle Old Frying Pans Into Rustic Plant Labels For Your Garden Beds

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We're all guilty of having an old, chipped frying pan in the cupboard that's doing nothing but taking up space. Before you throw it away, maybe there's another, more unexpected, use for it. By adding a little paint and some simple lettering to the center of the pan, you can actually turn your aging kitchen tool into a large plant label. The broad, flat base of the pan gives you lots of room to write all sorts of plant information, from the botanical and common names to preferred growing conditions. The long handle is a built-in stake.

Single-use plastic plant markers are one of the sneaky ways you're bringing microplastics into your garden. By turning durable metal pans into plant labels, you can reduce your use of this garden product. Another reason this DIY for creative garden labels using this common household item works so well is that you can lean into any aesthetic. If you're making a set of plant labels, you can paint the cookware in muted shades for a rustic look. Alternatively, you could use bright, contrasting colors for plant markers in your kids' first vegetable patch. If you're great at drawing, why not paint some botanical motifs on the frying pans?

Don't worry if you don't have any old pans at home; thrift stores and yard sales are great places to find them at affordable prices. Or ask your family and friends, who may have an old pan they can give you. You can also use small frying pans, like this Mini Nonstick Egg Frying Pan for about $6. Then all you need is some paint of your choice — be it spray paint, chalkboard paint, acrylic craft paint, or non-toxic weatherproof paint — and maybe some paintbrushes, metal primer, and sealer. 

Before you start slapping paint onto your old frying pan, give it a thorough clean. Once the pan is dry, lightly sand the surface to remove any rust or flaking finish. If you're worried about the paint sticking to the frying pan or the pan rusting once it's in the garden, add two to three thin coats of flat white Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Clean Metal Primer Spray. Now comes the fun part: painting the frying pan!

Matte black chalkboard paint applied with a paintbrush gives the finished label a rustic vibe. You could also simply spray paint the frying pans to save time, using whatever colors you prefer. Either way, apply two to three coats. If you go with chalkboard paint, you can write the plant name with a chalk stick or Bandle B. Chalk Markers. It's a great option if you want to reuse the plant labels. Alternatively, add the plant names with letter stencils or freehand them with a weatherproof paint pen or small paint brush.

Frying pans are much larger than traditional plant labels. If you always save your plant tags, you can transfer the information from them onto the pans. Useful information includes the variety, sowing or planting dates, sun requirements, and watering and fertilizing instructions. Protect the painted surface and permanent plant information with some matte, UV-resistant Krylon Gallery Series Artist and Clear Coatings Aerosol Spray Paint.