Labeling fruit trees

To label trees permanently (a label that remains for decades):

1. Use thin metal wire as the tie
2. Cut a small cut piece of aluminum flashing (3/4"x5" or so) or a piece of a soda can for the label
3. Use a scribe or the tip of a 3" screw to scratch the information on the label
4. use a hole punch to make a hole in one end (or a nail and hammer) (Drill an 1/8" hole in the label with a portable drill could also work)
5. Stick the wire into the hole, and tie to a solid tree branch by winding the wire around itself once - not too much like a twist tie, being mindful of how the tree will grow, so as not to restrict the growth in future years
6. Tie to the main trunk in most cases, just above a lower, side branch, don't leave the wire loop too loose but loosen once the tree is planted
7. On the label, mark the year the tree was planted or marked, the genus species, or common name, and any pertinent information such as how well the tree is bearing fruit, etc.
8. In the optimal scenario, input the tree into an online mapping database by taking a GPS location.