such as spring steel fiber filled plastics and other alloys and composite materials stainless steel cold rolled brass and copper wire have the advantages of being readily available and relatively inexpensive it can be easily formed into the desired shape it has the desired stiffness resiliency and durability it will hold paint and lacquer well it is relatively unaffected by temperature changes and is corrosion resistant it has been found to be sufficiently strong to pierce frozen sod without deforming buckling or fracturing which represents an improvement over plastic retaining devices that can become brittle at cold temperatures those of skill in the art will be aware of various methods of manufacturing the above described clips 10 the preferred method is to use a jig and bend the wire around the jig into the desired shape preferably the bending may be done by an automated process or it may be done manually the coating 42 may be applied to the clip 10 after it is formed by applying with a brush spray or dip method it may also be possible to paint or coat the wire prior to bending it into the clip 10 to use the clip 10 the extension 12 is lifted and the clip.