Children’s Gardening Projects

We have put together some fun and easy projects for you and your little ones to make the most of the extra time you’ll have together at home.

1. Grow an Egg Head

These are lots of fun, for both you and the kids.

You will need:

• Eggs (empty toilet roll also works)
• Cotton Wool
• Cress seeds or Lawn Seeds  with
• Markers/paint

What to do:

1. Boil your eggs & allow them to cool enough to handle
2. Cut the top off and remove the egg, keeping just the shell
3. Rinse out the eggshell and leave it to dry, it will be sturdy, but fragile so be careful
4. Fill the eggs with damp cotton wool
5. Sprinkle the surface with cress or lawn seeds
6. Gently push the seeds into the cotton wool
7. Now the fun part! Draw your funny face onto the egg
8. Place the eggs back into the egg box and place on a warm, light windowsill
9. Keep the cotton wool slightly damp and the seeds should start to sprout in about a week leaving your new friend with a nice head of hair!

2. Create a Bird Feeder

Attracting birds to your garden is a great way to keep away harmful creepy crawlies at bay. Creating a bird feeder is a great project for kids as it’s so simple!

You will need:

• Empty toilet roll
• Peanut butter
• Bird seed
• Twine

What to do:

1. Cover your empty roll in a thick layer of peanut better using a spoon or knife
2. Roll this in the bird seed, apply a little pressure to make sure the seed sticks to the peanut butter for a better coat
3. Thread the twine trough the roll and hang it from a tree, or you can simply place the feeder on a branch

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8bW9q1nLzy/

Here’s another interesting take on the DIY bird feeder using empty Avonmore milk cartons by mymilkman

What to do:

1. Using a blade, let a grown up carve an opening in the carton big enough for a bird to fit into
2. Decorate your milk carton using paint, stickers and/or flowers
3. Fill your carton with bird seed
4. Pierce a small hole through the top of the carton and put a piece of twine through this. Use the twine to hang the bird feeder

3. Rainboot Planters

Rainboot planters are an ideal way of recycling some of those outgrown wellies – as well as adding a touch of fun and colour to the garden!

You will need:

• Mulch
• Soil
• Drill
• Plant
• Unused wellies

What to do:

1. Carefully drill approximately 6 small holes at the base of the boot for drainage (maybe best to leave this part to a grown up!)
2. Fill the boot with bark mulch for a base and top up with a multipurpose compost. You can also use stones at the base for better drainage and place the bark mulch on top of this
3. Choose a plant which best suits the colour of the wellies
4. Carefully place the plant into the boot
5. Hang the boot on a fence or place it on your patio. They also look great indoors

4. DIY Butterfly feeder

Butterflies can be a welcome addition to any garden as they can provide a splash of colour. They’re not just a pretty face, however, as they also help in pollinating flowers and they can provide natural pest control. Here’s an easy way to attract more butterflies to your garden:

You will need:

• Old jam jar
• Piece of sponge
• Hammer and nail
• Twine
• Water
• Sugar
• Blooms/decorations

What to do:

1. Make a small hole at the top of your jam jar with a hammer and nail (again, best left to a grown up!)
2. Place the small piece of sponge into the hole of the lid so that it fits tightly and it’s secure
3. Fill the jam jar with a 10 part water and 1 part sugar mix and seal the lid. (Be careful not to use too much sugar as the butterflies may become dehydrated)
4. Decorate your jar using blooms from your garden or other materials
5. Hang the jar upside down from a tree in the garden using the twine. The sugar water should then saturate the sponge

Wait for the butterflies to gather!

We’d love to see your finished projects, you can share your photos on social media and tag us @countrylifegc

We’re here to help

If you have any questions about these projects please don’t hesitate in contacting any of our horticulturists in store.