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.
![Showing early signs of green fingers! Source: Pexels](https://blog.countrylife.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Children-s-Gardening-Projects-Copy.jpg)
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:
- Boil your eggs & allow them to cool enough to handle
- Cut the top off and remove the egg, keeping just the shell
- Rinse out the eggshell and leave it to dry, it will be sturdy, but fragile so be careful
- Fill the eggs with damp cotton wool
- Sprinkle the surface with cress or lawn seeds
- Gently push the seeds into the cotton wool
- Now the fun part! Draw your funny face onto the egg
- Place the eggs back into the egg box and place on a warm, light windowsill
- 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!
![](https://blog.countrylife.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Egghead-Snip.jpg)
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:
What to do:
- Cover your empty roll in a thick layer of peanut better using a spoon or knife
- Roll this in the bird seed, apply a little pressure to make sure the seed sticks to the peanut butter for a better coat
- Thread the twine trough the roll and hang it from a tree, or you can simply place the feeder on a branch
Here’s another interesting take on the DIY bird feeder using empty Avonmore milk cartons by mymilkman
What to do:
- Using a blade, let a grown up carve an opening in the carton big enough for a bird to fit into
- Decorate your milk carton using paint, stickers and/or flowers
- Fill your carton with bird seed
- 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:
- Carefully drill approximately 6 small holes at the base of the boot for drainage (maybe best to leave this part to a grown up!)
- 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
- Choose a plant which best suits the colour of the wellies
- Carefully place the plant into the boot
- Hang the boot on a fence or place it on your patio. They also look great indoors
![](https://blog.countrylife.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Rainboot-planter.jpg)
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:
- Make a small hole at the top of your jam jar with a hammer and nail (again, best left to a grown up!)
- Place the small piece of sponge into the hole of the lid so that it fits tightly and it’s secure
- 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)
- Decorate your jar using blooms from your garden or other materials
- 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!
![](https://blog.countrylife.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/DIY-Butterfly-feeder.jpg)
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.