Gardening has always been a perfect children’s activity. It combines muck and magic, a chance to get messy, and the promise of great things from even the tiniest seed. As the large family garden is a rarity these days, even a sunny kitchen window can give a child the chance to grow a whole range of herbs, salads and flowers, and, what’s more, they can keep an eye on progress while they munch on their breakfast.

Perhaps, more importantly, while children may think they are simply having fun, they will also be learning about gardening, from topics such as seed sowing and the germination process to the thinning out of crops and the importance of pollinators.

As their confidence grows, so their imagination and natural curiosity will hopefully lead them to explore this hobby further, taking part in the school gardening club, or even creating a small garden of their own.

Add some magic to your lawn in the spring by planting crocus bulbs to create your very own fairy rings. Even if no fairies appear, the rings are still a great place for having a picnic and playing. Best of all, the flowers will appear again every spring.

 

You will need:

  • piece of string, 20 in (50cm) in length
  • tent peg
  • plastic water bottle
  • play sand
  • special bulb planter
  • crocus bulbs

fairy rings

 

Ask a grown-up to use the bulb planter to make a hole along this circle every 4in (10cm) and leave the ‘plug’ of soil and grass by the side of the hole. The hole should only be about 2in (5cm) below the surface of the grass.

Ask a grown-up to use the bulb planter to make a hole along this circle every 4in (10cm) and leave the ‘plug’ of soil and grass by the side of the hole. The hole should only be about 2in (5cm) below the surface of the grass.

Place a crocus bulb in each hole, making sure that the bulb is the right way up (the pointed end should be facing upward). Replace the plug of soil and turf, and firm it down well. The bulbs will grow through the grass the following spring.

Place a crocus bulb in each hole, making sure that the bulb is the right way up (the pointed end should be facing upward). Replace the plug of soil and turf, and firm it down well. The bulbs will grow through the grass the following spring.

  • words:

You may also like

In the bleak midwinter

Jo Arnell explains how to brave the dark and chilly winter blues with a little help from your garden Winter can be hard for some of us and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real thing, linked to the lack...

Let’s go local

Jo Arnell gives her recommendations for plants that thrive naturally in the great British climate Our native plants are tough. Able to survive frosts, wet winters and – once established – short periods of drought too. They are the bedrock,...

In Shrubs We Trust

Jo Arnell pays attention to some often-overlooked garden stalwarts Shrubs are back. I’m not sure that they ever went away to be honest, but drifts of perennials and meadow plants have been stealing the limelight in recent years. Perhaps it’s...