Creating a fairy garden, complete with miniature furnishings, fairy-scale plants and plenty of mystique, is not only a fun project, it is enthralling gardeners of all ages!
Here are a few tips to make sure your miniature fairy garden is a success.
Choosing the Proper Container
There are many interesting and fun things that make great fairy gardens. From teacups to toolboxes, old birdbaths to antique wheelbarrows, the choices are endless. Just be sure to choose a container that isn’t too deep.
The Right Soil
Try to always use a good weed free potting soil. Never use topsoil or black earth as plants cannot breathe in these heavy soils that lack nutrients. It is important to wet your soil prior to pressing it into you container. This makes it easier to design your garden and mold it with hills and valleys and is better for the plants.
Good Light is Key
It is often hard to have a good bright light source indoors without grow lights. The sunniest window with the longest amount of daylight is your best choice. This can be a challenge in winter months. If your seedlings start to lean towards the window turn them every few days. Grow lights are optimal.
Fairy Garden Plants
Once you have your base you can begin to plant your fairy plants choosing low growing varieties for filler and spillers and at least one accent plant for a thriller. Your fairy garden will not be completely covered in plants at first and that is fine. They need room to grow. You can cover the exposed soil with pea gravel or coloured stones. Most garden centres carry an extensive line of fairy garden plants now. Polished stones can make excellent paths and accents in fairy gardens.
Decorating Your Miniature Garden
Once your garden is designed and planted the fun begins as you can decorate with the many cute fairy garden accessories available. From fairy houses to potting benches, fairy signs and sunflowers, fairy benches, bridges and buckets. There are so many interesting and adorable miniature fairy things to choose from!
Caring for your Fairy Garden
Now how are you going to keep this wonderful little garden thriving? Always water gently, but thoroughly using a small container with a spout. If your garden is inside a good watering once a week is enough. If it is outside then it may need water every day. Fertilize at least once a month with an all purpose fertilizer 17-5-17 at ½ strength. How much light? Inside the house choose a bright location but not all day direct sunshine. It is important to rotate your garden weekly so the plants do not stretch. If placing outside it depends on your plants but filtered bright sunlight is usually best. To maintain the plants clip low growing plants short once a month. Taller plants can be pinched or trimmed back as necessary.
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Garden fairies come at dawn, bless the flowers, then they're gone.
Fun Fairy Facts
Fairies are mischievous and love fresh flowers. They live in hollowed out tree trunks, under toad stools and often where there are streams. Sometimes, you will hear bells and jingles in the garden and this is where the fairies will likely be, as they love to dance. They can live to be over 100 years old and their favourite drinks are honey, milk and nectar. Often tangles in the hair of little girls are the work of fairies and the disappearance of small objects can also be a clue that fairies have been visiting.
The most important fact of all is that you have to believe in fairies before you will ever see them. If you are interested in learning more about fairy gardening join us for one of our Fairy Garden Workshops or stop by and see all of the new fairy accessories and houses that have just arrived! We are only a short drive from Ottawa and worth the visit!
Have fun!
Kelly
Gemmell's Garden Centre Smiths Falls & Brockville - Your Ottawa Valley Garden Centre.
Proudly serving Stittsville, Kanata, Smiths Falls, Brockville, Kemptville, Manotick, Carleton Place, Perth, Merrickville, Cornwall, Richmond & everywhere in between.