Home Topics ...Garden TypesFairy Garden

Trendsetting Miniature Fairy Gardens

Fairy gardens are back in fashion, according to Sarah Wise, founder of the Fairyland Trust, in Norfolk, England. The Fairyland Trust was set up to encourage children to use their imagination as well as to save the environment.

Children the world over, of course, have always understood the mystical qualities of fairy gardens and their ethereal inhabitants. The difference is that this time round adults, too, are beginning to appreciate the joys of creating fairy gardens—no kids required!

Miniature Garden Design

A horticultural flight of fantasy, maybe, or merely an antidote to mundane, modern living, a miniature fairy garden can bring immense pleasure to adults and children alike.

Even the city dweller with no outdoor space to speak of can find enough room on a window ledge for a fairy garden. We may not have the physical space, but we certainly need that 'mental' space in our lives, which something as simple as a miniature fairy garden can provide.

Creating Miniature Fairy Gardens

The following step-by-step instructions will guide you through the practicalities of creating a miniature fairy garden:

location: A raised bed, a secluded corner of the garden surrounded by greenery or a large outdoor container are all suitable locations for your fairy garden.
garden design and access: Easy access means easy maintenance.If the fairy garden is big enough, add an adult-sized path from which you can reach all parts of the garden. Container-style miniature fairy gardens should be placed on a frame that provides all-round access.
soil: A soil mix of two parts sterilized soil, one part compost or peat moss, and one part Perlite is ideal for miniature fairy gardens grown in containers. Fill the container half to two-thirds full with the soil mix (available ready-mixed from garden centers).
drainage: Pierce holes in the base of containers to allow water to escape, and line containers with gravel or sand. Garden beds should also have adequate drainage.
planting: ease the plants into their correct position in the soil mix in the container. Gently firm in the plants.
accessories: Decorate with scaled-down versions of garden accessories, weather-proof dollhouse furniture, miniature glazed ornaments, toy farmyard items or aquarium accessories. You could even use a small dish containing water, bedded into the surface to resemble a miniature pond. Add a miniature, fairy-sized path made of small pebbles.

Plants for Miniature Fairy Gardens

Scale and proportion are everything when choosing plants for fairy gardens. Think small, while making sure that the plants are in perfect proportion compared with the overall size and shape of your fairy garden and the accessories.

Plants and miniature shrubs that work well for fairy gardens include: alpine plants, Japanese dwarf plants, Bonsai trees (planted in pots concealed beneath the garden surface) and slow-growing herbs.

Useful plants for fairy gardens include: creeping savory, curly chives, dwarf licorice, dwarf violets, ficus, firecracker plant, Greek sage, green myrtle, Irene lady's mantle, Mexican oregano, rosemary, santolina and minor thyme.

Fairy Miniature Garden Maintenance Made Easy

Make maintenance easy by planting your fairy garden in a container, as this curbs growth rates by preventing root spread. Another easy maintenance tip is to plant mainly slow-growing herbs that require minimal trimming.

Position your fairy garden in a sunny spot and ensure that it is watered regularly, especially in dry, hot weather. Protect it from exposure to sub-zero temperatures.

Fertilize the fairy garden during the active growing period, preferably using an organic mix.

Party Idea

How about hosting a kids' fairy garden' theme party? Gather together a selection of materials including a variety of containers, kids' gardening tools, bags of pre-mixed soil, a wide selection of suitable accessories and pre-grown plants in individual plastic pots—anything, in fact, that will fire the imagination of your enthusiastic young guests.

Include a few more macho looking accessories, such as toy cement mixers, bulldozers or tractors to please all tastes.

Let the kids take their efforts home with them afterwards, instead of goody bags.