Bring a little magic into your home or outdoor space with an enchanting fairy garden. Fairy gardens are the perfect DIY project for families, and they can provide hours of small world pretend play opportunities after they are finished. Roll up your sleeves, grab some gardening supplies, Safari Ltd fairies and magical creatures, and unleash your imagination!
Some fairy gardens are created outside in a flower bed, but for this blog, we are going to explore the container garden option!
How to make a fairy garden
What you'll need:
- Container (Flower pot, bird bath, tub, etc.) *Make sure that your container is wide and deep enough (some plants have 3” root bundles) for the chosen plants and fairy accessories.
- Soil (choose soil appropriate for the plants that you will be using)
- Gardening Fabric (cut to fit the bottom of your container)
- Decorative rocks of various size (from 2”-pebbles) Plants (buy plants that are similar in soil/water/light needs and the appropriate size for the container being used).
- Fairy House (premade ceramic or wood fairy house (purchase at Amazon or Michael’s Craft Stores), use a bird house, or make your own)
- Miniature items (Many items can be made from polymer clay or purchased online and/or from a craft store)
- Decorative stones/gems
- Safari Ltd. Fairies, Gnomes, and Magical Creatures:
- Fairy Fantasies® Designer TOOB®
- Fairies & Dragons Super TOOB®
- Fairies & Dragons Designer TOOB®
- Gnome Family Designer TOOB®
- Fairy Tale Animals TOOB®
- Friendly Fairies Super TOOB®
- Fairy Fantasies® Tea Party Set
- Fairy Dragon Toy
- Flower Dragon Toy
- Flower Dragon Toy
- Fairy Pony
- Pink Unicorn
- Unicorn
- Unicorn Baby
DIY Fairy Garden Procedure:
- Add a layer of gardening fabric to the inside bottom of your planter to prevent soil from falling through.
- Add about a 1” layer of rock for drainage.
- Add soil up to about 3 inches from the top rim of the planter.
- Sketch out a layout for your fairy garden. Remember to leave room for fairies and magical creatures to populate the garden.
- Plant flowers and plants according to tag directions. Note, when choosing plants for your container, choose plants that have similar care requirements. The amount of light is most important, because if you want to mix plants of various soil/watering needs, you can always plant them in a separate smaller container within the garden. For instance, you can have high water need plants in the larger container, and then add a low water succulent in a smaller pot as a decorative element.
- Add in hardscape (rocks, etc.), water features (real or fake), and any additional items (fairy house, bridge, etc.)
- Populate the garden with fairies, gnomes and other magical creatures.
Background and Symbolism
Fairy gardens are so much more than charming decorations. They actually have a rich history and their own share of symbolism. Many cultures associate fairies with protection, good luck, and nature’s special magic. In some folklore, fairies were thought to watch over gardens so that plants thrive. They offer a sense of wonder to anyone who believes in them.
Today, fairy gardens truly embody these sorts of whimsical traditions. They are miniature escapes into worlds of magic. Whether you tuck yours into a quiet backyard corner or place it on a sunny windowsill, your DIY fairy garden will remind you to embrace creativity as you connect with enchanting natural elements.
Benefits and Versatility of Fairy Gardens
Fairy gardens can offer something for just about anyone. They inspire kids to engage in imaginative play and storytelling. Adults turn to fairy gardens as a relaxing creative outlet. The miniature gardens can also be educational tools that teach children about plant care and design principles.
More than entertainment, fairy gardens are incredibly versatile. You can place them in outdoor flower beds, but they also fit perfectly indoors, on balconies, or even in small apartments. They can adapt to almost any space, including rustic wooden boxes, repurposed birdbaths, or ceramic dishes. You can design yours with a cottage-style theme or give it a modern, minimalist aesthetic. Regardless of your style, the fairy house will be a captivating escape into a tiny, enchanted world.
Tips and Inspiration for Customization
No matter its design, your fairy garden tells its own story… except you’re the storyteller. It will be all the more magical when you personalize it. If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few creative ideas for that extra special touch:
- Theme: What’s your theme? Will you create a woodland retreat, a beachside fairy escape, or even a holiday-themed garden?
- DIY Accessories: You don’t have to spend any money. Just craft mini benches, signs, or pathways from natural materials like twigs and pebbles.
- Hidden Details: It really is all in the details. Maybe tuck a tiny fairy door into the side of a planter or place miniature lanterns along pathways.
- Different Textures: Use moss, bark, sand, or glass beads to add contrast and dimension to your fairy garden.
- Unique Containers: Think beyond flower pots! Old suitcases, teacups, or hollowed-out logs make more creative bases.
You can add even more variety to your fairy garden by swapping out your decorations with the seasons. Add tiny pumpkins in the fall, then replace them with miniature snowflakes in the winter and pastel flowers in the springtime. You’ll keep your DIY fairy garden feeling fresh all year long.
Maintenance and Longevity
Your fairy garden is going to require some care if you want it to stay lush and magical. Of course, the exact level of upkeep is going to depend on what materials you use. Still, a few simple steps will help keep your garden looking its best:
- Water plants appropriately. Make sure each plant receives the right amount of moisture. Succulents need less water, while ferns may need more frequent misting.
- Trim plants regularly. Keep your plants neatly pruned to prevent overcrowding and maintain their miniature scale.
- Check for pests. Small gardens can still attract bugs. Every once in a while remember to inspect the leaves and soil.
- Refresh decorations. Over time, fairy garden accessories can shift or become weathered. A quick rearrangement or a new coat of paint can bring them back to life.
- Protect from harsh weather. If your fairy garden is outdoors, protect it by moving it to a sheltered spot during extreme temperatures or storms.
When you follow these tips, your DIY fairy garden will continue to thrive. It will offer you a tiny oasis of magic and creativity for years to come.
Your imagination is your only limit with this DIY! You can have multiple layers within your fairy garden by using different sized pots. Connect the different levels with mini ladders [premade (purchase on Amazon or from Michael’s Craft Stores) or make from sticks that are tied with string or wired together]. Mini lights or water features (such as mini fountains, water dishes as “ponds,” or blue gems as a creek, etc.) add a touch of serenity. Create a homey feel by adding moss, pebbled walkways, mini wood round paths, etc.
What creative elements will you add to your fairy garden? We would love for you to share your creations by tagging us @safariltd on our social media: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Check out our Fairy Garden how to short on our YouTube channel.
Helpful Links:
How to make fairy furniture from twigs
How to make a fairy garden from broken pots
The best plants for fairy gardens in 2021
How to sculpt using polymer clay
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