How to Create a Sunflower House
So you’re ready to begin making a sunflower house with kids. Where do you start? First, choose a sunny location with a source of water nearby. Sunflowers love the sun but still require lots of watering. Sunflowers grow in almost any soil, but if you have heavy clay or sandy soil, the plants will grow better if you work some compost or other organic matter into the soil before planting. Let the kids place sticks or flags about 1 ½ feet (0.5 m.) apart to layout the shape of the house. The flags will act as markers for your seeds and plants. About two weeks after your last expected frost date, plant one sunflower plant or a few seeds near each marker. If using sunflower seeds, score an outline about an inch (2.5 cm.) deep into the soil with a stick or garden tool handle. Let the children place the seeds in the shallow trench and then fill it with soil once the seeds are in place. After the seedlings emerge, clip out the excess plants for proper spacing. When the sunflowers are about a foot (0.5 m.) tall, it’s time to start thinking about a roof. Plant one or two morning glories or tall runner bean seeds a couple of inches (5 cm.) from the base of each sunflower plant. Once the sunflowers form flower heads, tie a string from the base of one flower head to another, forming a web of string over the house. The vines will form a snug roof as they follow the string. As an alternative to a vine roof, bring tall mammoth sunflowers together at the top and tie them loosely to form a teepee shaped roof. You can combine a sunflower house with other flower gardening ideas for kids too, such as a vine tunnel leading up to the door of the house.
Using Kids’ Gardening Projects for Learning
A sunflower house garden theme is a great way to introduce a child to the concepts of size and measurement. From laying out the outline of the house to comparing the height of the plants to the height of the child, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to discuss relative and actual size while enjoying the sunflower house. Allowing them to care for their sunflower house will also help with teaching kids about responsibility as well as how plants grow and their life cycles. Using flower gardening ideas for kids is a great way to arouse their natural interest in nature while keeping the learning process fun and enjoyable!
