Recently fairy gardens have become an ever growing trend.
These tiny little dioramas are a great thing to spend your time on when you’re feeling overwhelmed by the world or just need to make some room for lighter things.
For both children and adults to enjoy.
If you wish to build your own fairy garden, then this guide will have the information you’re looking for.
What Is a Fairy Garden?
Fairy gardens are a miniature outdoor space created to look like a scene from a fairyland. With green leafy greeneries, sparkling pools, and miniature merry maidens and homes of every size and shape that populate this little universe.
The plants are usually small conifer trees naturally throwing off sprays that mimic fairytalish forms or at least magical appearances, offering wide varieties of succulents, mosses, lichens, and flowers of different shapes and textures. It is not just the settings and its architecture that charm, but far more so the little fairies that make it fairytale if transparent.
People create fairy gardens because they give a feeling of being touched with fairy magic. They are created to bring in the fanciful, enchanting world of fairies into the daily lives of hardheaded, hardhitting adults.
Also, they are about oils for your moods, diedray that brings in rays of sunshine into your rapidly turned sensibilities, where you can retire for a while to simple pleasures, find a bit of beauty at odd hours.
They are a getaway from our busy lives, for just a little while, and be the child we once were. They are easy and inexpensive projects highly capable of keeping one tinkering for hours!
Only are based on the English custom of making at least one miniature garden for the home or outbuilding to attract wee fairies who then guard the dwelling.
Fairies like to be near places where there is peace, love, and happiness.
Have You Heard? Academic scoffers don’t agree on where the idea of making a fairy garden came from, but some people are indubitable that they saw them while they were dreaming or perhaps watching dreams, and many avow that they saw them in visions- who knows.
How To Make a Fairy Garden?
Making An Indoor Fairy Garden
To make an indoor garden, you would require:
- a large planter
- potting soil
- small plants and succulents
- rocks and pebbles of various sizes
- moss and twigs
- tiny objects made up of ornaments and decorations.
Here is the process:
- First, fill the planter with the potting soil to an adequate amount.
- Then set up the biggest object in the center of the bowl.
- Now put the smaller plants around the bigger ones. At this point, start landscaping with the rocks and pebbles, so the garden looks more realistic.
- Next, cover the dirt with moss and create little bushes with the twigs.
- Lastly, accessorize your little fairy garden with whatever ornaments and decorations you may have.
Making An Outdoor Fairy Garden
Creating the desired landscape is the first step; you should have this decided upon before you begin planting any plants.
Once the shape and size has been determined, you will want to dig out the area that will become your garden.
Fairy gardens are usually in smaller proportions than regular gardens, so a one-foot by one-foot square will do for most.
You may wish to make it larger if you intend on making several layers of paths, or if you want something with lots of ground cover plants.
Be sure your ground is level and no rocks or large stones where you intend to set it up.
The next step is deciding on how many plants and trees you will need to create the look you want.
Keep In Mind – The idea in fairy gardens is to look like nature, so you will wish to include many plant types.
After you decide on the amount of plants and trees, you will want to gather up all the supplies that you will need, such as:
- soil
- potting soil or compost
- miniature furniture
- a greenhouse
- potted plants
- decorative stones
Different supplies may be needed depending on what type of fairy garden you choose and what type of plants you select.
If your fairy garden is for flowers instead of lawns and trees, you may not want to use real rocks for your pathways.
However, some people like fairy gardens to look as real as possible rather than a totally imaginary place.
Like the indoor fairy garden you will begin with the largest pieces first.
This could be your miniature garden house or any other larger item that you wish to place in your garden.
Then follow these with small and medium items like fences and furniture. These can be placed on top of larger rocks for a floating effect.
Finally, fill in with the smallest grasses, flowers, mosses, and lichen.
Now you will water your new fairy garden. Recommended is to water twice daily for a minimum of 10 minutes each time.
Heads Up! – Don’t leave the water in the garden after watering. This can cause over watering and make the garden mouldy.
Buying A Kit for A Fairy Garden
In general, fairy gardens are more expensive to build than regular gardens.
Therefore, you must be sure that the kit you buy gives you your money’s worth.
There are so many types of fairy garden kits available online, but the kind you are most likely to come across is an all-in-one kit that has almost everything to get you started.
Usually costing around $12, these kits come complete with over a hundred items.
A basic fairy garden kit comes with a base, soil, one or two plastic trees, flowers, and other accessories including a fairy and other tiny animals. Some come with the tiny houses or boxes the fairies are to live in. The only problem with these kits is that they can be quite pricey, and the quality tends to leave a lot to be desired. So, you have to be very careful when purchasing one.
Kits for fairy gardens that come with small rocks and stones usually cost less and result in a more natural layout.
When you are buying your fairy garden kit, also look for the thing that you would like to slip in every now and then as well as the things like fairy signs, tiki torches and tiny birds that can be purchased at your local arts and craft store. Much cheaper and they will look a lot nicer in your fairy garden.
Here’s a little tip; if you are buying the kit online and you don’t see any of the tiki torches or the tiny birds, be sure to read through the item description as some people do not include these with the kits, but you can very easily add them to the kit for pennies.
Also, of note are that kits do come for different levels of fairy gardening; beginner kits, intermediate kits, and advanced kits, so make sure, to get a kit of your level.
How Much Does It Cost to Set Up a Fairy Garden?
Many fairy gardens are free, but some may require you to pay to build, maintain and/or decorate your fairy garden.
A typical medium-sized fairy garden will cost about $400 to $800. A medium size qualified for a four season wonderland will cost about $5 a square foot.
Just keep in mind that this is a basic estimate and that the price could change depending on size, area of land needed and time frame in which you want it done.
The kind of materials is another factor in how much it would cost to build a fairy garden.
Most are made from river rock, concrete and moss but you may choose to use a more expensive material like granite, stones or ceramics.
You will have to pay labor cost as well if the contractor requires some pay.
This could be one of the main features that increases your overall final costs unless you hire a volunteer contractor.
Another main factor to consider is the time frame of which you want it done.
If you want a more elaborate, detailed garden than you will inevitably be paying for more work.
Here are some of the common expenses that you might be met with in trying to build a fairy garden or wonderland.
Cost Of Materials
Also known as the hardscaping or the masonry work, this is the costly part of building a fairy garden or wonderland.
The cost of materials will be decided by the size of your garden and the type of material that you decide to use.
Cost Of Labor
You may opt to do everything by yourself, but if you don’t have landscaping experience, you may need help from professionals or volunteers.
Cost Of Maintenance
Some materials will require regular maintenance, such as:
- river stones
- cement
- and glass
You may also need to replace broken or damaged materials.
This will cost you money and effort in the long run.
Types Of Plants to Use in A Fairy Garden
Choosing the plants is perhaps the most difficult part of creating a fairy garden.
They should complement the theme of your fairy garden, and they need to look natural, not too manicured.
There are countless herbs and plants to use in a fairies garden, but here’s a rundown of some of the most popular ones.
Lavender
This is a perennial herb that looks very beautiful in the garden, and it smells great too.
It has small blue flowers that bloom from early spring to late summer.
Lavender is used to repel insects, but it should be removed after flowering, as the fragrance will attract other insects.
Lavender can be planted in the garden or in pots in your house.
Pansies
This has been utilized for ages past as a natural insecticide.
This is a hardy perennial flower, easily cultivated, and has beautiful flowers, but pansies do not live long in pots.
Yarrow
The yarrow is a perennial plant that has been used for many centuries as a natural insecticide.
These flowers repel insects, and they smell wonderful. Yarrow can be grown in pots or in the garden.
Marigolds
These flowers grow in some of the hottest areas of the globe such as Africa, India, and South America.
You can use the flowers of marigolds for repelling insects. They are very easy to grow.
However, do not plant marigolds on the beds of peonies as this can cause an infection.
Lemon balm
This plant has wider leaves; it flowers from late spring till autumn.
The name “Lemon Balm” was derived from its lemon-like smell, with which the herb is fraught. It was formerly consider a specific for headaches.
The plant may also be used as an ornament, or as a potherb, in fairyland.
Maintaining A Fairy Garden
As a gardener, you want your fairy garden to be in tiptop condition and as immaculate as it can be.
Fairy gardening takes a different type of care than that afforded to a traditional garden.
You know when a fairy garden has been loved, and yet many people want to know how to care for one.
Keeping your fairy garden intact means knowing what to do when the time comes.
The following are ways that you can keep your fairy garden in the best possible condition.
Weed The Garden as Often as Required
Weeds can be quite pushy and they can rob the nourishment and healthy growth of your plants. As soon as you see them sprout in your fairy garden, dispose of them. Luckily, fairy gardens tend to be small and weedy invasion is relatively easy to spot.
The best time to weed your fairy garden is before watering. In this way, the weeds do not have an opportunity to absorb the moisture meant for your fairy plants, leaving them parched.
It also pays to mulch your fairy garden so that weeds are discouraged. Another way to curtail weedy growth in your cherished fairy garden is to lay gravel or stones in the bare spots of the garden.
Do Not Overwater Your Fairy Garden
If you’re setting your fairy garden aside temporarily, keep it away from standing water, puddles, and the like.
The rainwater or other household items (e.g. watering cans) will wash away the soil and make this a soggy mess, a thing to be avoided at all costs.
Otherwise, just give the soil a good soaking and move on to the next step.
Best Method – The best way to water your fairy plants is with a watering can with showering nozzle this willidecrease the chances of flooding the fairy garden.
Feed The Plants Regularly
Each species of fairy plant has a specific degree of nutritional need.
In essence, you must ensure that you meet this need. Most people opt for succulents because they require the bare minimum of nutrients.
Even so, fairy gardens tend to be on the bright and beautiful side, more in keeping with the fairy theme.
Regardless, you have to feed each species according to their needs.
You want to use the best feeds on all your plants for top results.
Then all your plants are well fed and in perfect health. You may choose to feed your plants every few weeks or every couple of months.
Keep The Garden Clean
A clean garden is a healthy garden, and a healthy garden is a beautiful garden.
You want your fairy garden to look lovely after all, and as such, you must keep it as clean as possible.
One method of accomplishing that is to get rid of the natural debris that comes into your garden such as dead leaves, especially in fall and autumn.
When these things pile up they result in an unsightly garden.
Get Rid of Vines and Creepers
Vines and creepers will make their way sometimes into your garden, and if you do not cut them off they will wrap up your whole garden.
Keep them in check, and do not let them capsulate your whole garden.
And whilst cutting off vines and creepers, do not forget to prune up your plants and trees as often as is necessary. In pruning, be careful to use clean and sharp slitting-shears and scissors, so as to do your work cleanly.
Do not forget to have a frequent look at your ornaments and other decorations to see if there are any dirt and soil on them needing a clean up.
You can clean it all right with a soft brush together with a little washing liquid and warm water and scrubbing till each crevice is satisfactorily made clean.
Protect The Accessories from Weather Elements
Your Garden Accessories and Ornaments get beaten down to their foundations come summer or winter.
It all depends on the materials the ornaments are made of, for some will withstand the severest cold, the rains of winter, and the heat of the sun.
For example – Resins by and large will have no qualms in respect to sun and rain, when you have no fears.
Then there are those which will fade with too much sun and become brittle when exposed to the cold.
Making your bed and/or bringing your ornaments indoors is about the best plan, for the atmosphere is reasonably neutral.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Build a Fairy Garden?
There are many different ways to build your own fairy gardens.
Some people build a landscape plan in their heads with the intention of holding the fairy. Others draw their garden in with a two-dimensional pen and paper.
You can paint or draw your garden plan out on a piece of paper and hang it on the wall.
You can also build the garden in an artistic fashion using mosaics and cutting the plan into pieces of colored glass.
Or you can use specially made objects made to resemble fairies.
Can Children Play with A Fairy Garden?
You can let the children use your fairy garden for all of their outdoor play.
Some would actually forbid their children to play in their own garden for risk of injury among all of the play equipment!
What Are Some Popular Fairy Garden Plans?
There are many ways to plan your own fairy garden.
One of the most common ways that people construct a garden is to first make a landscape plan. They do this either by first creating a three dimensional plan, or by drawing the whole garden in two dimensional form on paper.
Or they hold their fairy in their mind while they build their garden.
Conclusion
Fairy gardens are a nice way to lift a person’s spirit.
In addition to being a small pick me up, they are also pretty enough to instantly up the score on your aesthetics.
We hope that the article was helpful to you on your journey to make your own fairy garden.