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Grow your own mini garden

Family planting seeds in flower pots, Mottisfont, Hampshire
Family planting seeds in flower pots, Mottisfont, Hampshire | © National Trust Images/Megan Taylor

Growing more flowers will help our pollinators thrive and protect our ecosystems. Find out how to make a small planter at home – it's a great way to grow your own beautiful blossoms and keep nature flourishing.

What you will need

To grow your own mini garden you'll need the following items:

  • Soil
  • Scissors
  • Seeds: we recommend lavender or wildflower mixes
  • Planter: this could be an old biscuit tin, a plastic container, a two-litre bottle cut in half or you can visit your local garden centre

1. Prepare your planter

Make a few small holes in the bottom of your planter/container. If you're a child, it's best to ask an adult to help you with this step.

2. Add the soil

Fill your container with soil.

3. Add your seeds

Sprinkle your seeds onto the soil, then place another thin layer of soil on top. Bees thrive on lavendar or wildflower mixes, but also love herbs like rosemary and chives.

4. Find a home

Find a home for your new planter, such as your garden, sunny patio or outside windowsill. Your seeds will grow best where there's sunlight and warmth available.

5. Water your flowers

Give your flowers a small amount of water after several days and repeat. Watch them grow and listen out for the buzz of visiting pollinators.

Gardener Fliss Elsom-Cook in the Gertrude Jekyll garden at Lindisfarne Castle, Holy Island, Northumberland

Get gardening

Our gardeners are on hand with ideas for your garden, plot or window box. From planting veg to tackling weeds, they’ve got all the important topics covered.

Try our gardening tips

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