If you attended Faeries, Sprites and Lights at Minnetrista in July, you may have been inspired to create your own faerie or miniature garden. This is a fun way to get kids interested in gardening and is also a great way to use small garden spaces.
There are several reasons to have a miniature garden. The small gardens require less growing space and, therefore, less time and work (like weeding). Planted in containers, their small size makes them mobile and they can be great conversation pieces.
To get started, decide on the size of your miniature garden. Do you want something small that is contained in a planter, something a little larger to fill an empty space, or are you considering a garden train layout where scale is important?
Next, look at the conditions of the space to determine what types of plants will thrive. Miniature plants are not exempt from the rules concerning amounts of sunlight, water and soil conditions, so be sure to choose plants that meet your site requirements. Also consider how to protect these small plants during the winter months. Containers can be moved or taken indoors but garden plantings may need some extra protection against the cold. Many perennials are now available in a dwarf or miniature size (this refers to the plant's growth habit) and can be found at most garden centers; some even offer complete miniature garden kits. A few of the more popular miniature plants include hostas, daisies, campanulas, geraniums, heucheras, thymes, mints, junipers, conifers, and dwarf ornamental grasses.
Some plants are not dwarf, but their growing habits are compact and suited to miniature gardening projects. Others can be trimmed on a regular basis to keep their size under control. Plants that fall into these categories include groundcovers like sedums, mosses, thymes, and conifers used in bonsai.
Ornamentation for miniature gardens is widely available, especially as faerie-themed gardens continue to gain popularity. Using planters is an easy way to create a miniature scene. Be sure to use a container with good drainage. Arrange your features or ornaments first to determine what the layout will look like. Then begin installing the plants—largest root systems first. Water when you finish planting; then do the final placement of ornaments or hardscapes (like paths), as the soil will now be more compact and settled.
Containers and small spaces are also well-suited to creating miniature rock gardens. Drought-tolerant plants such as sedums are ideal for this and require minimal care.
So, if you are planning a miniature garden, there is still time to get started this season. With a variety of plants to select from you can create that beautiful, weed-free garden you have always wanted—in miniature. Susan Smithis Archivist at Minnetrista, and is a member of the Delaware County Master Gardeners.
These newspaper columns run every Wednesday in the Muncie Star Press.
