Children are Very Creative When it Comes to Gardening

Date:  March 24, 1997
Editor: D'Lyn Ford  (505) 646-6528, dlford@nmsu.edu

LAS CRUCES -- A flower with pencils on it, a pizza garden and grass as tall as trees. These are just a few ideas that children have about plants in the perfect garden.

"Kids are amazingly creative when it comes to gardening," said Norm Lownds, assistant professor of horticulture at New Mexico State University. "Working together in the garden is a good way for parents to spend time with their children."

Some gardening tasks are appropriate for any age level. "Even a 3-year-old can help plant seeds in the ground or pull weeds," Lownds said. Preschoolers also can "design" a garden by cutting out pictures from seed catalogs and pasting them onto a piece of cardboard.

As they get a little older, children can draw their garden including plants, birdhouses and a garden shed. "I've worked with some schools where the children captured photos off the internet to use in stories about their gardens," Lownds said.

To spark an interest in gardening, parents might consider giving children a corner of the family garden to plant whatever they like. "Usually this means they'll want to put five to 10 times more plants in than will actually fit, but that's OK," Lownds said.

Some plants that children can have success with include pansies, marigolds, petunias, tomatoes, chile, squash and pumpkins. Other plants that appeal to children's senses are fragrant herbs and soft lamb's ear.

"Kids tend to like plants that are interesting to touch, smell good, or grow big," he said.

For more information on cultivating your child's interest in gardening, Lownds suggests contacting your local 4-H group or county Extension office.