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| Photo Credit: Jennifer Manning |
| Show your kids how to properly plant their selections at soil level. |
Looking for a fun, educational gardening project to engage your kids? Well, look no further than the great dish garden! Not only does it give children an opportunity to design and play in the dirt, there are plenty of teaching points to excite their blossoming curiosities.
Getting your kids involved in this planting project from start to finish gives them a greater sense of pride in their finished product. And each step can be used to teach them about the joy of gardening – from the basics of container gardening to plant selection and care. Begin with a trip to your local garden center. Let the kids pick out a container. Show them the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot and explain why they’re important. This is a great time to talk about proper drainage and suggest adding pieces of broken terra-cotta pots – or even a coffee filter – to the bottom of the container to prevent the soil from stopping up the drainage holes. | Add Photo to Journal |  | | Photo Credit: Jennifer Manning | | Display your kids’ gardens proudly in your yard, and show your children how to water them properly after planting. |
Next, ask your kids what they think needs to go in the pot first. While “dirt” may be the most popular answer, you can explain to them why it’s important to choose potting soil. Then walk them over to the appropriate aisle so they can see all the different options available. Many of the newer potting mixes include extra goodies, like fertilizer or water-absorbing polymers. (This is also the perfect time to talk about what plants need to live, and why fertilizer and proper watering are so important.)
The next step is what the kids have been waiting for: picking out some plants. Ask them if they want their container to sit in the sun or shade, then explain why they need to choose plants with similar light requirements for that exact spot.
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