Kids Plant Seeds

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We recently put in a pool. The pool is beautiful, but the area surrounding the pool is a wasteland. It is an empty canvas of TN orange clay, which my dog loves to roll in. I’ve worked all summer to plant flowers, bulbs, and shrubs to get it looking green again. I bought 2 pounds of 100% wildflower seeds to plant in the hillside around the pool to try to get something growing there. My kids want to help me plant seeds for about 30 seconds, then they are finished. Their technique is the direct sow method. Actually, they just want to grab a handful of the seed, throw it down in a big pile, repeat a few times, then run and play. They just don’t have the fine motor skills to pinch and sprinkle the seeds evenly. I needed a way to get the seeds put in the ground a bit more uniformly, but wasn’t sure how to help my kids do that.

Then I came up with this method for smaller areas. I tried it on some marigold seeds that I got for 25¢ each. Let me know what you think.

First, I cut a paper towel into strips. You could use squares, smaller rectangles, etc.

I wet the paper towel strips and laid them across the countertop. Next, I spread the seeds out on the paper towel the way I wanted them and gently patted them down on the towel.

You could have your child do this step if you want; mine just weren’t patient enough for that.

Don’t worry, the seeds won’t fall off the strip, see?
I hung this one upside down just to make sure.

Carry the strips outside and have your kids lay them on the ground where you want to plant them.
(See all that clay and the rocks in my garden area? Lovely.)

Cover the strips with dirt and water well.

If your little one insists on helping with the seeds and his (or her) little fingers can’t pick up the tiny seeds, try this instead. Sprinkle the seeds on a plate or the countertop.
Have your sweetie press his finger into the wet paper towel, then into the seed, and back onto the paper towel. Basically you are making seed fingerprints.