How to Create a Fairy Tale Garden

Choose a location. If you already have a garden, consider whether you want to transform the entire area into a fairy tale garden. You might prefer to keep a section for a regular garden (perhaps to give the fairies their own space?). You can create boundaries using stepping stones, gravel, wood, or even a small fence to define your fairy tale garden.

Plant flowers in the garden. Aim to create a lush landscape by planting ground cover, medium-height flowers, and taller plants. A multi-tiered garden can be achieved by varying the heights of your plants. Ensure you choose species that thrive in your local climate. For instance, if you live in a desert, avoid tropical plants. Consult a local nursery for the best flower choices in your area.

• Use ground cover plants like moss. Moss provides a soft texture (perfect for fairies to rest on), covers bare spots, and fills gaps between flowers. Consider creeping phlox, a low-growing plant with delicate, fern-like foliage and charming blooms from late spring to early summer. Don’t overlook herbs like thyme, which grows close to the ground, is fragrant, and can even be used in your kitchen.
• Add vibrant, colorful flowers. Fairies (and humans) are often drawn to bright, cheerful blooms. Try planting miniature roses, forget-me-nots, lilies of the valley, pansies, bluebells, baby’s breath, and daisies. Fragrant varieties are an added bonus.
• Visit nurseries for miniature plants, flowers, grasses, and ground covers.
• Install trellises for climbing plants. Trellises can be made of wood or metal, painted and interwoven. Vines will climb and create a living wall. Consider sweet autumn clematis, which produces tiny white flowers with a strong, sweet fragrance. You can purchase flat trellises, archway trellises, or gate trellises.

Attract birds to the garden. Fairies adore birds. The best way to lure birds is by hanging feeders. You can place them on trees or poles. Keep in mind that different bird species prefer different feeders and foods. For example, hummingbirds are attracted to red feeders filled with sugar water.

• Build or buy a birdhouse. You can craft one yourself or purchase one from a store.
• Add a birdbath to your fairy garden. Both birds and fairies will appreciate this water source.

Invite wildlife to the garden. Fairies love animals, but be cautious as some creatures might nibble on your plants. To prevent this, provide food for them (so they leave your flowers alone). Berry bushes are excellent for attracting wildlife. Plant a few berry bushes, and you’ll have treats for animals, fairies, and your family.

• To attract butterflies, plant flowers like asters, daylilies, lavender, hollyhocks, goldenrod, and zinnias.

Build a fairy house. Fairies, like any other beings, need a place to hide and rest. You can buy a fairy house from a garden store or make your own.

• Construct a fairy house using natural materials. Find four sturdy sticks and plant them firmly in the ground. Wrap bark around them to form walls. Place two stones at the entrance, leaving a gap to serve as a door. Use large leaves or another piece of bark for the roof. These are just suggestions; feel free to get creative with your fairy house—it’s a lot of fun!

Add wind chimes. Fairies adore music, and wind chimes are a perfect way to bring delightful sounds to your garden without disturbing your neighbors. Hang them from tree branches or garden stakes. You can even craft your own wind chimes for a personal touch.

Incorporate water features. As mentioned earlier, a birdbath is an excellent way to add water to your garden. You could also install a fountain, build a small pond, or create a waterfall. These water features will attract birds, wildlife, and fairies to your backyard.

Place sweets in the garden. Fairies love sweets, such as candy. Use a small pot or bowl to hold the treats. Remember to unwrap the candies to prevent animals from struggling with wrappers. Place the bowl in a hidden spot in the garden.

• Rock candy is a fantastic choice. Its translucent appearance adds a magical touch, enhancing the fairy tale theme. It’s easy to make and can be created in various colors. Simply adorable!
• Avoid using chocolate in the garden. It can melt, create a mess, and may be toxic to animals, including dogs.

Choose the type of pot you want to use. For a more natural look, opt for a flower pot in earthy tones or create one using hypertufa. Ensure the pot has drainage holes at the bottom to allow excess water to escape.

Fill the pot with potting soil. Choose the type of soil based on the plants you want to grow in your fairy tale garden.

Use sticks to outline the garden layout. Use sticks to mark areas on the soil where you plan to plant or place items like benches or fairy beds.

Decorate the garden. What better way to attract a fairy than by making your garden look cozy and inviting? Add tiny houses, benches, tables, and chairs—any miniature items you like! You can also use stones as seating.

• Create charming decorations using natural materials like bark, old bird nests, etc.
• Use a clay bowl as a water feature. Remove some soil so the bowl sits level with the ground when buried. Place the bowl and smooth the soil around it. Fill it with water. For a sparkling effect, add glass beads to the bottom before pouring in the water. Remember to clean the bowl regularly to prevent microbial growth.

• Consult local nurseries to find out which plants are best suited for your area. This is especially important if you’re purchasing plants online.
• Alpine Garden House specializes in miniature plants: trees, shrubs, flowers, and ground covers. Their selection is more diverse than you might imagine.