I promise you’re going to love this DIY garden project. A co-worker taught me this easy and oh so adorable “live” basket idea more than 20 years ago. I think the result of these five simple steps elevates the Easter basket to an enchanting creation. The list of ingredients is simple: wheat grass seed, potting soil, aluminum foil, and a basket.
Step One: Choose your basket (or other container). The wheat grass will be happiest with at least two inches of soil for it’s roots. I would say a basket that is 4 to 5 inches deep is the ideal – however, creativity is encouraged.
Step Two: Line the basket with aluminum foil. I used an “X” technique to get foil up all sides of the basket-meaning I used two long pieces of foil that crossed over each other like an “X.” You don’t really want foil showing on the finished product, so I suggest folding the edges at least ½ inch below the lip of the basket.
Step Three: Grab that bag of potting soil out of the shed and fill up your basket to just about an inch below the foil.
Step Four: Lay down a sheet of wheat grass seed (you can purchase this on Amazon). I was extremely generous with the seed and completely covered the soil. Next cover the seed with a layer of soil. I experimented with a very thin cover of soil in one basket and an inch of soil in another basket. I honestly can’t tell the difference on the finished product. I suggest keeping the basket in a place safe from birds and other garden friends. I put mine on my back patio where they got partial sun.
Step Five: Mist soil thoroughly every day. My darling hubby spent 30 minutes cleaning out an old glass cleaner bottle for me. When I went outside to fill it up with water I discovered the trigger on my hose nozzle has a “mist” setting that works perfectly (shhh don’t tell him).
Voila! In one week you will get grass shoots. In two weeks you’ll have a nice, thick, tall living grass Easter baskets. Continue to mist daily and here’s where the real fun begins! Some baskets were so cute with their tall green grass I left them au-natural and simply added Easter decorations. Other baskets I trimmed with scissors or shears to give me a nice lawn to add décor too.
I know what you’re thinking and yes, you could buy a 4-inch pot of wheat grass in the pet aisle of the grocery store and put it in a basket. I think this “cheat” would work very well with the right sized basket or
Created and contributed by Jennifer from the
Mary Lou Heard Memorial Garden Tour Board