How to Grow Sunflowers on a Trellis

Sunflowers make a colorful addition to your yard with their bright petals and giant flower heads. The average sunflower grows to a height between 6 and 8 feet tall; however, the giant variety can easily reach 16 feet tall. Each sunflower plant consists of one stem and one flower, so several of them need to be planted in a row to increase their impact. The sunflower stems will droop once they reach their full height, but tying them to a trellis as they grow will prevent this from happening.

Trowel
Sunflower seeds
Trellis
String
Scissors

Instructions

- 1
  Select sunny locations for your sunflowers near the back of your flowerbeds. They need as much sunlight as possible, and since they grow to tall heights, planting them at the back of the flowerbeds keeps them from overshadowing plants in front.
- 2
  Dig up a 12-inch-long, 4-inch-deep row of soil with the trowel. Place the seeds in the row so that they are 3 inches apart. Cover over the seeds and water until the soil is moist enough for your finger to sink into it up to the first knuckle.
- 3
  Press the trellis into the ground behind the planted sunflower seeds with both hands. Make sure that each prong at its base is fully sunk into the soil to ensure that it will not fall over.
- 4
  Cut a 3-inch piece of string and, starting when each sunflower is 12-inches tall, loop the string around the trellis and the stem of the plant. Knot the end of the string to hold the stem to the trellis. The string needs to be tight enough to hold it securely, but not so tight that it squeezes and cuts into the stem. Repeat for every 12 inches in height that each sunflower gains.

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