Make a measuring stick to grow plants

Try making a colourful measuring stick to use when you are sowing seeds in your garden.
Make a measuring stick to grow plants

What you'll need

  • A piece of wood 1m long, 5-10 cm wide, 1–2 cm deep

  • Sandpaper

  • Tape measure or ruler

  • Pencil

  • Permanent marker pens (black)

  • Coloured pens or paints for decoration

  • Varnish and brush

What to do

  1. If not already in 1m lengths, ask an adult to saw the wood to the sizes given above.

  2. Use the sandpaper to carefully smooth the edges of the sticks.

  3. Take the tape measure or ruler and mark on one side of the wood, using a pencil, 5cm spacings (i.e. 5cm, 10cm, 15cm etc). Once you have do done this, go over the pencil lines with permanent pen.

  4. On the other side of the wood, mark 10 or 15cm spacings. These can also be used for multiples of 30cm/45cm.

  5. You can decorate your stick with pictures of vegetables and fruit; make sure you can still see the numbers. Ask an adult to help you give the measuring stick a protective coat of varnish.

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.