How to Make a Sunflower House

Select an area in a sunny location. Sunflowers prefer full sun and require at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight a day.

Mark the area for the perimeter of the house in the soil. Use stakes and string to create a perfect square or rectangle as your guide for planting. Allow for a "room" of at least 4 feet by 6 feet.

Dig a trench 4 inches to 6 inches wide and 8-inches deep , following the lines for the perimeter of the house. Turn the soil, clearing it of rocks and other debris.

Add a 2 inch to 3 inch layer of compost or well-rotted manure. Work it into the existing soil. This improves aeration and promotes drainage.

Plant sunflower seeds to a depth of ½ inch, spaced 12 inches apart, following the lines for the border of the house.

Skip an area that is at least 2 feet wide to create the "door" to the house. This area should not be planted.

Water thoroughly to moisten the soil to a depth of 1 inch. Keep soil moist until seedlings emerge in a week to 10 days. Then reduce waterings to once a week, saturating the soil to root level.

Plant brightly colored annuals, such as cosmos or zinnias, between the sunflowers once the sunflowers are 4 feet tall. This adds color to the sunflower house.

Tie the tops of sunflowers together to form a roof when they reach a height of 6 feet to 7 feet, explains Hans Leo, educational assistant from Bramble Hill Farm in Amherst, Massachusetts. Tie baling twine to the stem about 12 inches below the bloom. Bend the stalk gently toward the flower on the opposite side of the house. Loop the free end around the stalk of the second flower and pull until the flowers touch. Tie the twine to secure the plants.

Add straw to "floor" inside of the house to create a cozy seating area, if preferred.