The history of garden mazes dates back to the Renaissance. European courts commissioned the building of complex mazes that continue to grace the grounds of several royal homes. If you have a large yard, you can make your own family garden maze to put in a signature landscaping feature to your own property.
Measure the dimensions of the room in your yard where you would like to produce the maze. It is possible to use a 100-foot or even 200-foot tape measure available from a house improvement store to carry measurements. The University of Vermont Extension recommends having a distance of at least 25 feet around to make a maze but a long rectangular narrow space at a yard may also be adequate.
Use graph paper to design and make a scale model of your maze. One square on the newspaper can equal 1 foot. The plan should include enough space for those paths and plants. A 5-foot broad path is broad enough to move through without feeling claustrophobic. Incorporate a entry and exit on your layout. Browse maze books or layouts on lawn websites for ideas for a layout. The World-Wide Labyrinth locator provides a searchable database of garden mazes across the world.
Decide what types of plants that you want to use for your own procrastinate. If you would like a maze based on formal garden layout, use species of boxwood (Buxus) or even privet (Ligustrum). Boxwood and privet provide dense vegetation, species of different heights and are great for shaping into all kinds of forms. You can also use corn planted in late spring or early summer to make a maze in time for fall celebrations like Halloween so your kids can have an enjoyable backyard action.
Use string to make an outline of your maze on your yard based on your own map. Use the tape measure to coincide with the measurements you created in your own graph paper as you lay out the string. Wrap the string around stakes every few feet and in the corners to maintain the outline taut.
Create a turf maze as an extra rule by mowing the grass at the route of your maze. The remaining grass together with the staked rope or string makes a visible outline to your maze.
Prepare the soil in the areas where plants will grow. Well-drained, fertile soil with organic matter like peat moss, processed manure or compost will suffice.
Follow conventional techniques for planting and growing corn, boxwood, privet or whatever plants you choose for the maze. Once you plant the corn or shrubs, remove the rope or string and stakes.
Place mulch around the plants to help them retain moisture. Mulch also helps maintain the plan of your maze.
Walk through the maze per week to search for wayward leaves and stalks. Trim leaves and stalks which are at the path.
Prune and thin the shrubs a few times per year to keep them tidy, to get rid of dead branches and also to help spur new development. Trim away the white flowers of privet till they start to seed.