How to Create a Corn Maze

Children and adults alike look forward corn mazes at Halloween. It's fun to walk through the rows of corn grown too high to peek over and try to find the correct path out. It's a game of sorts and a chance to be scared by decorations and spooky characters jumping out from the maze. These corn mazes are easy enough to construct and can add a lot of fun to everyone's Halloween experience.

Things You'll Need

• Ribbons
• Mower
• Chainsaw
• Hay
• Land
• Corn stalks
• Halloween decor
• Pencil and paper

Instructions

1. Plow and till your ground to prepare it for planting. Plant as many rows as you can, making sure to space out the rows evenly. Water and tend to them so they grow correctly, straight, strong and tall. Once they've reached at least seven feet tall you're ready to start developing the maze.

2. Count the number of rows and columns so you have some sense of the size of your corn maze. On paper use dots to signify the rows and columns. Draw out all the dots. Connect the dots to create your maze. Add in dead ends, hidden corners and other surprise sections.

3. Walk out the lines you have drawn. Tag the stalks that border the path by wrapping a ribbon around them. Use one color for the path and another color for stalks that will be taken down to create dead ends and hidden spaces. By walking through the rows and following the ribbons you should be able to see the path.

4. Cut down the tagged stalks with a chainsaw. Mow up the rest of the mess so you have a clear path. If need be dig up any stubborn trunks and fill in the holes so the path is flat. Cover the entire path with hay.

5. Fill the hidden spaces and cut outs with spooky decor. Use skeletons, spider webs, witches and pumpkins to set the tone. Have fun and enjoy your corn maze.

Tips & Warnings

• Create alternate routes or additional dead ends for an advanced maze

• Don't attempt to cut the maze without marking it off first.