How to get the kids involved in your landscape

Garden design can be a real family affair

Redesigning the garden needn’t be something you take on by yourself – you can get your kids involved in all the action, too!

With the long winter finally behind us, many of us are now getting outside and enjoying our gardens. Spring is the perfect time to revamp your garden, as you’re unlikely to be delayed by bad weather and the work will be completed by the time summer is here.

Gardening with children can be a lot of fun, both for parents and children, to spend some quality and learning time together.

But designing your new garden can be challenging. There’s plenty to consider, including sourcing your landscaping supplies and finding the right contractors for those bigger jobs. And things can become even trickier if you have young children to look after while you’re organising the finer details of your landscaping project. If you’re feeling a little stuck, then why not get them involved in the project? Kids have wonderfully vivid imaginations and love to get their hands dirty, so they can make great little green-fingered gardeners!

Find the right tools for the job

First things first, it’s a good idea to get your kids some work tools of their own. They’ll feel really special and valued if they don’t need to share their kit. It will work out well for you too, as you can make sure that the tools you provide are child-friendly and much safer than standard equipment.

A shovel, a watering can, a wheelbarrow and some gloves are great pieces to start with. Take a look around the web and you’ll find that there are kid’s gardening tools to suit every budget; kids’ brand Spotty Green Frog offer a fun range that are age-appropriate and will get the job done.

Let them garden with you

Kids love to play at being grown up, so let them watch and learn from you rather than banishing them from the garden while you work on it. Being on hand to answer any questions that they may have about gardening will equip them with valuable knowledge. Talk to them about the plants that you’re introducing to the garden, explain how the local wildlife will benefit from your efforts and don’t be afraid to let them get a bit muddy as they’re making their way around the space. Feeling like they are directly involved with your efforts will sow the seeds for a lifelong love of gardening.

Ask for their input

Chances are you’re going to incorporate a play area into your garden – so ask your children to help you design it! They are brimming with creativity, and will actually be able to offer some really valuable insight into what’s going to work and what’s not going to stand the test of time. It’s not a space that’s going to be meeting your adult needs, so you should consult your little ones on what they’d like included. Of course, some of their ideas might be a little outlandish, but you can always use a little bit of creative license to bring them to life in a way that works for the both of you.

Provide them with an area of their own

Giving your children part of the garden to look after is a great way of getting them involved in maintaining the landscape. A few pots will be great to start with. Let them pick some seeds while you are out shopping, and supervise them as they plant and then water their new plants every day. Growing some herbs is really beneficial too, as they are easy to care for and will also help to generate an interest in cooking and food.

Develop a space your kids will be proud of!

Getting the kids involved in your landscape will help turn it into a space that benefits the whole family. Gardening together at the weekends is a great way to strengthen the bond that you share, and your children are also going to be picking up skills that will serve them well in adulthood.

So as you redesign your garden for summer, share the process with your little ones and enjoy loads of extra-special family time in the great outdoors!

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