For most families, the garden is the most essential part of their home. It gives their children a space in which to play outside and enjoy the fresh air. I’m sure as a parent or a grandparent, you will think of your garden as a godsend as it helps to keep the kids away from the TV and computer screens! But when it comes to gardens, there is one thing that many people forget to consider. That is the safety of their outdoor space. Some people think that a garden is child-friendly just because it is a penned-in area of space from which the kids can’t escape. However, there is a lot more to garden safety than that. Here are some excellent tips that will help you create a safe and secure child-friendly garden.
How To Create A Secure And Child-Friendly Garden
Watch Out For Poisonous Plants
If you aren’t exactly sure what all the plants and flowers are in your garden, you should endeavor to find out. That’s because there could be one or two plants that are actually poisonous out there. That will end in tears if the kids get hold of them! Most toxic plants that are found in gardens will cause a rash if they come into contact with skin This could require special cream from your doctor. Make sure that this doesn’t happen by checking your garden plants. Remove any dangerous ones immediately.
You can always replace them with some fruit bushes. It is also important to check for any with thorns, also, as these can be painful for little fingers. Every ounce of prevention taken will result in a more secure child-friendly garden.
Cover Ponds
One of the major hazards for kids in gardens is ponds. Your pond may not be very deep, but even a small depth of water could be dangerous if a child were to fall in. For this reason, it is a good idea to keep your ponds covered.
To make your garden more child-friendly you can buy special pond netting from your local garden center. It allows you to still look through into the pond even though it is covered. Be careful about other water features as well. If they create a pool of water that children could potentially fall into, think about covering them.
Level Your Garden
If you are lucky enough to have quite a large garden space, there is the chance that it might not be level. For instance, it could be on the slope of a hill. The previous homeowner may have created different levels for aesthetic value. Even though it may look great this way, an uneven surface doesn’t allow for a child-friendly garden, especially for young children, who may be prone to fall over on it.
It is a good idea to rethink the landscaping of your garden and get it leveled. You could look at having decking installed to even it out. These can be dangerous if not treated properly, so do your research on the best deck stain.
Gardens shouldn’t be dangerous places for children, and, as you can see, there are plenty of ways for you to make yours a more child-friendly garden easily. Once you do so, your family will be able to enjoy it a lot more!
Wanna learn more? Check out, Sloane & Sons article on making a garden child-friendly!
