Spotlight Area

"Creating a Child-Friendly Landscape"

Featured in the May, 2003 Newsletter

While adults may enjoy sitting in the garden to relax or unwind, children want to remain active. Here are a few tips for creating a landscape that can be enjoyed by everyone in the family.

Create an Experience

When designing your outdoor living area, try to use plants that appeal to senses beyond the visual. The foliage of Lamb's Ear, for example, is soft and fuzzy to the touch. Everyone can enjoy a yard bursting with the fresh scent of spring, and lilacs and viburnum, (Juddii and Koreanspice) are very good choices. And don¹t forget taste.  Try planting some carrots or pea vines on or around a backyard playhouse. Your kids can help grow and harvest peas right off the vine. Planting dwarf apple and peach trees will allow easy access to a healthy snack, too.

Children Gardeners

Kids really enjoy being involved in the care of a garden. Campbell¹s carries lightweight garden tools designed for children, with bright colors and shorter handles. Let your kids help plant and maintain a section of the garden. Give them their own watering can that they can paint and personalize.

Interactive Landscapes

Try planting a low hedge of boxwood to form a small maze your kids can play in. Sunflowers or bushy plants can be fun to convert into forts, too. In a child¹s world, a soil berm or a smooth boulder is like having your very own backyard mountain to climb. Shade trees provide a great jungle gym or foundation for a tree house. Try to use a strong-wooded tree like ash or red maple. They¹ll give you spectacular fall color, too. Avoid evergreens and softwood trees for climbing and tree houses.

By implementing some of these ideas, you can create a beautiful garden the whole family can enjoy. Visit one of our Garden Centers for more kid-friendly plants and design ideas.