How to Incorporate Fun Kid-Friendly Features into Your Landscaping
How to Incorporate Fun Kid-Friendly Features into Your Landscaping
Believe it or not, there can definitely be a balance between a beautiful, manicured landscape and one that your kids will enjoy. How do you make that happen?
Here are some of our suggestions for kid-friendly features in your landscaping, without sacrificing a yard that looks good.
Sandboxes
An easy way to keep your kids entertained for hours at a time is with a sandbox in your backyard.
First things first, you will want to choose a flat, level, spacious area for the sandbox. Depending on the size you want to go with, you may need more or less space than others.
Once you have the perfect space picked out, it’s time to create a foundation. Adding gravel to the area is an excellent way to ensure nothing grows in the sandbox and that no water or mud builds up.
Then, it’s time to pick out the perfect sand for the box.
After building the ideal sandbox, there are some chores you will need to be aware of for the upkeep of the area:
- Watch out for drainage issues, check to make sure the sand stays dry
- Weed the area regularly, either by hand or with weedkiller. If you use a chemical, make sure it’s safe for your children to be around
- Change out the sand regularly
- Clean out debris like sticks, leaves, etc. on a regular basis
You can also make the area more aesthetically pleasing by putting an attractive canopy over it, adding plants around the border of the sandbox, and/or adding a decorate hardscaped border.
Swings
Swings are another wonderful option for your landscaping. They can vary greatly in how they look and how they are installed, meaning that you can easily fit them into your aesthetic.
Just like installing a sandbox you will need to find an ideal, safe place to hang a swing. You can choose a strong tree or build an entire swing set if you have space and resources.
If you would prefer a bench-like swing for reading or simply to sit on, there are a lot of great outdoor options for those as well.
Playgrounds
For backyards with extensive space and families that want something more interactive for their children, a hardscaped area with a playground may be a viable option.
These can be as simple or as extravagant as you would like them to be, it’s just important to make sure they are built/installed as safely as possible.
Picnic Areas
If you would like a nice area in your yard for your children to eat and enjoy each other’s company, a picnic area is a great addition to your landscape.
Whether it’s simply a picnic bench in the grass or an entire hardscaped patio, there are endless options for creating an area for your children to sit in the yard.
You can also make this as detailed as you’d like: outdoor rooms, outdoor couches, a fire pit, and/or lights can make the area much cozier.
Kid-Friendly Gardens
Lastly, consider a kid-friendly garden to introduce your child to different plants and wildlife. This could be a butterfly garden, a bee garden, vegetable garden, herb garden, etc. Depending on space, resources, climate, and what you would like to grow, the opportunities are endless.
Having a garden that your child can help nurture and learn from is a great way to get them interested in nature and local wildlife.
Hiring Professional Help for Your Kid-Friendly Landscaping
Some of these projects can get fairly complicated, so it’s important to make sure you have adequate help to get them done. Hiring a trusted, local professional landscaping company is a great first step to making your landscaping kid-friendly.
For those of you in the San Francisco Bay Area, Homescape Now is a great option for all of your landscaping and hardscaping needs! Contact us today to get started.
