How To Make A Kid-Friendly Backyard Without Sacrificing Appearance
Posted on: 2 September 2017
I've you've recently purchased a home in which to raise your family, you're probably looking forward to having your own space where your children can play outside. However, you also envision your outdoor living space as somewhere that adults can enjoy as well, and you may be concerned that a kid-friendly backyard will come with aesthetic sacrifices. Fortunately, it's entirely possible to create and maintain a child-friendly backyard environment that still appeals to adults. Following are three strategies designed to make your backyard a safe and pleasant place for all ages:
An Open Design Plan
Avoid winding garden paths, clumps of tall plants, and large, single specimen plants placed in the middle of the yard -- these will be lovely additions to your landscaping when the kids are older or have flown the coop, but for now, visibility is an important part of ensuring a safe environment for little ones as well as providing you with optimal peace of mind. An open design plan lets you see every corner of your yard from the patio, deck, or back window. Landscaping with an open design plan doesn't mean that all you've got a is a big lawn. You can plant perennial borders along the edges of your property and plant deciduous trees for shade -- just avoid any sort of tree that has a low trunk, such as evergreens.
Plant a Kid-Friendly Lawn
All lawn grass is not created equal. Some types are more delicate than others, and some perform better in cool weather -- and vice versa. Ask you local landscape designer for advice on the type of lawn that performs best in your particular area. Also, because few things make a backyard look more unattractive than patches of mud, make sure that your backyard is entirely level before you have it reseeded with your lawn grass of choice. Even small graduations can result in water pooling in low areas, which usually means mud.
Go Organic
Keep in mind that the more pesticides and herbicides you use in your outdoor living space, the higher your kids' exposure to a variety of chemical toxins. That velvety green lawn, for instance, isn't so kid-friendly if it's full of chemicals. The best way to go organic is to keep your yard and garden as healthy as possible so that the plants don't require chemical controls to resist damages caused by pests and disease. For instance, watering your lawn deeply to encourage strong root growth means a healthier overall lawn that won't need pesticides and herbicides.
Please contact your local landscape designer for more information on how to create the outdoor living space that best suits you and your family's individual needs and preferences. Contact landscape design services for more information and assistance.
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