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Ask a Gardening QuestionGardening Questions & Answers: How to garden questionsYoung child friendly garden

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Young child friendly garden

#1 · 23rd August 2023, 3:30 pm

Firstly great article on it and will for sure be taking lots of inspiration from it!

Am looking to make the end of the garden more suitable for our 8 month old (and ever quickly growing child).

We have a well established garden, and after a long struggle with taking up old dead lawn and reseeding multiple times we like our borders, wild grasses and lawn but looking to sort out the end.

I have removed what was a small pond and taken up the sleepers, and will initially infill with some rubble and then topsoil, reading I have to water regularly and stamp down compact until it finds its natural 'level'.

1. Infill pond
2. Remove existing patio and level
3. Reclaim a bit extra lawn and have a slightly smaller back area with kid friendly bark

I want the area to feel lighter and less 'dark wood', lots of big trees in neighbouring garden so ways to make it feel brighter at the bottom of the garden, also want to add a grass divider, border for a path, any recommendations (no trip hazards) so likely flush to the ground.

Want to have some plants in the back planters which will be bright and nice smells (in shade) but child friendly and hardy.

Not really sure what I am asking here as have a good idea in my head, but would welcome any suggestions based on the above and pictures.

Thanks!

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#2 · 24th August 2023, 9:41 am

Hi @riskeh

Thanks for your question on child friendly gardens. I’m glad my detailed guide on a kid friendly garden here has been so helpful. It’s packed with tips for creating the best child friendly garden no matter what your budget.

The first thing I’d say is that this query really is design work which you’d be better suited to booking one of my hour online consultations. That would get you a whole host of expert answers to your questions and some layouts which I can’t do here. May be some other ninjas may recommend a few ideas.

In the meantime my guides to plants for shade would be helpful along with my ‘Garden Design Fails’ Video to get you started.

https://youtu.be/Q4PHHtt2nmk?si=-eDHzxDiP0MMVWrd

All the best

Lee