Nothing beats having the grandkids over for an afternoon of summer fun in the yard—plus, you can send them home once you’re all spent after a long day in the sunshine! However, there are some things to consider design-wise if you want your yard to be kid-friendly. There may be some potential injury risks, or you may want to prevent your yard from getting overtaken by toys. These yard and garden features will allow the grandkids to safely run around and play without causing a minor catastrophe.
Create a Kid-Friendly Yard for the Grandkids to Run Wild
Try some of these clever design ideas for a beautiful, functional yard that’s great for entertaining the kids and the adults.
Install a Toy Box Bench
A pretty wooden bench that doubles as an outdoor storage container is perfect to use as a toy box! That way, you can easily clean up and store the toys after the grandkids go home, so your space is fit for having company over and outdoor entertaining. Plus, your yard won’t have race cars, sports balls, and dolls all over that could cause you to trip.
Edging Paths and Garden Borders with Kid-Friendly Plants
Let’s face it: kids are clumsy! A big part of designing a kid-friendly space is eliminating potential dangers if somebody takes a tumble.
Some plants are more resilient against a bit of trampling than others, and some are also a lot less pointy than others! Bordering garden edges, pavers, and stone with durable, non-prickly groundcovers can help prevent injury to both your plants and your kids.
Some of our favorite kid-friendly groundcovers for Bismarck include:
- Creeping Thyme
- Sedum
- Ajuga
- Creeping Jenny
- Creeping Phlox
- Soapwort
We have even more kid-friendly groundcovers available at the garden center, so visit us to explore what’s ready to plant now.
Create a Shady Spot to Relax In While Supervising
While the grandkids are running around the sunshine, coated in SPF, you’ll need some time in the shade, so you don’t get worn out from all the heat. A gazebo or pergola can provide some sun protection so you can supervise the little ones while sitting comfortably. Plus, if the kids are getting a bit too much sun, you can bring them under the shade to play a board game or do some coloring books while enjoying the fresh air.
Plant Insect-Repelling Plants
Did you know that there are plants that mosquitoes and other pesky bugs can’t stand? Their scent drives bugs away, yet they smell fragrant and lovely to us! Planting insect-repellent plants can help prevent you and the grandkids from getting itchy bug bites during an afternoon outside. Some popular varieties include:
- Lavender
- Basil
- Thyme
- Mint
- Lemongrass
- Citronella Geraniums
- Marigolds
Plant them in garden beds and planters around the perimeter of your yard and in pots around the play areas to create a kid-friendly, bug-free zone.
Place Play Structures on Kid-Friendly Turfs
Putting play structures on concrete or sharp stone hardscapes is a recipe for scraped knees and goose eggs. If it’s just a small area, you can use some rubber turf, but it isn’t quite as aesthetically appealing as some other options. For larger kid-friendly turfs, stick to any of the following materials:
- Lawn Grass
- Bark Mulch
- Pea Gravel
- Clover
- Chamomile
- Straw Mulch
If you have hardscapes, we recommend placing an outdoor rug down to soften the terrain. A bit of exposed concrete and brick paving is fine—just make sure you’ve got some sidewalk chalk handy so that the grandkids can unleash their inner Picasso! There are also a lot of kid-friendly holiday crafts you can try with the family all year round.
For more backyard accessories and plants for a kid-friendly yard in Bismarck, visit Plant Perfect to explore all the latest summer essentials for 2022!