Make Your Garden Work for Your Whole Family

Whilst families may be united in name or by blood, not every member of the house will use the space the same way, especially when it comes to the garden. If you have children, they might see it as an adventure playground, whereas your pets will view it as a toilet and you might view it as a recreational space to relax after a long day. This can make designing an outdoor space that works for everyone quite a tricky task, but it doesn’t need to be. 

Here are some top tips on how you can make your garden work for every member of the family, no matter how differently you all plan on using the space.

1. Security

No matter whether you have children, pets, both or neither, your garden needs to be secure. The last thing you want is the dog escaping or your children making their way into the neighbour’s garden. This means you need to think about your existing perimeter and whether it’s in good shape and is completely safe. 

If the answer is yes, your currently fence is escape proof and in great condition, you don’t need to worry, but if your fence has seen better days and has a few loose posts, it’s probably time to bite the bullet and get something new. When selecting a fence, you also need to think about height. You might need fence post supports that will give extra security and stability. If you have a big dog, they could easily clear a four-foot fence, in which case the garden won’t be safe for them to use. You will also want to think about small hands and tiny gaps in fences made of wire. 

2. Greenery 

When your garden is safe and secure, you can turn your attention to the greenery within it. There are a number of plants that might seem relatively unproblematic, but they could be dangerous to certain members of your family; namely your pets. Things like bluebells, peach trees, tulips and hydrangeas can be toxic to animals like dogs. To avoid a sick pet and hefty vet bills, remove the offending greenery. Raised planters are common with pet owners, especially those with smaller dog breeds who can’t jump as high. 

3. Turf

Where children are concerned, slips, trips and falls are common. If your current garden is paved or gravel and you have small children, it might be a good idea to lay down some child friendly lawn so that the risk of severe grazes and injuries is greatly reduced. In a likely manner, if you have pets, the heat that radiates from hot stones or paving can cause burns, and this can make going out to do their business all the more uncomfortable for a good portion of the year when the weather is warm. 

You don’t need to lay grass on your whole garden, but having a good sized section is advised in the case of children and pets. If you don’t like the feeling of grass between your toes, maybe opt for a corner with decking or paving slabs. 

4. Furniture 

The final thing you need to think about when trying to make your garden work for your whole family is furniture. You might want a seating area so you can dine al fresco, but you need to remember that other members of the house might also want their own things in the garden, too. Your children might benefit from a playhouse, whilst your dog or cat might appreciate a kennel to relax in without having to go back indoors. There will be instances where you won’t be able to fit everything that everyone wants in, and in this case you need to think about what will get used the most, or consider swapping out certain items at different times of the year. 

Summary 

Hopefully these tips will help you to create a garden that works for every member of your family so that you can all enjoy your outdoor space together in a cohesive manner.