A gorgeous backyard can enhance curb appeal, increase your property value, and double as the ideal setting for outdoor gatherings. Every homeowner would love to have that kind of backyard, but building it isn’t always easy. If you have children, you must be mindful of how safe your yard is for them. Follow the yard and lawn care safety tips in this article to create a beautiful outdoor environment that’s also suitable for kids.
Carefully Consider the Installation of Hazards in Your Yard
Certain environmental features can take your backyard to the next level. A pond can be the relaxing centerpiece of your outdoor landscape. Fill that pond with koi, and you can instantly breathe new life into your yard.
A new swimming pool is another versatile fixture that can be a terrific addition to any property. You can install a large in-ground swimming pool and use that as the main hangout spot for your family during the summer. Attaching a bar to your swimming pool also makes sense if you wish to use that yard fixture for entertaining guests.
Fire pits can also completely transform backyard settings. Build your fire pit in an open space and use it to set the mood for evening dates. You and your family can also gather around the fire and enjoy each other’s company.
While the fixtures we mentioned in this section can be assets for all properties, they are also hazards. Follow lawn care safety tips when building those additions to ensure they pose no danger to your child. You should also consult landscape designers to determine where the aforementioned fixtures should be installed.
Adding safety elements to those hazardous features is also well worth considering. Railings can prevent your kids from falling into the pond or pool. Safety features can also make your fire pit inaccessible when you aren’t around, thus preventing more accidents.
Build a Small Shed for Your Gardening Tools
Keeping your yard in ideal condition is only possible if you make time for regular maintenance. While some lawn care safety tips suggest entrusting yard maintenance to professionals, you can handle that task solo if you have the requisite experience. Having the right gardening tools can also make yard maintenance significantly easier.
With no storage area available for your gardening tools, you may end up leaving them unattended in your yard. Your kid may immediately start playing with your gardening tools after spotting them. It doesn’t take much to imagine how things can go wrong from there. Even if you carefully set the gardening tools aside, your child may still be able to access them while you’re not around.
Take the extra step and build a small shed for your gardening tools. Building a small shed is helpful because it serves as a constant reminder for you to put your gardening tools away. You can also secure the shed with a lock to ensure your child cannot access it.
Seek advice from local landscaping contractors to determine the best spot for your shed. They can tell you where to build that backyard addition so it doesn’t interfere with your spectacular landscape. Your contractor can even help design the shed in such a way that it becomes a complementary addition both in terms of function and form.
Develop a Maintenance Routine for Your Trees, Bushes, and Grass
Many homeowners would agree that backyards look best when they are full of greenery. Trees, flowers, and grass can combine to create a verdant landscape that is the very definition of picturesque. The different plants growing in your backyard can yield practical benefits such as providing shade and improving air quality.
Growing plants in your backyard is a good idea, but you must keep an eye on them. Failing to do so may cause pests to invade your yard. Those pests can pose a threat to your family’s health, and kids are especially vulnerable to them.
Keep your children safe by heeding lawn care safety tips. Mow your lawn regularly to make sure pests aren’t able to stay there for long. You should also get in touch with local pest control services. Ask them to inspect your property and eliminate any pests they find so your children can remain safe.
Provide an Outdoor Play Area for Your Child
Playing outside can be beneficial for kids. According to Harvard Health, outdoor play allows your child to receive appropriate sun exposure and exercise. Children can also develop their motor skills and a greater affinity for nature by spending more time outdoors.
Of course, there are two main issues to consider if you allow your child to play outside. First off, you should always consider your child’s safety because there could be hazards in your yard. You should also be mindful of the mess your child may create while playing around.
Avoid those potential problems by asking landscape design services to create a play area for your child. Entrusting the design work to a professional is a must because they can create something enjoyable that meshes with the rest of your landscape. They will follow the lawn care safety tips while designing that child-friendly environment.
Remove Dead Trees on Your Property
Healthy trees can add more than just color to your outdoor landscape. You can also utilize them as vertical elements that open up more design possibilities. Hang lights and other fixtures from your trees to add a new dimension to your backyard. Tall trees can also create natural hangout spots because of the shade they provide.
Reviewing tree and lawn care safety tips is a must if you wish to keep your natural fixtures around for as long as possible. Once your trees die, they quickly become liabilities. They are also more than eyesores that alter your outdoor setting. Those dead trees can also pose serious threats to children.
Dead trees are dangerous because their falling limbs can injure your child. Your kid can also trip on the roots extending from the stump. The pests that take up residence inside your dead tree can also carry diseases, so you must remove their habitat quickly. Safely remove the dead trees from your property by requesting the assistance of arborists.
Set up an Outdoor Deck
Not all outdoor landscapes may be suitable for growing plants or installing varied fixtures. Because of your backyard’s rugged terrain, even allowing your kids to play outside can be risky. If you’re dealing with those specific issues, you should strongly consider building an outdoor deck.
An outdoor deck is an addition you and your kids can enjoy. For homeowners, outdoor decks are positive additions that boost curb appeal and property value. It can also serve as an entertainment area if you have people over for a small lunch or dinner party.
Meanwhile, your kids will enjoy the outdoor deck because it can be the space they use for playing outside. You can set up railings around your deck to prevent your kids from venturing further while playing. Setting an above-ground swimming pool on top of your outdoor deck is also a possibility. The deck will have to be built with accommodating a pool in mind, but that feat of construction is doable.
Lawn care safety tips recommend enlisting the help of deck contractors before building your desired addition. Don’t worry about the cost of hiring a contractor because their service guarantees your deck becomes a long-term fixture. You can also set up more elaborate outdoor decks with their help.
Teach Your Child About Safe Gardening
If you spend a lot of time tending to your garden, it’s only natural for your child to develop that same interest. They may ask you if they can practice some gardening as well. The thought of allowing your child to garden may make you nervous at first. However, there’s no reason to worry if you properly introduce them to gardening and follow plant and lawn care safety tips.
The secret to successful gardening for kids is plant selection. Some plants are easier to grow than others, so choose them for your child’s first foray into gardening. You can teach your child to care for marigolds, snapdragons, and sunflowers if they prefer floral plants. Children can also appreciate growing cherry tomatoes, potatoes, and pumpkins when they are ready to eat.
Aside from nurturing your child’s interest, teaching your child to grow plants can also be good for your outdoor landscape. The new plants can add more color to your backyard. You can also position the vegetable garden next to a Milgard vinyl window so your child can admire it whenever they want.
Install Patio Doors Leading to Your Backyard
Patio doors can be fantastic additions to most backyard settings. From an aesthetic standpoint, patio doors are useful elements because they complement your outdoor décor. The visual transition from your home interior to your yard can look smoother because of the patio doors. You can even add elements to your yard and home interior that tie them closer together.
Installing patio doors is also a wise decision in terms of child safety. Even if your child is old enough to play outside alone, you still cannot leave them completely unsupervised. The patio doors make it easy for you to keep an eye on your child even while you’re staying inside. You can sneak a peek at your child occasionally to confirm they’re safe.
Lawn care safety tips don’t account for patio doors, but we still have some suggestions. Sliding patio doors reinforced with braces offer plenty of security. Install them near your yard to keep your home interior safe.
Lay down Artificial Grass
Rolling around in the grass is generally not recommended for children. Objects buried in the grass can scratch their skin and cause potential infections. Your child’s allergies may also be triggered by prolonged exposure to grass.
Instead of allowing your child to play on natural grass, you should consider laying down some artificial turf. Artificial grass is safer for children because it’s more resilient. The resilience of the turn prevents the formation of holes that could become hiding places for dangerous objects. Your child can also avoid common allergy triggers by playing on the artificial grass.
The artificial grass is also useful because it can match the rest of your lawn. You don’t have to worry about the patch of turf in your child’s play area appearing from the rest of your landscape. No difference will be visible while you look at your lawn from the new fixture installed by the replacement window services. The rest of your lawn will also stay in better condition if your child only plays on the artificial grass.
Surround Your Property With a Privacy Fence
Finally, you can protect your child and keep your yard in great condition by installing a privacy fence. Your new privacy fence can prevent your neighbors or passing strangers from seeing your child while they’re playing outside. Thanks to the level of privacy the fence provides, your child can play as much as they want without being wary of strangers.
The privacy fence can also protect your yard from unnecessary damage. Some people passing by may accidentally walk on your grass if your home is next to the sidewalk. You can prevent that from happening by installing a privacy fence. Follow yard and lawn care safety tips when installing the new fence to ensure it doesn’t damage your outdoor landscape.
Aside from installing a new fence, you can further improve your home’s security by getting new windows. Acrylic block windows are best for maintaining privacy, but they may not necessarily work for openings that lead to exterior areas. Consult window installation contractors to determine which new fixtures work best with your privacy fence. You should also ask about the type of glass that should be paired with your new windows.
Creating an outdoor landscape that is both beautiful and safe for children is possible. Simply follow the yard and lawn care safety tips detailed in this article to create your desired outdoor setting. You can also visit our website for more advice regarding backyard design!