if you where landscaping garden for your dc, what would you do/include?

[robinredbreast]

im planning on having our garden landscaped all in order for dd

and i'd like to ask people if they where going to relandscape there whole garden what would they do?

we have a good sized garden the only things in it are a cherry tree an an apple tree
the rest is just lawn
the trees ar staying,but the trees are not big enough for a treehouse

the things id like are
must haves
a play house
swings
slide[s]

and maybe
trampoline
seesaw

my dads a bulider and he's doing it for us

i was also thinking of having some type of path going all round the garden so dd can ride her bike/push her pram etc all round the garden.
do you think this is a good idea?
ill use different materials so it does look like a concreate jungle

my dh thinks im going ott as usual lol

but we hardley used the garden before and i really think its gonna get good use now we have dd
is there anything you think is a good idea or a must of ? or would would of done

thanks

goodnight coby and merry christmas
off to bed now i know im not going to be able to sleep

please add any other ideas/views suggestions everyone ?

As you have two tree, how about a free standing tree house based around the tree's. Nice wide steps leading up to them. That way you have the playhouse and the tree house in one.

I'm currently looking into the possibility of creating a family garden on part of the estate I live on.

Current thinking is most of the area will be grass, but fenced off to keep dogs off the grass. The other part we are considering creating a small community orchard using Minarettes. As these fruit in columns close to the trunk some pruning is required but they do fruit prolificly after the first year. But because of the way they grow and fruit it is possible to get a few in a smallish area, we are thinking between 20 and 30. (I'm seriously thinking of getting some for our balcony when I'm back at work.) But will also grow other things, strawberries, potatoes, herbs etc.

We are doing a joint project with a local college that will be looking at ways of improving the estate and I am hoping they will have some ideas for the grass area we can use - and will only cost us the cost of the material and installation.

On using rubber instead of concrete this is a good idea, but when we looked into it we were advised not to use a mix of colors as this will lower the lifespan.

hi thanks for your tips discover that link doesnt work

so anything else anyone can add?

do people gerally think the path around the garden/circuit is a good idea?

a place to plant veg, a path made with bricks rather than gravel, plant more trees to make a shady area, no pond or water feature

mmm thanks for that cat and poney
good point that dd will be able to go outside even when the grass is wet

We're just thinking aboutthis . Have an area about 120*25ft beyond our existing garden. As it is n't level plan to terrace the upper part with a summerhouse and patio, then steps to a lower level of about 100ft including some large tree stumps. Put in kids' climbing frame , grass, path with perhaps willow tunnels then veg patch at bottom.

At our old hosue we ahd a pergola about 15 ft square immediately outside back doors with a corrugated plastic roof so dc's could paly outside most of the year (had sandpit etc) under cover, hang out washing and we could eat out there in the evenings in shade, with a brick bbq.

Things that used most in our garden:

1. Climbing frame and slide.
2. sandpit
3. Scooters on the path
4. Veg patch (boxed in area for digging, planting).
5. Blackboard put up on the fence.
6. Water table

Our little ds is only 18 mths old but is already scaling up and down one of these. We bought as investment for the 3 kids as there are no parks within walking distance of where we live. Have 3 kids and they get lots of use out of it. Aged from 6 down to 18 mths.

we have added things bit by bit for the children in the garden - we have a pond with Carp & newts and in the spring loads of tadpoles DS1 (3.5) loves that. We have a shaded area under a cherry tree with bark chippings where we have a big sandpit (that has a lid) so DS's can both play in it in the summer without being in direct sunlight.
We have a swing near the sand pit, and DS1 has this playhouse
loads of bird feeders and a reasonable size veggie patch - DS1 loves helping with planting and weeding and then gathering in food for summer suppers.

I love the idea of the circuit that you plan to make round the garden - very cute!

LIZS - make sure your veg patch won't be in a frost pocket if it is at the bottom of a sloped area. If it is, it can be a real pain and make your veggie season much shorter.

Now is a good time of year to find out if it is a frost pocket (i.e. if that particular area stays frosty for longer than the rest of the garden or surrounding area)

oh thanks for that will keep an eye out.

Right apologies if it has been mentioned already, have only skimmed the thread, but when DS and I move into our own house I have decided at one ond of the (imaginary!) garden I will make a bgih hill for climbing up and rolling down, and a drainage pipe will run underground from the top to the bottom for DS to put marbles/ balls/ and cars down and also pour water down, I think the possibilities for fun with this would be endless!

I worked in a nursery once that had this feature in their amazing garden and the kids all loved it

I'd also have a slide going from the top of the hill to the botton, so no ladder, slide at ground level, like in some parks, that would be cool.