Landscaping with the Kids: Have Fun While Work Gets Done

Are you interested in adding a little bit of color or scenery to your yard this year? Do you have children that are out of school and in need of a project? Why not let the kids join you with an easy landscaping project the entire family can be a part of? You may be surprised but children can come up with some neat ideas when you ask their input. Giving them a chance to help add to the landscape of your property is the perfect way to spend time together as well as challenge their creativity! For starters, choose and area of land to begin the project. Take a white piece of typing or copy paper and sit down at the family table to plan your project. Ask the children for ideas on what shrubbery, flowers or plants they think would go best in the plot. Try throwing out some suggestions of what grows best in your area and letting them layout where each should go. You may even suggest adding a pond or stepping stones of sorts.

Once you have your final idea on paper, the next step is to purchase the plants, shrubbery and or flowers needed to begin your project. If you decided to include an outdoor pond you can purchase packages with step by step instructions for installation. They may take a little more time than simply planting flowers and shrubbery but all in all they are not so difficult you would have to call in additional assistance. Places to look for the needed accessories include local greenhouses, Wal-Mart, Lowe's, and other area stores. While you are purchasing supplies, pick up a few extra pairs of gardening gloves, one for everyone involved in the project. This will limit blisters and protect the kid's hands.

Set aside an entire day for your landscaping project, or set aside a few hours over a period of days to complete your design. Make sure you go by your original design when placing the flowers, plants and shrubbery in your plot. The best thing to do is to make it like a game and keep the atmosphere light. For example, digging holes is required to plant and space is required to dig. Make sure to keep an eye on where the children are digging but also give them a little freedom if they are old enough. Sing songs while you are making holes for your newly purchased plant life. Be sure to praise the children often for the great job they are doing. Remind them how proud and excite you are they decided to help.

After the holes are dug, the next step is to plant. My suggestion is to plant each piece one at a time. Make sure to remove any leaves that may be brown or dead while positioning your plant life. This will assist plant life with adjusting to their new home and flourishing. Let the children assist will covering the dirt back over the new plant life. Let them water and add fertilizer with your help of course. Supervise properly.

After everything is planted, take plenty of pictures. You can even begin by taking a picture so you can have before and after for friends and family to see. Take pictures of the kids while they are working and in front of the new addition once you are done. Perhaps have a picnic in your newly landscaped yard after the work in complete! Most importantly, make sure you have fun!