Get Kids Gardening

June 24, 2014 by Jenni Clutten | 19 Comments

Interested in getting the kids out of the house?  Got your trowel and wellys to hand?  Here’s my guide to get kids gardening.

First off, we know that children love to explore things with all their senses.  In the garden it’s easy to provide a feast for the senses through bright coloured plants and heavenly scents.  Why not dip your toe in the water by selecting a small space, just for the kids and choose some plants together.  Don’t be off put by making massive grand garden designs, let the children lead by creating a cottage style garden which includes a range of flowers, and even some vegetables into the gaps.  Lettuces is great for this kind of thing, they germinate easily from seed and grow quickly and can take a certain degree of being trampled on.

At this time of year I like to use summer bedding plants, as these are an easy way of having a quick impact and a great choice to get kids gardening.  Children can see the results of their efforts straight away, and once dug in and watered, the next day the plants should be thriving.  This year we have chosen a few perennials (will grow again next year) and annuals (for this year only) care of Plant me now which are fantastically healthy, immediately brightening up our garden.

A small container is a great way for kids to take responsibility for their own space, giving them a sense of pride and accomplishment.  We selected a lovely deep raised bed that was looking bare since the daffodils have faded.  Nye chose the Calibrachoa Cabaret Yellow, Fuchsia Semi-Trailing Buds of May Jean Taylor and Ivy Geranium Supreme Burgundy White.  Alongside these he went for a cucumber plant, which was in need of a new home.

For a real wow factor try to use contrasting colours in flowers and foliage.  I like the Ipomoea Bright Ideas Black as it is so striking with its deep black leaves, which looks great with any combination of other colours.  The great thing about annuals is that they tend to have fantastic colour, we particularly liked the peachy colour of the Diascia Aurora Apricot and bright white of Verbena Aztec White.  

Fragrance plays an important part of any garden and creates an added sensual impact for children.  Lavender and sweet pea’s are great in the summer but in autumn wallflowers are a great pick from the winter bedding plant.  They come in wonderful bold colours with a divine smell that keeps the garden going all year round.  This of course means that the children have to look after the plants all year round, an important skill in learning to test whether the soil is wet or dry.

With a slightly older child, they might like to choose where to put the plants, but with a toddler it’s (sometimes) easier to direct them by asking them to do small tasks.  For example you might ask, ‘Can you dig a hole here?’ or ‘What colour shall we put here?’  Personally, I like to look up the size and spread that we can expect so that I can make sure it’s in the right place.  But equally, I don’t place exacting requirements on how things will look, as perfection doesn’t really matter as long as the children are enjoying it.

And once you’ve planted up your gorgeous flowers, you should have a wonderful space that you can enjoy for months (and years) to come.

Disclosure: Post written in collaboration with Plant Me Now, all words, thoughts and opnions my own.