Now is a great time to start thinking about gardening with your child. It's fun. It's therapeutic. It's a great learning experience. And, it will be one of those family memories that you and your child will always hold dear. So, for your inspiration and pleasure, here is How to Garden with Your Kids. . .
Rule Number One
Keep it Small. You want your gardening project to be fun for you and your child, not a huge chore that will become overwhelming and frustrating. Plant in triangles rather than rows to get a larger yield in a small space.
Rule Number Two
Start with the soil - the key to success in gardening. This is closely related to Rule Number One because preparing the soil will mean digging and shoveling (read hard work). You will want to invest in some good commercial manure or compost if you don't have any handy. To keep down labor time and expenses, again, keep it small.
Rule Number Three
Make your child's garden separate from yours in his own special place. A good idea, I think, is to buy four garden timbers. They are about 4 feet long and will mark off a nice square garden that will be just for your child. Make certain that your child's garden is in a sunny spot with easy access to water. For a fun indoor project he can make garden markers to identify the plants. You can also buy your child his own gardening tools.
Rule Number Four
Buy plants when possible rather than seeds. I prefer plants for one reason. They are more reliable for those of us with little gardening experience. The point of the children's garden is to see results as quickly as possible. Of course, you will not find all the plants you want, and your children will be fascinated with the magic of growing from seeds. So you will want to add a few seed projects also. Just make sure you have a mix and buy plants when they are available.
- Gardening Catalogs About Gardening
- 17 Plants for a Children's Garden Rebecca's Garden
Rule Number Five
Mix flowers and vegetables. Your child will feel so proud when her vegetables are served for the family dinner or shared with a neighbor or grandparent. Flowers will make her garden a beautiful and inspirational place where she will want to spend time.
Rule Number Six
Make it fun! This is the real purpose of the children's garden, to build warm memories of special family projects. Don't let it become a frustrating, stressful chore. Which brings us full-circle to Rule Number One - Keep It Small!
