The whole family outdoors
A family garden is a place where the whole family can enjoy themselves. With enough space to play and relax. Plant lawns where children can run and play. Add playground equipment (or tree trunks!) for extra fun. Put colourful flowers and plants to make the garden cosy. And consider a corner with herbs or vegetables so children can learn about gardening. On this page you can read why a family garden is a good idea. We also give step-by-step instructions on how to create your own child-friendly garden. That way, the whole family can enjoy the outdoor space!
How to design your family garden
Outline of Arnhem Climate Resistant
Why choose a family garden?
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Fun for the whole family
Plenty of room to play and relax. In a family garden, everyone can do his or her own thing.
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Save time on maintenance
In a green family garden, you spend less time on maintenance because nature lends a hand. This leaves more time for the family!
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Good for nature
A modern garden with many different plants is good for nature. It also adds depth and looks playful. Also consider edible plants for animals: berries for birds, for instance.
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Fun and educational
Gardening is a fun hobby! You learn a lot about plants and how they grow and enjoy being surrounded by nature. Research shows that (vegetable) gardening is a great way to get your hands dirty and relax.
A family garden
A child-friendly family garden can also be set up as a cosy and safe space! In the sample garden opposite, you can see what such a garden could look like. Where you still have enough space to play and relax. Plant lawns where children can run and play. Use soft tiles with space in between for a neat look and extra safety. Add colourful flowers and shrubs for a cheerful atmosphere. And consider (containers with) playful elements such as a sandpit or swings for extra fun.
"Ina family garden you can play and meet all kinds of animals .
A green family garden in 6 steps
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1. Choose the right layout
Find a sunny spot in your garden where you can sit and use your shaded areas for some green play areas. That way you combine romping with nature!
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2. Make a plan
Together with the kids, make a drawing of your garden and decide where to put each plant. Get inspired by the examples on this page! Start with easy plants. These require little maintenance.
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3. Prepare the soil
Loosen the soil with a shovel or garden fork and remove stones and weeds. Then add compost or garden soil to make the soil more fertile.
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4. Sowing and planting
Sow seeds according to the instructions on the package or plant young plants you bought in a garden centre. Make sure the plants have enough space to grow.
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5. Watering
Water your plants regularly, especially in dry weather. Use water from a rain barrel to do so! More information on caring for edible plants can be found on the IVN website.
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6. Enjoy!
Enjoy the garden! Notice that you actually enjoy gardening? Then you can still plant extra greenery.
3x Alternatives to tiles in the garden
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Gravel
You can lay a gravel path between the vegetable garden boxes. This allows water to run through better.
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Shells
A shell path crunches wonderfully under your feet - and it looks nice too!
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Wood chips
A really natural look is created with wood chips. You will have to replace them more often.
Smart tips for a family garden
Nature in containers and pots
If you have limited space, you can also use containers or pots to grow your plants, vegetables and herbs. Just make sure you make holes at the bottom so that water can flow away. And add some hydro grains if necessary. These will ensure that the water can drain out of the pot properly and prevent mould from growing in the pot. And don't forget to mulch! Cover the soil around your plants with a layer of organic material (such as straw) to reduce weeds and keep the soil moist. Such a small garden in a flower pot is the ideal way to give the kids their own mini garden. Because learned young is done old!
