Gardening with Kids

A great way to nurture an understanding and appreciation of nature is to encourage children to create their own gardens. It doesn't matter if you have acres to spare or a balcony, your children can enjoy the process of planting, watering and watching their garden grow. 
Follow our simple tips on getting started, what to grow and the best tools to use.

1. Getting started

• If you have the space to create a dedicated children's garden, consider digging a round garden bed to allow children to work around the edges instead of stomping over the top. Edge it with stones or a small fence to reinforce the idea that it is 'their garden' and perhaps encourage the kids to create their own painted sign
• Use small wooden garden stakes or name plates available from garden centres to identify what has been planted
• Alternatively, place a long rectangular planter in a courtyard or on a balcony, a row of pots on a plant stand or in a window box that is easy to reach. Just make sure you have saucers and trays to catch excess water as children love to over-water!

2. What to grow

• Involving your children in gardening is also a good way to teach them about the origins of food and herbs, and vegetables are a terrific place to start
• Tomatoes, carrots, strawberries and beans are all good choices and children will love harvesting their own backyard crop
• Grow herbs and allow your children to pick basil for pasta and pizza, rosemary for the Sunday roast or coriander for yummy curries and noodles
• Every gardener loves flowers of course, and little diggers will enjoy propagating colourful and bold blooms like Sunflowers, Geraniums and Petunias
• Consider involving your children in making a compost heap and creating your own worm farm if you don't already have them

3. The best tools for the job

• Getting dirty and making a mess is all part of the fun of gardening but there are a few things you can do to minimise the mayhem
• Cover tables and workbenches where potting will take place with tough waterproof plastic, or use a plastic children's table which is easy to wipe down
• Buy smaller, kid-sized garden tools, gloves and aprons
• Keep their tools, gloves, aprons and old hats in one place such as a bucket or box with a lid and handles so it can be carried around the garden easily
• As water is an increasingly precious resource, it is also a good way to teach kids about water conservation. Encourage kids to place buckets in the shower or under any drips to collect water for their garden

Gardening is one of the most relaxing and rewarding pastimes around and introducing children to gardening at an early age can not only provide a fun way to spend time together, but can teach your kids patience and responsibility.