Designing a garden for all of the family does not mean turning your outdoor space into a mini theme park! You can create a space that works for everyone in the family today that can adapt as your children grow.
“Can one garden truly be a magical kingdom for children and a peaceful sanctuary for adults?”
Core Principles of Family Garden Design
> Zoning is Everything: Clearly define your outdoor space into distinct areas for different purposes. For example: a high-energy play zone on a lawn with space for a trampoline or other play equipment; a quiet zone for adults such as a patio for relaxing or outdoor entertaining and other flexible spaces that can be changed over time as your family gets older.
> Safety First, Beauty Second: Create safe boundaries and surfaces without sacrificing aesthetics. For hard landscaping avoid sharp edges and ensure play areas have soft surfaces to land on and are clearly visible from the house. It is also important to choose non-toxic plants for your borders.
> Durability & Low Maintenance: Choose robust materials that are durable such as natural lawn (not artificial lawn!) for high traffic areas and resilient plants that can withstand footballs and other forms of play.
> Flexibility & Growth: Your garden should evolve naturally as your family needs shift. For example, a garden designed only for children in the early years can quickly feel redundant. Therefore it’s worth thinking about how different areas will change as your children grow older. So think carefully before installing any large, fixed play structures in your outdoor space.
> Think Playfulness not Just Play: Play equipment can be structured and prescriptive. However playfulness allows for spontaneity and creativity, for both children and adults alike. Often garden elements are not used in the way they are planned. For example it might be as simple as a low hedge or dense planting that forms a tucked-away corner where children can build a den or retain established trees in the garden to create a space for a hammock.
Smart Plant Choices for Family Gardens
> Tough & Resilient: Choose plants which withstand a football and little feet in the borders! For example hardy geraniums are tough, long-flowering perennials that fill gaps and thrive in most conditions; Ornamental grasses such as Carex or Pennisetum provide year-round, soft and textured structure; Hydrangeas are hardy, easy to grow, and provide large, bold, and colourful blooms in late summer; Fatsia japonica is a robust, shade-tolerant, large-leafed evergreen that adds a tropical feel and is also very hardy.
> Soft & Safe: Avoid plants with thorns, spikes, or toxic berries. For example choose Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’, a compact, evergreen shrub known for its unique, spineless, fern-like foliage rather than its spikier cousin Mahonia x intermedia ‘Winter sun’. It’s important to ensure children can identify plants properly before eating any berries and to teach them never to consume berries that cannot be positively identified.
> Fast & Fun: Quickly growing, reliable plants which children can grow themselves can engage them at an early age. For example, sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are extremely fast-growing; Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella) are simple to sow directly into the soil, offering beautiful blue flowers. Tulips and snowdrops are a winner as the bulbs are easy for small fingers to plant and offer a rewarding, bright spring display.
> Plants for all of the Senses: Sensory gardens can be fantastic for children. Lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina), lavender, rosemary and fennel are all hardy, sensory plants that are engaging for children but are still grown-up and considered.
> Scottish & Strong: Depending on your garden situation in North East Scotland, choose low maintenance plants for their hardiness (ideally H5 or above) and the aspect and soil conditions in different parts of your garden. Ask your local plant nursery and garden centre for advice too.
Safety & Practicality Considerations
> Secure Boundaries: In any family garden, gates should lock easily and reliably, and secure boundaries are essential. It is important to keep children and pets safe without creating the feel of a fortress in your outdoor space.
> Water Safety: Secure pond covers over large ponds or choose more playful water features such a self-contained bubble fountain.
> Surfaces: Hard landscaping will need to handle scooters, bikes and muddy boots so surfaces must be stable, safe and forgiving.
> Flexible Storage: Include a shed or hidden storage for toys, bikes, and garden tools so that they can be easily put away once the children are in bed and you want to relax.
How Gerbera Designs Creates Timeless Family Gardens in Scotland
We design family gardens for pre-schoolers to teenagers and beyond in mind. We make sure to create secure boundaries that double as beautiful garden features. We are experts in specifying durable materials and robust planting schemes for your garden.
Ultimately, understanding the needs of ALL of the family including children, adults and pets is incredibly important us at Gerbera Designs.
Ready to Create Your Family’s Perfect Outdoor Room?
Let Gerbera Designs design a garden your whole family will love for years to come. Contact us for a family-friendly garden consultation.
