If you have children or entertain young guests, you?ve probably taken steps to child-proof the inside of your home. But safety considerations should not stop at your back door. Creating a yard safe for kids will help you enjoy your outdoor space with peace of mind. Achieve the right balance of beauty, fun and yard safety by following this lawn care advice.
Yard safety tips for your pool
Swimming is a great way to entertain your children and young guests, but be sure you have barriers in place to prevent them from falling in or going on an unsupervised swim. Restricting access to your pool and hot tub is one of the most important steps you can take to child-proof your yard.
You should keep the water covered when it is not in use. In addition to improving your yard safety, a cover can save you time and money. The cover will keep leaves and debris out of the water, so you will spend less time cleaning.
Your pool and/or hot tub should be enclosed with a fence that is at least five feet high and has a child-proof, self-latching gate. The fence doesn?t have to be an eyesore in your yard, either. Landscaping around it can help soften its appearance. Before adding new landscaping, you?ll need to till the soil to prepare it for planting. If you would prefer the lower maintenance of grass around your fence, a string trimmer will make it easier for you to clip the grass along the fence and keep your lawn looking neat.
Yard safety tips for your deck
A deck can provide a perfect space for outdoor gatherings. Making sure that it is structured and maintained properly can help you create a child-proof yard.
If your deck is more than two feet off the ground and does not have a railing, you should consider having one installed. Deck rails should be at least three-feet tall. To prevent children from getting their heads stuck, there should not be more than four inches of space between each post.
Deck maintenance is also an important part of making your yard safe for kids. To help prevent slips and falls, waterproof your deck every two to three years. Each year, you should inspect the condition of your deck and look for splits and cracks in the wood. A good rule of thumb: If you can stick a quarter or screwdriver halfway through the wood, it needs to be replaced.
You will also need to decide what to do with the space, if any, between the bottom of your deck and the ground. Closing it off will help keep children from using it as a play area and small animals from using it as a home. Lattices can provide a barrier, as well as a nice backdrop for landscaping around your deck. Layering the ground beneath your deck with large rocks can help ward off insects and animals. Plus, it will save you the hassle of trying to get your outdoor power equipment to hard-to-reach places.
Yard safety tips for your garden and landscaping
Enclosing your backyard with a tall, sturdy fence and choosing child-friendly plants are essential steps to creating a yard safe for kids. Make sure you know what plants are in your garden and landscaping. Remove any that are poisonous or thorny or may otherwise pose a hazard to children.
Before using pesticide or weed killer, read the yard safety tips on the label to find out if the treated area will need to be avoided for a certain amount of time. This will help prevent your children and young guests from getting the rashes, headaches and upset stomachs that can result from exposure to outdoor chemicals. It’s generally recommended that you wait 24 to 48 hours before allowing kids to play in the yard again.
There are a variety of plants and flowers ? including sunflowers, snapdragons and lamb’s ears ? that are both beautiful and safe for children, so you don?t have to sacrifice aesthetics for yard safety. Once you?ve finalized your landscaping, make sure you use quality tools ? such as MTD outdoor power equipment ? to help you achieve the look you want.
*Provided as a gust post by Alex Kelly
