Having a great backyard is such a luxury. It can provide space for you and your family to enjoy the outdoors without having to leave home. You also have so many possibilities for improving your backyard. Flowers, plants, and garden beds can beautify the home. You can create places for entertaining or relaxing outdoors. A nice backyard can also be great for offering outdoor play for children.
While having a backyard is nice, there is a lot you need to consider. If you have a family, you need to take steps to ensure a safe outdoor space. A backyard can be dangerous in ways you may not consider. However, there are things you can do to create a safer backyard.
Maintain Your Landscaping
The first tip for creating a safer backyard is to maintain the landscaping. Things like high grass can hide objects that could be a tripping hazard. If you live in a place with snakes, shorter grass can be a deterrent. You should also keep an eye on tree branches to ensure they don’t need to be pruned. By keeping up with routine yard maintenance, you can do a lot to create a safer outdoor space.
Fences and Gates
Having fences and gates can also be a way to keep kids and pets safe in your backyard. A good fence can keep your kids or pets in the yard while keeping others out. However, you need to make sure the fences are big enough and secure. You also need to make sure the latches on the gates work properly. If you have a swimming pool, you should consider giving it a separate fenced area with its own gate. You don’t want children to play near the pool if you are not around.
Remove the Swimming Pool
If you really want to guarantee safety, consider removing your swimming pool. Maybe you built one years ago or thought it was a great feature when you bought the house. Now that you have kids, you might feel like it is too much of a risk. Even with separate fences and gates, there is always the potential a child could get near the pool. Pool removal can make your yard safer and open space for other features.
Create Play Areas
Maybe you have features in your yard that you might worry about kids playing around. It could be a barbecue grill, firepit, hardscaped areas, or anything that may present the risk of injury. One way you could ensure safety is to build an area for playing. Maybe fence the play area in and make sure it has nice, soft grass.
Safe Play Equipment
Having play equipment can be a good way to offer backyard fun for your kids. However, you want to make sure the equipment is safe and age-appropriate. Things like swing sets can be a great feature for kids to have fun in the backyard. Beyond pools being a potential hazard, equipment like trampolines can be a risk for injuries. Kids often don’t play on them safely, and there is a high risk of broken bones and injured joints.
Consider the Plants in Your Yard
Gardening and adding plants to your backyard can do a lot to enhance the look of the space. However, you need to be careful about the types of plants you put in your backyard. Many homeowners would be surprised to find out how many poisonous plants are common in backyards. These plants can be an obvious threat to kids, but they are also a threat to pets. Research plants before you put them in your yard. You should also look into any plants that are already there.
Secure Your Yard Supplies
As a homeowner, you might have all sorts of yard supplies. Just to name a few, you might have a lawnmower, pruning saws, hedge clippers, fertilizer, herbicides, shovels, and an axe or hatchet. It is reasonable to have all these supplies, but you need to keep them secure. Don’t leave yard supplies around outside of the house. It can be bad for the equipment and supplies, but it can also be a hazard. If you can, put them in a shed and keep it locked.
Set Rules About Outdoor Play
Having rules for outdoor play can be another way to ensure safety in your backyard. Kids don’t always know the safe way to do things. They can also get carried away when they are having fun. However, setting rules and making sure kids know them is a good way to prevent accidents and injuries. For example, you could set a rule about always cleaning up toys before going inside. You should also set rules about using outdoor equipment the right way. Another rule could be to always wear shoes when in the backyard.
You want your family to get the most from your backyard. However, you are also responsible for providing a safe place where they can have fun. With these tips, you can create a backyard that is both safe and fun.
