Family Forum: Turning the Backyard into a Playtime Oasis

I bet some of your happiest memories of childhood are of having fun outdoors. Growing up on Bainbridge Island, I loved playing in the tree house my father built me, helping to care for our large garden, swinging on my tire swing, climbing trees and exploring the woods surrounding our home.

When my husband and I moved to our current home in Sammamish eight years ago, I wanted to create a safe and engaging outdoor play space for our children. We’ve transformed our backyard over the years, adding garden beds, trees and a play structure. Over time, our yard has become the play area I envisioned when we first moved in.

If you are also thinking of transforming your yard into an outdoor play room this summer, perhaps by adding a play structure or a garden bed, here are some tips from experts on what to keep in mind so your kids stay safe while making happy memories and learning about nature.

Plan a garden that will be fun for the whole family 

Bill Bowlus is owner of Redmond-based Living Earth Landscapes and a father of two. He has more than 30 years experience creating gardens and outdoor spaces and encourages clients to plan to provide spaces for children that are “safe, visible areas to have fun in and be kids.”

When planning gardens, Bowlus suggests creating raised garden beds, which make it easier for children to reach the soil and weed. You can give your kids their own bed to plant and maintain but should help them pick plants that are easy to care for and grow, he said.

“Kids must have success to remain engaged,” Bowlus said. His recommendations of kid-friendly plants include cherry tomatoes, summer squash, lettuce and peas. Scarlett Runner Beans can make grow big enough to form a teepee to play in, he said. 

Bowlus uses environmentally friendly methods to discourage pests and lines garden beds with hardware cloth to keep out moles. He suggests talking to kids about “good bugs” and environmentally friendly ways to discourage the bad ones.

“You can attract ladybugs and other beneficial bugs by planting host plants and leaving some areas wild," he said. Parsnips and carrots gone to seed can attract hordes of ladybugs.” 

Make it easier on yourself when you have kids and pets by thoughtfully laying out your yard and garden, Bowlus said.

“Plan for a good traffic flow. Everyone will cut across points and separating beds, so round corners or provide access paths," he said. "Remember that form follows function.”

Protect your kids and pets by limiting pesticides

Erika Schreder, a staff scientist with the Washington Toxic Coalition believes parents should be cautious about using chemicals to treat their lawn and gardens.

“Pesticides, such as insecticides, weed killers, and slug bait, contain toxic ingredients," she said. "Often these products are toxic by ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact."

In order to avoid using pesticides, Schreder suggests using a compost to increase soil health, selecting a variety of pest-resistant plants, and planting them in an appropriate place.

Safe soil as the foundation of a healthy garden

Emily Bishton is the owner of Green Light Gardening and an environmental educator for several local municipalities, including Seattle, Bellevue and Woodinville. She advises gardeners to use three inches of compost and other organic matter to provide a base for healthy plants.

“Get to know your soil; dig in several areas of your garden to see what type of soil conditions exist, as it can vary widely from your front to back yard," she said.

Soil safety is another important consideration for Bishton.

“Before deciding where to grow veggies, it’s wise for all homeowners to consider the issue of soil safety,” she said.

For example, older homes may have been painted with lead paint, which can be present in nearby soil due to scraping and sanding that has taken place over the years. Soil near the street or in the parking strip can also have lead or other chemicals present from car exhaust or fluid leakage.

The Garden Hotline (206-633-0224) can provide referrals to local soil testing labs.

Make sure a used or new play structure is safe

Whether you are buying a home with an existing play structure or shopping around for a new structure for your backyard, keep safety in mind. Tim Madeley, owner of Olympia-based playground equipment manufacturer Big Toys, advises parents make sure new structures adhere to industry standards.

“First, insist upon equipment that meets or exceeds the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards for residential playground equipment. Second, avoid equipment that contains polyvinyl chloride (PVC),” he said.

Parents should be cautious when purchasing a used play structure, Madeley said.

“The safety standards for playground equipment received a substantial upgrade in the early 1990s," he said." Equipment put in place prior to that may not be in compliance.”

If you’re in doubt, Madeley recommends contacting the original manufacturer to determine if that particular piece of equipment is in compliance with current standards. The manufacturer should also be able to provide a copy of the installation instructions to ensure proper reassembly.

Check trees for safety

If you are contemplating building a tree house, consider hiring a certified arborist to recommend which tree might work best and how to build the tree house without damaging the tree.

An arborist can also inspect all the trees in your yard and point out potential hazards you may not see, such as trees with limbs touching power lines or trees that are diseased that should come down before they fall on your house.

You can find a certified arborist who serves the Eastside by going to the website for the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the International Society of Arborculture and clicking on the current member directory. 

And if you are searching for advice or inspiration for building a great tree house, check out Tree House Point in Fall City. The tree house manufacturer and hotel invites guests to spend the night in luxurious tree houses and take a four-day workshop to learn how to build an amazing, safe tree house in your own backyard.