Which Garden Plants are Unsafe for Children

While some plants may pose a danger to children, it is more frequently that children pose a danger (and a deadly one at that) to plants. A vigorous game of football in the wrong place can cause unbelievable destruction.

To avoid living in a constant state of anxiety about the damage that is being wrought to plants every time the children go out to play, design your garden so that the planting around the children’s main play area comprises only the most hardy, vigorous and forgiving plants and shrubs. Anything at all delicate must be moved to another part of the garden, where it can thrive in peace.

If you have grass, be sure that it is a hardy variety and do not cut it lower than 1.2-2.5cm. Grow perennials low and medium height that will happily regenerate themselves. Geraniums are particularly useful as they spread freely and are so hardy that they can easily cope with the occasional trampling. Similarly the ivies (Hedera) are extremely tough and recover quickly from being crushed and having strands ripped off to make into crowns or garlands.

Some flowers such as foxgloves (Digitalis) and poppies (Papaver), actually benefit from being brushed against and having the ground around them disturbed, as this helps to spread their seeds over a wider area. Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis) is also a prodigious self-seeder that will quickly make up for any damage it sustains.

Of the shrubs, buddleia is virtually indestructible and will soon recover even after whole branches have been ripped off. Viburnum and Euonymus also cope well with rough treatment and mallows (Lavatera) will continue to produce their wonderful stems of hollyhock-like flowers almost as fast as children can pick them.

Privet (Ligustrum) is another useful shrub in several ways. Besides being extremely tough, it makes a good dense hedge and can be cut into all manner of shapes if you want to experiment with topiary. As an unusual bonus its cuttings can be used to feed any stick insects the children may be keeping as pets.