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Tell Homebase how you prepare your garden for summer visits from DGC - £300 Homebase voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

(134 Posts)
EmmaGransnet (GNHQ) Wed 05-Jul-17 10:30:19

During the summer holidays, your grandchildren suddenly have much more time on their hands than they’re used to. And, often, that’s where you come in. Homebase want to know about how you prepare for the times you’re able to drag your DGC away from their various screens and out into the garden.

Here’s what Homebase have to say: "No matter how big or small your garden is, you want to create a haven that can be enjoyed by your family all year round, especially in the summer months. You don't have to be a professional gardener to plan your own landscape, which is why we have put together useful advice guides and top tips containing plenty of garden ideas to give you the inspiration you need to begin.”

Maybe you have some garden games laid out that never fail to keep them outside and active? Perhaps you like to cook in the garden - their favourite BBQ treats! Are you lucky enough to make use of the extra time with your grandchildren to get them to help out with the weeding and other small tasks?

Whether you’re preparing games, food, saving odd jobs, or even child-proofing some of the more dangerous parts of the garden (those pesky ponds) please share below how you prepare your garden for visits from the grandchildren. Everyone who does will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky GNer will win a £300 Homebase voucher.

Thanks and good luck,

GNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

christineM Tue 18-Jul-17 09:41:01

I don't have any pets but the neighbourhood cats use my garden so I have to remove cat faeces; grrrr! I spray the patches with Jeyes and then I cut the grass. My pond has a permanent cover, installed for the children's safety. Then it's play time, trampoline, croquet and paddling pool when it's warm enough!

blueberry1 Tue 18-Jul-17 10:22:21

Giant chalks for drawing roadways,etc. on the patio-my youngest grandson loves to make a little town to drive his cars around.We have also used shells gathered from the beach to make roads.Sometimes we roll out some lining wallpaper and get busy with paints,mostly applied with hands and feet!
Then there are treasure hunts-small toys or sweets hidden around the garden a bit like an Easter egg hunt.Paddling pool if it is warm enough,garden chairs in the shade for a rest and a cool drink.Sitting down gives us a chance to watch the birds and teach the grandchildren the names of the various kinds.Tits always raise a titter!
The broom is left out as they enjoy sweeping up,which is always a help.The older ones enjoy cutting a few overhanging branches
back too.
At night,we have been known to get out a telescope and map the heavens with a little help from a phone app!Or just gaze at the moon,lovely when it has a misty halo.
Gardens are a great asset for entertaining and educating children but most of all they are fun.

redcardinal Tue 18-Jul-17 12:21:56

Start by preparing the lawn ready for picnics on dry days. Ensure the outdoor games are easily accessible to fetch out at a moments notice. Try and get them involved in the weeding necessary to keep the garden tip top and teach them a little about the various plants and flowers that are growing in our garden.

calicoskies2016 Tue 18-Jul-17 14:17:37

Cut the grass, weed the borders and set out their slide and toys to play with.

baconbap Tue 18-Jul-17 14:41:42

get the swingball out

snare Tue 18-Jul-17 18:20:27

we paint the garden furniture smile

sammylea80 Tue 18-Jul-17 18:39:11

I don't do anything to prepare it other than washing some jars out and getting out the nets to go mini beast hunting

elodie17 Tue 18-Jul-17 19:52:24

moving all the plant pots out of the way so there is safe running space and getting a sponge ball and garden games out to play

sweir1 Tue 18-Jul-17 22:16:13

We get out the paddling pool and large jenga!

dessa Tue 18-Jul-17 22:25:42

Definitely we would be playing garden games and making sure all in the garden is safe and neat. We have also garden sandpit so this would be fun for us grandparents too.

svalentine60 Tue 18-Jul-17 22:55:59

I have to cut back side hedges as they are prickly. The long path that winds around are large garden is checked so that my grandchildren can ride their bikes and push their dolls prams on it.

alabama Tue 18-Jul-17 23:12:43

I ensure canes have rubber toppers, no tools left out and we tend not to grow anything thorny.

Veronicahorman Tue 18-Jul-17 23:14:54

We have games in the garden for when they first arrive then they love to pick cooking apples from our old apple tree and come up with ideas on how to cook them. At 8, 6 and 5 they can be surprisingly inventive.

zbody Tue 18-Jul-17 23:47:19

We zone things as much as we can . Though we are lucky that way before it was an issue we decided to put raised beds in. The theory was was we would build them whilst we could so we could use them when we couldn't . The other benefit we have discovered is that they are well above DGC (and accompanying dog) trampling level too . We also have some pots and a small bed for them , so that they can grow things too . So far strawberries and potatoes have been the most popular .

Piggypoo Wed 19-Jul-17 06:20:47

Make sure the cats haven't left any presents, eg poop, dead birds, mice, etc. Put a fence around the Guardian plant, it's lethal! The spikes would have an eye out, nearly had DH's out last year! Check there are no poisonous nasties growing anywhere, and trim back the holly and blackberry bushes which are growing at the foot of the garden behind the fence. smile

Parsley Wed 19-Jul-17 08:02:48

I mow the lawn or bribe my eldest to do it for me! and check all round for cat land-mines (poo). I have 2 lovely garden swing seats that the children love and we get a big bucket of large chalks (usually from Poundland) and I let them draw on the patio...easy to remove later with the hose and a brush! I also have an old picnic table so we use it for outdoor crafts such as painting, glitter, moon sand etc. and of course the kids love helping to prepare an outdoor picnic to eat on it! I also have an assorted pile of scooters, ride on toys, Little Tike car, Go-kart and various hoops and balls and an old play house so the kids are happy to spend hours in the garden while I'm either sitting with them or hanging out laundry or in the kitchen where I can see them! I'm all stocked up and ready on arts stuff as school ends today half day!

daisybooh Wed 19-Jul-17 08:30:23

My garden is a bit on the wild side s is great for snail and crawlies hunts as my great grand daughter loves to plant and potter always have jobs around BlackBerry picking and her favourite is 're painting the gnomes and ornaments

emziemay Wed 19-Jul-17 08:50:51

Make sure the grass has just been cut and get out the garden games. I think I enjoy playing Boules more than them!

jazzitup Wed 19-Jul-17 09:45:44

Just make sure you spend some time cutting grass (as it's your play area) general tidy, pool and fun games don't have to cost the earth and of course plenty of fun with the one's you love most.

maria08k Wed 19-Jul-17 10:26:14

I make sure that the herb garden is well watered and ready for little hands and noses to enjoy.

GeorgeW Wed 19-Jul-17 11:55:04

We've got a garden beanbag & a popup goal we get out and some outdoor games to play but other than that we don't do anything. We have nature areas to explore and hardy shrubs that can't really be damaged! Flowers tend to be in planters so they can be moved if necessary! All the chemicals & tools are safely locked away.

molly57 Wed 19-Jul-17 13:29:12

Make sure there are no dangerous plants around.

ElizabethW Wed 19-Jul-17 15:12:41

Cut the grass, pressure wash the garden swing and bench and get the BBQ ready but behind a safe gate to keep the hungry DGC at a safe distance.

carpathian Wed 19-Jul-17 15:57:52

my youngest children are 12 & 13 so we have kept all the play equipment and trampoline up for the grandkids. So it's just a case of cutting the grass and making sure everything's safe and enclosed out there.

clarabella3 Wed 19-Jul-17 17:52:06

make sure the lawn is mowed.