Get some fresh air with your family. Plan a picnic, play catch. Stretch out with a book on a carpet of thick green grass. Your backyard is the perfect backdrop for important family bonding time.

Your yard also offers learning opportunities for kids all ages. Teach colors and counting to preschoolers. Discuss the plant growth cycle with elementary-school students. Talk about environmental concerns with teenagers. Use our interactive YardBuilder to plan landscape designs with your kids. Kids can learn more about the amazing things going on right outside their backdoor in a special section of this site designed just for them.

Avoid Potential Dangers

While a beautiful landscape adds value to your home and a place to build memories with your family, it can’t be childproofed. The first step to backyard safety is learning about what is planted and what products are used in your landscape environment. You should also supervise young children when they are playing outdoors. Not only will it provide peace of mind, but it’s also a great way to spend more family time together.

Here are some helpful ways to make your yard a safer place to play:

• Keep chemical fertilizers, weed killers and insecticides out of the reach of children and pets. Remember, if you hire a professional landscaper to handle the maintenance of your yard, you won’t have to keep such hazardous products on your property.

• Use caution around water. If you are watering your landscape, even a bucketful can be dangerous for a small child. Never leave children unsupervised around water features such as ponds or fountains.

• West Nile virus is spread by infected mosquitoes and can cause serious, life-threatening disease. Reduce the number of places where mosquitoes can breed and lay eggs by draining sources of standing water, such as flowerpots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets and barrels. Also, make sure that water features are circulating properly to prevent stagnant water.

• Some plants can aggravate allergies or cause illness, even death, if ingested. An experienced landscaper can help you understand the potential dangers of certain plants and choose those that are best for your yard and your family. Make sure children know which plants are dangerous.

• Be sun safe. Find tips on how to protect yourself and your family from the sun when spending time outdoors.