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Children keep pulling up plants!

HH3HH3 Posts: 13
in Problem solving

I work at a children's nursery and I've planted a herb garden but a couple of children keep pulling my plants up! Is there any way to maybe protect them until they become a bit more established? I want the kids to touch them but I'm thinking about putting a cover on it for a while... any ideas?

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Posts

  • GardenmaidenGardenmaiden Posts: 1,126

    Netting, the small gauge so little fingers can't pull them up.

  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,697

    You could cover the plants with a homemade wire cloche or an upside-down wire hanging basket, and anchor the cloche to the ground with long pieces of coated wire bent in half. It keeps cats off nepeta so it should work for children.

  • HH3HH3 Posts: 13

    Good ideas, thanks! They're in a raised bed so I'm thinking I can just cover the whole bed with a fine netting?

  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,697

    Just as long as you don't end up with small children entangled in the mesh. Seriously though, its a great idea to get children used to plants and gardening.

  • primrosecottageprimrosecottage Posts: 817

    Good idea Pansyimage BUT it's a herb garden imageimage and I don't think it Comes within H&S guidelines image 

    Sorry HH3 not much helpimage

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    I suppose you're not allowed to tell them not to do it, repressing their natural urges and all that.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601

    How tiny are the children? Quite small children are able to learn about growing and caring for their plants but if they are really young - say under three - they won't understand that pulling things out is a bad idea. I think in that case you have to put the plants where they can be seen but not touched unless the children are supervised.

  • HH3HH3 Posts: 13

    Yes, I keep telling them that they have to be gentle with them but they're only 2 years old and 1 or 2 of them are determined to ruin it and I can't watch them all the time!

  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,012

    I was thinking along the lines of gaffer tape, but I think that might be frowned on these daysimage

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    KT53 image

    Netting's probably the best idea. Perhaps you could also get the parents involved and encourage them to teach the little brats...errr I mean darlings ...to just watch plants grow and not touch until they're ready for harvesting.  image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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