Grow a Green Playhouse for Kids
Last updated August 21, 2024
There’s nothing more imaginative and creative to a child than a fort.
Wouldn’t it be fun to have a living, green fort outside? Encourage kids to enjoy fresh air and sunshine by building a living playhouse.
Put up a simple teepee frame and get kids to help you plant vining bean seeds and water them in. Encourage the children to watch the seeds sprout and eventually cover the frame with lush, leafy vines. Their shady, green playhouse will last all summer.
Difficulty:
Beginner
Duration:
2-4 hours
Table of Contents
Select a Location
Install Poles
Tie Poles Together
Cover with Grid
Dig a Bed
Plant Seeds
Select a Location
Decide where to put the playhouse. Look for a level place with good drainage. Choose a safe spot that can stand up to foot traffic since the kids will run in and out all summer.
Install Poles
Push eight to 10 bamboo poles into the ground and form a circle wide enough to fit one to three children. Use canes that are six to seven feet long or longer, so young children can stand inside. Leave a big gap between two poles for a doorway. You can substitute lightweight PVC pipes for the poles, but don’t use anything heavy enough to hurt someone if they do get knocked down.
Tie Poles Together
Tie the tops of the poles together with twine or wire to form a teepee shape.
Cover with Grid
Help vines climb by covering the teepee with chicken wire or weaving a grid over it with garden string or twine.
Dig a Bed
Dig a 12- x 12-inch ring around the entire teepee and mix in some compost.
Plant Seeds
Plant two or three seeds at the base of each pole. Pole beans and runner beans are easy to grow and produce an edible harvest that’s fun to pick. Since the playhouse is for children, don’t grow morning glories or other toxic plants.
Water and Mulch
Water the seeds and cover with mulch.
Guide the Vines
When the vines appear, gently guide them around poles until they take hold. Give the beans one inch of water a week if there’s no rain. Beans don’t require much fertilizer, so follow directions for the plant you choose. Harvest regularly and enjoy!
Take on this fun family project and grow a green playhouse together, or shop The Home Depot for a ready-made playhouse your children can enjoy for years to come.
