Keep your children safe in the garden

Gardening expert Diarmuid Gavin shares his tips for child-proofing your plot, from removing poisonous plants to fixing that rickety fence

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With weeks to go over the long summer break, and warm weather perfect for youngsters to play outside, our gardens will be getting a lot of use over the coming weeks.

Whether the children in your life are little explorers, bug-lovers or just football fans who want to kick about on the lawn, there are some surprising hazards that could leave them in tears - or in A&E.

But childproofing your garden doesn't mean making it dull and boring, it means creating a space that will give your kids endless fun - and you, peace of mind. Here, our gardening columnist Diarmuid Gavin shares his tips for turning your plot into a place where both you and children can relax.

Fix your fence

"Start by looking at the boundaries," says Diarmuid. "Make sure fences are in good shape and that there are no gaps a curious toddler might squeeze through. Gates should close firmly and ideally have a latch that's out of reach."

Ditch dangerous plants

Young children explore the world by putting anything and everything in their mouths, and some brightly coloured pretty flowers could be very tempting. It might be time to rethink your flowerbeds.