Many households have their way of family bonding, whether it be a family game or movie night. Some households bond through on-going or long-term projects, such as family gardening. Although a long-term pastime such as family gardening may take more care, it is worth the health benefits and happiness it will bring to your literally growing family. If you follow these four tips, the entire home will flaunt their green thumbs with pride for a long time to come.

Tip #1: Purchase Seeds with Short to Long Growth Times

An inevitable component to gardening is the waiting game. Germination and growth times vary greatly among flora. To keep your children involved in the family garden, it would be best to put them in charge of sowing fast-growing seeds such as pumpkin (whose vines being to rapidly spread within a week), radishes, and wildflowers. While seeing fast and consistent results from their plants, the kids can also track the growth of other plants, like a giant sunflower.

Tip #2: Choose a Safe Pesticide

When developing a garden, all green thumbs out there know that their plants face threats from the environment. Dying and decaying gardens can be disheartening to the growing family, but there are number of ways to deal with these threats through the use of pesticides. However, the pest for your specific garden must be identified first. Once you identify whether its weeds, insects, fungus, or plant disease, you need to find the safest pesticide for your garden. For instance, a family with crawling pests and dogs would need an insect pesticide that was safe for canines to be exposed to. Many use natural alternatives such diatomaceous earth to keep active pests at bay.

Tip #3: Mix and Match Garden

A colorful garden that brings fragrance, decor, and harvest will be a beloved family garden. When purchasing seeds, don't just think of a flowery landscape. Think of flower beds, butterflies, and ripe cherry tomatoes. There is nothing wrong with having different sections to your family garden. In fact, you may find that family members prefer to tend to one type over another. Many garden and farming supply companies, like Central Farm and Garden, actually using many different types of plants. This not only makes things more colorful—and more fun—but can make plants healthier and help them grow larger.

Tip #4: Plant Everyone's Favorite

No matter the growth time or plant type, every family member should sow his or her favorite plant. It will bring so much joy and personal fulfillment when it blooms.

These tips should have your family growing in no time for a long time. If the space permits, you could even grow a family tree.