My son built a play set with a swing and slide for his toddlers. I was told not to use sand to cover the rocky red mud.
+8
Is bark the best covering for the ground?
11 answers
-
Use a 'playground safe' mulch. It can be organic or rubber. Here is one example in the link below of an organic product. You don't want to use the regular mulch because they pretty much grind up anything and it is not inspected. You would not believe the items I have found coming in on regular mulch. The rubber mulch is also a good product, but it is very pricey. Again you need to stick to the 'playground' rubber mulch. It is ground finer and has the side wall wires taken out of the rubber. The regular mulch is bigger chunks and still has the wires hanging out of the pieces. http://cowartmulch.com/kid-safe-mulch/about-kid-safe Just one last thought- Cats will poop in mulch just as much as they will in sand- So a mat would be the actual way to circumvent this. Something like this http://www.greatmats.com/playground-rubber.php have a good Sunday!
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Feb 05, 2012
-
Thank you Donna, that is all fantastic info!! I appreciate it.
Culpepper Carpets and Interiors, Inc.
on Feb 05, 2012
-
True that, mulch works for a kitty sanbox just as nicely as sand. hehe! A mat sounds like a good idea. =)
Misty M
on Feb 05, 2012
-
I do like the idea of a mat. Should I put sand under it? Also, how do I keep the rain from bringing red mud onto it?
Culpepper Carpets and Interiors, Inc.
on Feb 05, 2012
-
The recycled tire mulch works really well...plush it cushions the kids if and when they fall. Sand attracts the neighborhood cats!
HandyANDY - Handyman & All Repairs, LLC
on Feb 05, 2012
-
Our local "park playground" is filled with Pea Gravel. I stays in place better than the mulch with our heavy winter winds.
KMS Woodworks
on Feb 05, 2012
-
Lee Anne, This can be done similar to some of the riding arenas that we see. They have the same issues. . . with run off and drainage. Try outlining it with rail road ties or some kind of edging.
WallsTreat Studio/ Kass Wilson
on Feb 05, 2012
-
Depending upon the size and how long your kids will really end up using this area, I would steer clear of mats and expensive playground mulch. Most of this lasts a very long time and cannot simply degrade into the ground leaving a big pile that you will need to dispose of when the kids get tired of that area. We found when our son was younger that we just placed RR ties around the outside area and piled on garden mulch. As it turned into soil we simply dug it out, put it in garden areas and then re-mulched again. We used a better quality shredded mulch that tends to stay in place yet when piled about 10 inches thick made a spongy surface in case he or one of his friends fell. He outgrew the play set after four years anyway and it ended up in another neighbors yard for their kids.
Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com
on Feb 05, 2012
-
These are all great ideas, thank you! Woodbridge, I like the deep mulch idea. I was going to use landscape timbers to line it.
Culpepper Carpets and Interiors, Inc.
on Feb 05, 2012
-
Cover it? Aren't Georgia kids suppose to get 'Rusty'? lol
AA Marble & Granite, LLC
on Feb 06, 2012
-
Mine are!!!
Culpepper Carpets and Interiors, Inc.
on Feb 11, 2012
Sign Up to Answer
Related Discussions
Suggested Project Book
