Yep we did. This topic has 11 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated. Once established the leaves do compress when walked or sat upon but dont worry, theyll soon spring back up. After alternatives to grass that will require little mowing? Timber frame to keep it in. Rubber Chippings can be used for the same applications as EPDM but in a much more cost effective and sustainable manner. Sign up as a Singletrack Member and you can leave comments on stories, use the classified ads, and post in our forums, do quizzes and more. Then discover how to plant a wildflower meadow the easy way, with a mat of established young plants that are ready to root and thrive. In addition to wood mulch, recycled rubber mulch is an excellent option. It will take time to establish and for gaps to cover but the result is enchanting. There are no staining or dirt issues. Leaving tell-tale yellow and burnt patches behind and the occasional digging spot too, you may be tempted to find more pet-friendly alternatives to grass. These products are designed to suppress weeds while letting rain permeate through. Its far softer and safer than natural grass or artificial grass. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. 3rd time I've bought from these guys and this time I included the waxlings as I camp on mountains a lot and it's hard to start a fire with firelighers. You can use wood mulch or rubber mulch for your playground. Never use plastic sheeting instead of water-permeable landscape fabric. Suited to most light soils through to heavy clay, this grass can take time to put down roots and establish but it forms a dense covering and is hardwearing. Nigel Gomme, landscape designer at Cityscapers tells us more about this recent project: 'The deck features smooth planed Yellow Balau hardwood decking boards which, contrary to the name, are warm medium brown in colour. When we did this took up turf + scraped top soil away/down depth depending on fall height 4-8. The wood is FSC certified, an important environmental consideration for us, which means it has been grown and felled sustainably. In order to lay mulch for your backyard playground, prepare the site by excavating the area and installing two layers of landscape fabric. This means it is not an environmentally sound product. Avoid using hard mulches that compact easily. Rubber will not become burning hot after long exposure to the summer sun. They significantly reduce weed growth when used with a suitable membrane and retain ground moisture. Go for a layer of chips around 5-10cm deep laid on top of landscape fabric. For a lush, tropical feel highlight glossy leaved shrubs and ferns with dark grey granite chippings. We only have a small amount of size grading to complete before dispatch. Next door made one and unintentionally produced a platform where their kids would just stand and watch us instead of playing. The larch is reasonably economical, burns well with a good heat and minimal ash. Please note: comments must be approved before they are published. The cool tones and flat shape of this aggregate complement modern garden ideas as well as Japanese-inspired gardens, as garden designer Katherine Roper explains. This means your mulch will stay in place and retain its shock absorbency for years to come. Keep on pruning delphiniums over summer and you will reap the benefits with constant flowers to brighten up your plot, Plants It needs little feeding or watering but can continue spreading on to beds and borders too, so not for everyone. While pea gravel will help in the case of a fall, it only provides adequate protection compared to rubber surfaces which offer higher fall protection as per BS EN1177.2018. Jill puts her love of plants and all things garden related down to the hours spent pottering around with her Nan and Grandad when she was little. Anyone built a bark play area in the garden for swings & slide? During inclement weather, traditional wood mulch often gets whipped out of place by strong winds, or floats away due to excessive rain. Lay the second layer of fabric in an east-west pattern. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Contact UsPrivacyForum RulesClassifieds RulesLink RemovalLogin/cookie issues?Newsletter SettingsAdvertising, Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total). You'll find more of the best ground cover plants in our guide. They significantly reduce weed growth when used with a suitable membrane, while still allowing water and fertiliser to permeate into the ground. With no root structure and happy to rely on rain for nutrients, it is a magical plant that will cover practically any surface, given time. Blue slate tends to be the most popular but plum, green and graphite are also available. Cover the ground with bark chippings and cut logs to help suppress weed growth and retain moisture too. Lay the first layer of fabric in a north-south pattern. This time were giving you the chance to win a pair of snazzy Shimano ME7 shoes courtesy of Freewheel. Sleepers around the edge to keep it in. Bark chippings come in a range of different shades so you can tailor the look, but be sure to go for a FSC approved product to be sure it comes from a sustainable source, especially if you're keen to create an eco friendly garden. Important News - Product changes to come into line with Woodsure, The How And The Why Of DIY Log Drying (Seasoning). Looking for some alternatives to grass for your lawn? Thanks for popping by - why not stay a while? Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. From memory, they will send out samples so you can check the colour before you buy. I did, but got sick of clearing up/kids treading in cat shit! Fancy a wild, grassy area that bursts into color every summer? What Do You Put Down Under Play Bark in a Playground? My brother did and regretted it. Installing it is one of the best ways to keep weeds out of your playground. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Go for a stone size of 20mm to deter cats from digging and think carefully about the best color for your space. Available in various shades, fibre mixes and densities, you can opt for everything from pristine bowling green perfection to just mown grass complete with realistic thatch to carefully manicured stripes. I love them! Dont use sand instead of mulchit attracts animals that will use the space as a toilet. What Should You Put Down Before Adding Playground Mulch? Rubber mulch allows water and fertiliser to permeate into the soil. We explain what to do when the blooms fade, Tips, advice and inspiration on how to maintain your garden, Weekly issues delivered direct to your door or device. Hannah tries out the Truflo Mini Shock Pump that can take on tyres, shocks, Presta and Schrader. Ideal for combining with our small Japanese garden ideas, it is revered for its velvety texture, verdant colour and soft undulating mounds. The size of the chippings will not only alter the look and mood created but the spread of the covering. Choose from vibrant blues or natural browns to complement your existing landscape design or provide a colour contrast. The reality is that lush and healthy lawns require plenty of love and regular care and not all of us have the time. Other popular hardwood options include ipe, iroko, cumaru and oak each with their distinctive grain patterns and colouring. 'We used Delabole blue slate chippings in this clients gardens as they wanted a zen-like feel and didnt want a lawn. Corsican Thyme (Mentha requienii) releases a fresh, zesty fragrance when trodden on while Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) has clouds of tiny purple and white blooms during summer and is a magnet for pollinators. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Delivered kerbside on pallets on date and time agreed. Plastic will retain water. Weve chatted to leading garden industry experts to find out their favorite ideas and to discover the latest products set to transform your plot. This can cause harmful bacteria and insects to breed in pools of standing water. Consider your neighbours and dont make it too high. When in use, the wood fibres lock to gether to create a clean, free draining springy surface. + It mulches down every couple of years so needs topping up and weeds pulling out. You can lay the landscape fabric directly on top of the soil after excavation. Woodchips have been the go-to playground materials for many years. Today she is lucky enough to have a garden of her own in Surrey, England, and spends much of her time writing about them too. Visit our corporate site. 'In this garden we used granite setts but we also like flexible metal edging which is versatileand very easy to install.'. Not just for mulching borders or for adding to play areas to suit family garden ideas, bark chippings are attractive alternatives to grass. Our shop is equipped to fabricate custom duct transitions, elbows, offsets and more, quickly and accurately with our plasma cutting system. Rubber surfaces also offer advantages over pea gravel in landscaping. In this regard, as long as you choose a product with declared safety fall heights certificated to BS Standard EN1177:2008, you can tick off this requirement. A friend used the shredded rubber and that seems much better. Geotextile fabricoften called landscape fabricis an essential ground covering for playgrounds. Hardwood and softwood all of good quality for our Rayburn multi fuel cooker. The soft feathery leaves hug the ground and send out shoots in summer, creating a beautiful and closely woven covering, making it one of our favorite alternatives to grass. Great company and great staff. Everyone wants to reduce the time and costs absorbed in maintenance works. However, sand can get incredibly messy and scorching hot in the summer sun. Beate Kubitz Classic Ride Print #117 Duddon Valley, Beate Kubitz Classic Ride Print #124 Isle Of Wight, Premier Partners for Singletrack issues & exclusive subscriber perks, Metcheck MTB Weather Forecasts At A Glance. If youd like to consider using JungleMulch as a playground flooring solution for your area, please feel free to get in touch! Why is Playgrade Woodchip a Good Alternative to Playbark? Sandy playground areas attract animals, which will often use the sand as an area to urinate and defecate. The only other consideration here would be the use of recycled materials (both rubber and woodchip). Rubber surfacing versus other playground and landscaping materials. Email newsletters concise and informative without overload. It can spit which means you need a closed burner but otherwise excellent and good value usually cheaper than local suppliers despite the distance. However there are practical and price considerations to consder, and in these aspects playgrade new woodchip is a serios contender, Ordered the play grade wood chip from here great value for money and great customer service would highly recommend. The price is less as the mechanical process to make chip has got seriously mechanised, mostly due to the demand for woodchip for boilers. Sheets of plastic will collect water. Rubber does not rot, decay or fade. The guide has further information on JungleMulch and why it is a great alternative to natural bark surfacing. Click below to find out more! This double layer of landscape fabric will prevent weeds from growing up through the mulch. This is better if the areas grass at present when the end of life has been reached, lift it and no work needed to get the grass back to normal. Use stakes, flags, or marking paint to clearly mark the perimeter. Yep, layer of geotextile then rubber bark. What you are doing is giving an outdoor soft area, when most of the rest of the world is not soft. In this aspect new woodchip is the run away winner, because not only is the purchase price lower, it lasts up to twice as long as play bark and doesnt leave the area like rubber. Then grab a coffee, get comfy and read on. PlaySmarts Favourite Things About EPDM Mulch, PlaySmarts 5 Top Tips for Summer Playground Maintenance. Snowshoe, scene of some of the most dramatic DH racing of recent times but always in the dry. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Find the square footage of the excavated and prepared playground area. Landscape fabric is far better because its water-permeable. Pea gravel will naturally compress and bind after constant use, forming a hard, non-shock absorbing surface which can lead to broken bones after a fall. Always source my logs from Firewood Express. The machine that comes into our farm can process 750 tonnes of timber in a day, to a very tight size specification. Order mulch from a garden supplier by the cubic yard. After about 6 years the grass got back through (and the girls stopped using the swings/slide) so I just pulled up the fabric and let the bark get absorbed back into the soil, took the fence away and that was another part of our lives over . Soft yet hardwearing underfoot, it is designed to let any water drain through and can also be hosed down and swept if needed. No need to mow or trim back (you can pack your best lawn mower away for now then), these tight knitting plants actually grow so close they help cut down on weeding too, making them a perfect, no fuss choice for big or small garden ideas. Unlike sand, rubber chippings can also be washed off keeping them clean and free from bacteria. A double layer of fabric resists being punctured or torn by foot traffic on the mulch above. This makes it far less dangerous for children to play in a playground covered with wood mulch as opposed to natural grass. The downside is that this option does little for the environment both in its production and by reducing pollinator and wildlife friendly habitats. Overlap landscape fabric by 612 inches (1530 cm) wherever two pieces are laid side-by-side. ", 1041 Redi Mix Rd, Suite 102Little River, South Carolina 29566, Website Design, Lead Generation and Marketing by MB Buzz | Powered by Myrtle Beach Marketing | Privacy Policy | Terms and Condition, by 3D Metal Inc. Website Design - Lead Generation, Copyright text 2018 by 3D Metal Inc. -Designed by Thrive Themes | Powered by WordPress, Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance, Vertical (Short-way) and Flat (Long-way) 90 degree elbows, Vertical (Short-way) and Flat (Long-way) 45 degree elbows, Website Design, Lead Generation and Marketing by MB Buzz. The topic Anyone built a bark play area in the garden for swings & slide? is closed to new replies. This material will work as a weed barrier. Conditions were crazy this week! These tough drought-tolerant and frost hardy plants hold their waxy leaves all year round and produce tiny nectar-rich blooms throughout the warmer months. Rubber Chippings offer many benefits as they are a sustainable use forwaste tyresthat could otherwise be exported or burnt in unregulated practices. Peppers Home and Garden is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Rubber chippings also look great as a landscaping product. Earlier problems with pallet stability and wrapping now resolved. Aesthetically it is a beautiful material tough, stable and resistant to our inclement weather and very easy to maintain an annual rub down with decking oil is all it takes to keep it looking pristine.'. Artificial grass comes in different pile depths and its generally thought that a pile of between 25mm- 35mm is most comfortable under-paw. How to Install Snow Guards for Metal Roofs [8 DIY Steps]. Cheers. Then, excavate the ground down to a depth of 812 inches (2030 cm). This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Thinking about doing this in our garden for a play area. It's not one of the most poisonous plants for dogs, so it's safe for them to eat, tougher than grass and less likely to stain too. Grass can be stubborn and sometimes theres no convincing it to thrive. Wood and rubber are our top choices for playground mulch. Best Landscape Fabric for Playgrounds [Top 4 Products], How to Install Landscape Fabric Under a Swing Set [6 Steps], How to Get Rid of Mushrooms in Your Yard [6 Amazing Methods], How to Fix Hose Leak [4 Methods for Any Leak], How to Protect Corn from Frost [3 Easy Methods], How to Protect Daffodils from Frost [3 Steps to Beat Frost], How to Get Rid of Mold on Your Window Sills [7 Methods], Does Vinegar Kill Bed Bugs? Alternatively, why not take a look at our How to choose a safety surface guide? A leaf blower or quick sweep will clear up any fallen leaves or debris leaving the surface looking good all year round with minimal fuss. Design your own covering by planting plugs of stonecrop and meadow Saxifrage close together or opt for a pre-sown matting that has been grown on for twelve months prior to purchase. The coloured products all carry a level of staining, the rubber gets into kids pockets and shoes and play bark can go a bit muddy when it gets older and wet. Warm toned aggregates such as Cotswold or golden gravel create a sunny, welcoming vibe while limestone and white marble work well for a sharp, contemporary look. To make sure there are no gaps, allow the fabric to overlap 612 inches (1530 cm) whenever you are laying rolls of fabric side-by-side. I will be back for more soon!! But why replace the lawn? We enclosed the area with sleepers and laid membrane underneath. Our capabilities go beyond HVAC ductwork fabrication, inquire about other specialty items you may need and we will be happy to try and accommodate your needs. During this unprecedented busy period where we must adhere to COVID 19 government regulations there may be delays to delivery. Will versatility add up to a useful tool? Recommend 100%. Should You Spray for Weeds Before or After Mowing? Sand provides fall protection and will not rot. We will be doing it on an existing lawn so interested to hear if people stripped lawn off or dug down or sanded the area to improve drainage or used some form of weed suppressant membrane? No flies but the cats still use it as a toilet. These cookies do not store any personal information. Love the lush carpet grass creates, but not the upkeep? OPEN AND DELIVERING: Free Delivery on orders 100 and over. "Highly skilled sheet metal fabricators with all the correct machinery to fabricate just about anything you need. If your playground is 300 square feet and has been excavated to a depth of 8 inches, youll need about 8 cubic yards of mulch. Not to be confused with flowering Roman chamomile, the best variety for a lawn is low growing Chamomile Treneague. Truflo Mini Shock Pump review: twofer bargain or double trouble? Water will pass through the fabric and enter the soil instead of pooling under the mulch. Our local forestry sold us a lorry load of play bark so no splinters. For landscaping purposes, rubber mulch can imitate the look of natural wood, without any of the drawbacks. Top up every two or three years and avoid using freshly chipped bark around garden plants and trees too, as they can remove essential nitrogen from the soil. Heres why you can trust us. I did receive a few over the years which had toppled and required handballing off the wagon. Highly recommended company and product. DH World Cup Round 6 Snowshoe delivers drama! Youll get good results from wood fiber or rubber mulch. Total area was about 20sqm cost a lot for the bark as I remember. After all, isnt it meant to be a gardens crowning glory? Great quality, great price great service. Dont worry that birds and wildlife will object either as many of these alternatives to grass will increase the food and habitat on offer, providing plenty of safe hiding spots too. Sand provides fall protection and will not rot. This also encourages new roots to form. You dont need to do any ground or soil treatments before laying landscape fabric. Logs are as described and I wouldn't risk sourcing from anywhere else. Secondly (in many of my conversations with buyers) comes practicality/cleanliness. I would recommend them to everyone who needs any metal or Fabrication work done. Rubber Chippings offer many benefits as they are a sustainable use for, Italian Study Verifies Benefits of Rubber in Equine Surfaces. Often covering a large area, opting for something different for your lawn ideas can be an exciting opportunity to completely transform your outside space. The stuff we have is made from shredded car tyres. This will reduce the amount of work you have to do to move the mulch. So go on, take the plunge and replace that tired lawn. Use marking paint to mark the area for the planned playground. Your email address will not be published. (Image credit: Matanne Hunt Gardens & Landscapes), (Image credit: Alexa Ryan-Mills Garden Design), (Image credit: Andreas Mann/Getty Images), (Image credit: Stefan Cristian Cioata/Getty Images), Pruning delphiniums: simple tips to keep your flowers blooming, Should I deadhead hydrangeas? Required fields are marked *. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This Japanese-style garden by Maitanne Hunt Gardens (opens in new tab) uses the moss-like Soleirolia soleiroliias a lawn alternative. ', Garden design by Cityscapers (opens in new tab). For these reasons and many more, clients come back time and time again to JungleMulch as a problem-solving surface which offers peace of mind. 'We used Mind-your-own-business (Soleiroliasoleirolii)as an alternative to moss used in Japanese gardens, taking advantage of its naturally mounding, creeping habit to create theimpression of the Japanese hills. Lots of fun moving the mountain into the back garden. How did you prep the area? We couldn't have asked for a better service! It can also be very expensive. Available from specialist growers such as Turf Online (opens in new tab), carefully selected varieties are sown and nurtured to create a dense turf with a strong, developed root system. Finally, in some cases the most important, price. Rubber chippings offer many benefits as they are maintenance free and last for many years without losing the vibrant colour or rotting. Do not skip the excavation step during playground construction. Never use sand instead of mulch. By using a bound rubber mulch, you eliminate the need for constant topping up of loose surfacing levels which can be expensive. These things even stay alite on the top of a mountain with a gale!!! [3 Reasons it Wont Work]. Sussex Folly from A Place in the Garden (opens in new tab). Pea gravel is only available in its natural colours. After youve laid the landscape fabric, pour 812 inches (2030 cm) of mulch on top and spread it evenly. From there, a rake can be used to spread it evenly throughout the space. This is mainly because a loose surface needs frequently topping up to maintain fall protection and levels need to be kept consistent this can be a challenge in high wear areas. Heavier and less cat-friendly than gravel, slate chippings are a perfect lawn substitute. In comparison to artificial grass or rubber tiles, mulch is a less expensive option for playground safety. Rubber will not become burning hot after long exposure to the summer sun. Suited to areas of all shapes and sizes they add texture and interest, are easy to lay and come in a selection of different shades. Rubber chippings provide a much softer, springy surface in the event of a fall on a playground when compared to pea gravel. Full of moss, weeds and constantly demanding attention, many grassy areas simply lie neglected a mud bath in winter and scalped bare and rock hard in summer. There's more inspiration for the parts of your garden that don't get much sun in our shade garden ideas. Wood chips and bark mulch make excellent ground covering beneath and around playground equipment. Convinced gravel is one of the right alternatives to grass for you? (SPOILERS). Unlike pea gravel, rubber chippings wont compress. The best composite decking has superseded standard grooved deckboards, requiring less upkeep and proving durable in all-weathers, but hardwood designs remain at the top of the most-desirable list. Avoid using plastic sheeting as a substitute for geotextile fabric under playground mulch. Begin by installing the first layer of landscape fabric in a north-south pattern to cover the soil. Choose from smooth planed, shallow reeded or grooved boards and look for co-ordinated handrails, facias and edging. Garden design by Fenton Roberts Garden Design (opens in new tab). Rubber chippings stay put, even in the harshest weather conditions. How To Drought tolerant sedums, thyme and other low growing plants can make a great alternative to a lawn. Our guide reveals all there is to know about deadheading hydrangeas so you can keep your shrubs looking beautiful for longer, By Holly Crossley Excavate the marked area to a depth of 812 inches (2030 cm). 1 cubic yard will cover a 324 square-foot area at a depth of 1 inch. Can You Use Wood Chips as Playground Mulch? In this new world of brutal budgetary control and cuts, playground surfacing creation & maintenance can often take a back seat. After taking the plunge and installing our first log burner we had to source some logs. It will also prevent the muddy ground from mixing with your mulch. Didnt use sand for drainage the black birds love it and voles like to tunnel through it too. Firewood Express was recommended from a lady we rented a holiday cottage from in Wales, they are very competitive on price and you always get good customer service. If it is grass then it hurts more sometimes than others, if it is dry or wet, etc. Gardeningetc is supported by its audience. No special prep as were on well drained soil so I just laid weed suppression fabric onto the grass and then had play bark tipped onto it. Mistakes to Avoid Before Adding Playground Mulch. Animals are also attracted to sand and stray animals may use it as a giant outdoor litterbox, fostering harmful bacterial growth. Published 29 July 22. Then adding one of our favorite decking ideas is a must. Garden design by Katherine Roper (opens in new tab). Wood chips are light and do not compact into a hard surface. Swap a sun-scorched, free draining lawn for a mass of sedum, and youll soon have an everchanging carpet thats alive with pollinators. Alternatively continue spreading chippings under trees and shrubs to the very edges of your plot for a natural and space-enhancing finish. Vigorous and low growing, this largely evergreen little gem rapidly creeps over the soil surface, filling gaps between paving or bricks and cloaking imperfections, creating a seamless sea of lush tiny bright green leaves.'. Mulch creates a safe, soft play space for children. Win a pair of Shimano ME7 shoes worth 180! Recycled rubber mulch is another excellent playground surface material. They lasts longer than traditional playground wood chips or gravel. The bright, vibrant colours dont fade and it provides protection from falls making it an ideal playground surface. Play bark, recycled wood chip and rubber chippings all involve complex supply chains and processes. Gardeningetc is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Rubber chippings also provide significantly more shock absorbance. Bringing Playground Surfaces to Your Home with Playsmart, Get Creative with your Playground: PlaySmarts inventive ideas for your Play Space, Outdoor Playground Hazards to Watch Out for This Summer.

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