KellyinPA Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 We usually put mulch under ours but I hate that it gets in the kids' shoes and socks and they track it in the house. Any better alternatives? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 thick grass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxxxxxxx Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLH in ND Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 (edited) Well, right now, dead grass and dirt. 9 years ago we put it on nice, thick grass but it's all worn away now. Of course, the last few years have been drought-like here, so that didn't help. ETA: btw, we just didn't want to mess with sand, rock, mulch, etc. so we chose to just have it on grass. Regardless of what you do, you'll most likely end up having to grow new grass and we didn't want to have to clean out the other stuff first. I guess you could say we chose the lazy way. ;) Sheri :) Edited May 22, 2009 by SLH in ND Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 Thick grass. That's what I grew up with. Actually, I grew up with thin grass and lots of sticks from an oak tree and I never got hurt. Even from jumping off the swing millions of times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom4him Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 . :iagree:that is what we have. It doesn't track in bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jann in TX Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 We have a LARGE wooden playset --swings are on a 9ft high beam. My girls play rough--especially the teens. 8 inches of pea gravel was recommended by the manufacturers and we are very happy. No weeds, rocks have stayed 'inside' (we used landscape stacked stones to make the raised bed where the playset is). It drains fast--so it is good to go minutes after a hard rain (or even in the rain for that matter). Yes, it will be a PAIN if/when it ever needs to be removed--but witnessing the head-dives my girls have already taken has made it worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 There are manufacture recommendations and I wouldn't have just grass under any playstructure. I actually wanted this rubber stuff, and thought about getting it...but it was really spendy. SO, we put thicker than we had to of the pea gravel. My husband put it in shovel full by shovel full...from where we had it dumped (the driveway). BUT, we feel it's as safe as possible, He put tie rails around the structure to keep the gravel in the area. (Leave a few inches so the gravel doesn't get kicked over as much) Carrie:-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 We had chunks of cedar (1-2") that had been tumbled. It is similar to mulch but larger pieces, smooth edged and it doesn't shred or track. It smelled wonderful in the rain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 Thick grass. That's what I grew up with. Actually, I grew up with thin grass and lots of sticks from an oak tree and I never got hurt. Even from jumping off the swing millions of times. :iagree::iagree::iagree: grass and dirt, even a few rocks and sticks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtroad Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 pine mulch... but kids are usually barefoot & it isn't too much of a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 We don't have a swing set in our yard, but I would probably wind up putting sand under ours. I know it sounds messy, but my kids are already constantly tracking sand into the house from the lake and our 2 sandboxes. What's a little more, lol? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 thick grass Wow -- how do you get thick grass to grow there? My husband's in lawn maintenance, and our front is gorgeous, but under the swing set has been hopeless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennay Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 Mulch - we just have the kids take off their shoes on the porch and we don't have too much tracked in the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KellyinPA Posted May 22, 2009 Author Share Posted May 22, 2009 Thanks for all the feedback. I guess we could look into the pea gravel. Grass won't grow there. It's a shady area and it's down to the dirt so we have to put something there, for safety as well as beautification of the yard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 Just grass. I am in a rental so anything else would cause problems with the landlord. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 My belly fat. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 Wow -- how do you get thick grass to grow there? My husband's in lawn maintenance, and our front is gorgeous, but under the swing set has been hopeless. Well, it just hasn't been ruined yet! This is our second summer having the swing set, and we haven't worn the grass away yet. If that happens, I might move the swing set to a new location for a year or so, and work on restoring the grass. My girls just aren't that rough on it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 12 inches of pea gravel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrabelle Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 We had grass when we built our swing set but if kids are swinging on it much that seems to get gone really fast. My kids occasionally bring a few scoops from the sandbox over there and it really helps to keep things from getting too muddy after it rains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 The floor of the store where the swing set sits. Dd has wanted a swing set forever, but we've never gotten her one. Now she's too big and we don't have the room for one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTMCassandra Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Pea gravel. We were fortunate that the pea gravel bed was there when we bought this house. We enlarged it slightly and put concrete curbing around it to keep the gravel in when we built our wooden swingset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Grass, dirt, and a tree root or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akmommy Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Grass, weeds, and directly under the swings it's just dirt. The feet scraping back and forth in those patches has killed all plant life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peggy in Va Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Grass, some dirt, but that's mostly been taken over by moss. In the fall, nice big oak leaves; and if the kids are real lucky, some walnuts. Boy do I love those walnuts and the attractive color they add to the clothing.:glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Only joking. Wood chips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samba2nite Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Don't laugh but we use Astro Turf. We started with bark...= silvers Stredded recycled rubber bark...= stunk to high heavens like smelly rubber and then the cats would poop in it so it got even stinkier. Dirt...= muddy mess voila... astro turf sheet and three years later still as clean as a whistle and always green :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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