More than 200,000 children are taken to the emergency room every year for playground-related injuries, and the playset in your backyard is its own little playground of sorts (source). Proper ground cover under and around your playset is one of the best and easiest ways to help prevent injuries.
What do you put under playsets? Mulch, wood chips, poured-in-place rubber, rubber mulch, rubber tiles, pea gravel or sand laid on top of a weed barrier can all be put under and around a playset to help prevent injury from falls.
There are so many options for ground cover under a playset, that it is hard to know which one to choose. I have all the information you need to make the right decision for your family.
Related: How To Make A Sandbox Under A Playset
The Most Commonly Used Ground Cover: Mulch
Mulch and wood chips are longtime favorites for playset ground cover, and for good reasons, but there are some drawbacks that might cause you to make a different choice.
Safety:
Mulch is an overall decent choice to prevent children from getting hurt in a fall. If your mulch is 6 inches deep, it will help prevent injury from 6-foot-high falls. At 9 inches deep, it will help prevent injury from 10 feet, and at 12 inches deep, it will help prevent injury from falls taken at 11 feet.
Pros:
The main reason mulch is so popular is that it is the least expensive option while being pleasing to look at. It harmonizes nicely with a natural wood playset and can be used in your flowerbed to create a cohesive look.
Cons:
But there are many reasons mulch might not be the right ground covering for you. Mulch is typically made from recycled wood and whether this recycled wood had been treated by dangerous chemicals before it turned into mulch is sometimes unknown.
The mulch itself could be treated with other chemicals. Check the packaging or with the manufacturer.
Mulch may be cheaper up front, but it also must be maintained every 1-2 years as it begins to degrade and loses its ability to protect children when they fall.
Because mulch degrades, it also attracts insects to the area. These same insects might enjoy nesting in your playset.
Certified Mulches:
Your best bet to avoid subpar or potentially dangerous mulch is to purchase mulch that is certified by the Mulch and Soil Council (MSC) or better yet, mulch that has been certified by the International Play Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (IPEMA).
Sand
Sand does not have the same chemical contamination worries as mulch, and it is a versatile material to use underneath a playset providing a play experience as well as protection.
Safety:
Sand does not offer the same level of protection as mulch, and so you may want to lay out a deeper layer of it than mulch. At 6 inches and 9 inches deep, sand will help prevent injury from a fall of 5 feet. At 12 inches deep, sand will help prevent a fall from 9 feet.
Pros:
Sand is a versatile playset covering. Not only does it help prevent injury from a fall, but it can provide a wealth of play opportunities. Throw a few shovels and dump trucks in the sand and your playset becomes a sandbox.
Using sand under your playset can be affordable if you purchase it in bulk. Be sure to get play sand as it is usually finer and well strained for debris.
Cons:
Sand may not attract insects the same way mulch would, but it does attract pets in the worst way. Cats especially seem to think of sand as their own personal bathroom.
Sand is also messier. It gets into shoes, hair, and pant cuffs. If this sort of thing drives you crazy, then you might want to opt for a different material.
Some plants will readily grow in sand, so it may require weeding.
Pea Gravel
Pea gravel is smooth stones that are typically about 3/8ths of an inch. This is not just any kind of stone. As you can imagine, certain kinds of stone would not help prevent injury in the least! It comes in a variety of tones.
Safety:
Pea gravel is not as good as rubber mulch or wood mulch at preventing injuries from falls, but it is slightly better than sand. At 6 inches deep it will help prevent injury from a fall at 6 feet. At 9 inches deep, it will help with a fall of 7 feet, and at 12 inches deep it will help with a fall at 10 feet.
Pros:
Pea gravel will not deteriorate over time, and it will not attract insects to your playset. It requires no maintenance.
While not quite like sand, pea gravel can
still be fun to play with.
Cons:
Pea gravel is so small that it tends to easily find its way into shoes and pant cuffs.
Because pea gravel tends to catch a ride in shoes and pant legs, you may need to top it off every few years.
If pea gravel gets into your lawn, it can cause difficulties with your lawn mower.
Rubber Mulch
Rubber mulch is relatively new to the playset scene. It is typically made from shredded tires.
Safety:
From a safety standpoint, rubber mulch can be a great option. At only 6 inches deep, it can help prevent injury from 10-12 foot falls. It is by far the best at preventing injuries.
Pros:
Rubber mulch does not require maintenance. It does not decay or attract insects, and plants generally want nothing to do with it.
Cons:
Some prefer the way wood mulch looks over rubber mulch, although there are some color varieties available in rubber mulch that you might find more appealing.
The upfront costs are greater for rubber mulch, but it will last forever.
There is some concerns about the toxicity of rubber mulch made from old tires. Non-toxic, IPEMA certified rubber mulch is available at many locations.
Rubber Tiles
Rubber tiles are often made from recycled rubber and provide a smooth hard surface for play.
Safety:
Rubber tiles like these are rated for falls from 6 feet. Although because the surface is solid, it would be easier to skin a knee or elbow on them than some of the other materials.
Pros:
Rubber tiles are easy to install, come in a variety of colors, and are easily removed if you decide to take down or move your playset.
They are also great to run around on, and wheelchairs can easily move around on this surface.
Cons:
While rubber tiles are durable, they can begin to crumble over time
.
They are generally an expensive option, costing over $5 per square foot.
They are generally thought of as unattractive, but then beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Pour in Place (PIP) Rubber Surface
Pour in place rubber surfaces cost a pretty penny. They are generally used by public playgrounds and schools. They are made up of two rubber layers, one impact absorbing and the other decorative. In addition, they must be poured onto a concert, asphalt or crushed rock sublayer.
Safety:
PIP rubber surfacing at 6.5 inches deep will help prevent injury from a fall height of 12 feet and have the added benefit of being slip resistant.
Pros:
PIP rubber comes in a variety of colors and custom designs can be made for added visual appeal.
This material allows for easy movement of wheelchairs and other mobility devices, and it is also easy to run across.
Cons:
This is one of the most expensive options as you must pay for the materials and the installation.
PIP rubber surfacing is not easily removed if you decide to take down the playset.
There are some concerns about the use of old tires being recycled for areas where a young child may be crawling (and let’s be honest, placing their mouth), but the California Integrated Waste Management Board conducted tests on PIP rubber surfaces and found them to be safe. Some parents will still prefer a more natural solution to playset safety.
No matter what ground covering you chose for your playset, it will help protect your children from serious injuries related to falls. *Source of all fall height statistics unless otherwise noted.