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Message |
    
EJS
Citizen
Username: Ejs
Post Number: 5
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 1:53 pm: | 
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We need to put down a protective ground covering under/around our new backyard playset, and then put down a border around the ground covering. I'm thinking wood chips and something like railroad ties for the border. Every landscaper i've called has told me that they don't do this - any suggestions?
Many thanks! |
papayagirl
Citizen
Username: Papayagirl
Post Number: 654
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 2:33 pm: |
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We just had some work done in our backyard and had a landscaper put down playground chips. We'd assumed he'd do what you said - plastic ground cover first, and railroad ties around the perimeter. He said neither was necessary, and just laid the chips (available at a garden supply place, maybe also Home Depot) right on the dirt.
No idea how it'll hold up, but we're trusting him that it should be fine. He said with average use and rain, we should have to add more in about 3 years.
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EJS
Citizen
Username: Ejs
Post Number: 6
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 2:41 pm: |
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Papayagirl -
Can i ask who you had do the work? I can't even find anyone willing to do it! I need to get the stuff done before Sept 9th when we're having my son's bday party. My worst nightmare is a 4-year old kid falling off the playground and breaking their arm!
Thanks! |
Rudbekia
Citizen
Username: Rudbekia
Post Number: 201
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 3:21 pm: |
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You can get wood chips at Lowe's or Home Depot if they have them in stock. They had a lot at the beginning of the summer, but then when I went back to get more about mid-july there were no more. I highly recommend putting a border around them unless you want them spread ALL over your yard by fall. I've found that when this happens they also seem to kill the grass and are hard to blow or rake away in the fall. |
EJS
Citizen
Username: Ejs
Post Number: 7
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 3:47 pm: |
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Thanks for all the replies. I should have been a bit more specific - I'm looking for someone to come do this FOR me - a landscaping service who will come put the woodchips and the border down.
Thanks for any info! |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 1246
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 6:33 pm: |
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I've never had this done, but I have a suggestion. Perhaps try posting a classified in the Help Wanted section of MOL. (pretty sure it's still free) You might have better luck getting people interested in doing the work. Then you could ask THEM for recommnedations before agreeing to the job. Here you might not get the feedback you're hoping for.
Good luck!
PS. I don't know why I know it, but there are commercial services that blow in wood chips straight from a truck. Mucho bucks I imagine, but fast and efficient. |
Sherri De Rose
Citizen
Username: Honeydo
Post Number: 411
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 7:08 pm: |
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EJS, if all you want is to pay someone to pick up the chips at Lowes and spread them around the area, you can hire me to do this. I've already done this many times on my own property. Although it is not easy work it is not too difficult for a 57 year old 5'2, 128# woman to do. I've already been doing the tiling the last 3 jobs and all my clients love my work. Thinking of starting a company called "Tender Tiles" as an adjunct to Honey Do List. Seriously though,call me and it will be done by next week. (973.763.4726) |
papayagirl
Citizen
Username: Papayagirl
Post Number: 655
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 10:11 pm: |
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EJS - Dean Weiss did it, but it was in conjunction with other landscaping work. You can try giving him a call, but my guess is that taking Sherri up on her offer might be quicker! |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 12491
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 25, 2006 - 4:47 am: |
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When we had a playset we used cedar bark mulch. It is softer than chips and my wife always felt that it stayed in place better during the monssons than chips.
I am a firm advocate of putting down a perimeter barrier of four by fours. It helps to keep the mulch or chips in place.
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doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 1760
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 25, 2006 - 7:33 am: |
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We had this done in late Spring...our landscaper (Alberto Duran, 973-592-3622) did this. We went with a boarder of large stones as they were actually less expensive (at least in the quote he gave us) than RR ties and won't ever have insect issues. They dug a small trench (for rocks), put down the weed blocker mesh, rocks, wood chips. The areas under the swings get scraped away & I rake them around a bit. I imagine I will have to add several bags once or twice a year to compensate for breakdown, but it's easy to do (lay them where you want them, cut them all the way open & remove plastic.
So far, so good |
EJS
Citizen
Username: Ejs
Post Number: 8
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 25, 2006 - 1:58 pm: |
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Thanks very much for all the suggestions! I will start calling people and hopefully will have it in place for the birthday party!  |
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