Playground fall protection: bark mulch or wood chips?

A playground must be supplemented with suitable material on the ground that cushions any falls. Wood looks particularly natural. But what contributes more to safety, wood chips or bark mulch.

Wood chips

Wood chips are made from crushed wood from different trees. Depending on which type of tree is used, the schnitzel can be colored differently. The schnitzel is available in various grain sizes from small to large. However, it should not be too small for the playground so that a fall or fall is effectively absorbed. Regardless of the color, wood chips are generally light and therefore appear friendly.

advantages

Compared to mulch, schnitzels are larger and therefore do not rot as quickly, and the steaming effect is better. Since the tannic acid is missing from the bark, they do not attack the support posts of wooden playground equipment as strongly. The different colors allow more creative freedom when designing the playground.

disadvantage

Like mulch, the wood chips also gradually rot and then have to be replaced or at least replenished. In addition, the material has to be sifted through from time to time in order to remove foreign bodies and chips that are too fine.

Note: Even before the schnitzel is spread out for the first time, it is advisable to sieve it for the first time.

Bark mulch

The dark mulch material consists of crushed bark from Conifers. It is most commonly used on beds, where it helps build humus and suppress weeds. The mulch is also popular for designing paths. Since conifer bark contains a lot of tannic acid, the mulch can be used to acidify the soil, which benefits various plants. Mulch is often used in playgrounds where the effect should be particularly natural, for example in forest playgrounds.

Note: However, a larger grain size should be selected on the playground than in the garden design.

advantages

The dark material looks most natural in playgrounds in coniferous forests. If the play equipment is only temporary, the mulch does not have to be removed afterwards as it decomposes over time. The tannic acid in the bark is more effective at preventing weeds from growing through. The soil life is not negatively affected.

disadvantage

The mulch material rots relatively quickly and is not as durable as wood chips or sand. The dampening effect is also greater with wood chips. Mulch absorbs moisture more poorly and passes it on more difficult.

Conclusion

Due to the predominantly positive aspects of wood chips, they are superior to bark mulch.

Other properties of wood:

• Disposal is easier
• Can also be played on when it is wet or cold
• is not used as a toy like sand
• does not get stuck in clothes
• less pollution
• The dampening effect is higher than that of sand, especially when compared to wet sand
• do not have to be cleaned regularly like rubber flooring
• no warping possible as with rubber mats

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