Playground mulch FAQ's

What is playground mulch made of?

Old sneaker rubber used to be a source for playground mulch, but now recycled tires are used exclusively. The belts in the tires are removed in the shredding process, then the bits of rubber are passed under several powerful magnets that completely remove any pieces of metal. If your playground mulch provider does not boast 100% metal free, keep looking.

Why bother switching from sand or mulch?

Safety is the primary reason. Across the nation, an average of 1,500 playground injuries end up in the emergency room daily. This trend has led various government and independent agencies to conduct impact tests on all varieties of surfaces. In every case, a 6-inch layer of rubber chips nearly doubled the shock absorption of the second best surface.

How big are the chips and what if I eat one?

The chips are irregular nuggets varying in size from about 1/2 inch to 5/8 inch. They are completely non-toxic and will harmlessly pass the animal and human digestive tracts. Don't worry, they have no flavor, good or bad.

How do I maintain a playground mulch surface?

Happily, playground mulch pretty much takes care of itself. If the surface becomes unleveled, the chips can be moved around easily with a garden rake. They are heavy enough that they won't be blown or carried over into your yard and wash clean of dust or dirt with a light hosing or rain.

Won't lining my playground with old black tires look rather dull?

All playground mulch manufacturers offer a variety of colors and most can customize the color if you like. Add the fact that there will be no spillover sand or woodchips in your yard and it is actually a significant aesthetic improvement. Non-toxic paint is used to color the chips and neither painted or black chips will stain clothes or skin. Most companies do mention that the paint will fade after five to eight years.

When will I have to replace it?

Not in your lifetime. The rubber chips are vulcanized, making them quite indestructible. All other playground surfaces need regular replenishment.

But isn't playing in the sand kind of fun?

Not really. And the mean kids will have a pretty tough time kicking playground mulch in anyone's eyes.