Building a Sandbox for My Kid: Need Tips!

We used to have a sandbox that was around 10-12 inches deep with pure sand, and we never had any weed problems. We compacted the ground before adding the sand, and I can't recall if we put gravel down. As for ants, they can still get in from the sides, so just make sure there are no sweets left in the sandbox! We covered ours with a tarp mainly to keep cats out and to prevent debris from falling in, which was especially helpful in springtime. But keep in mind, I live in a dry climate, so we didn't worry too much about rain.

Great idea to build a sandbox! Our design was spacious enough for a few kids to play together, and it was set a bit into the ground. We made a cover that could easily be lifted to keep cats out, and we enjoyed using wet sand for building. Make sure there's enough depth for effective drainage! If your climate is warm and sunny, having some shade is definitely a must unless you expect them to play in the heat for long. So yeah, maybe think about tree placement or a cover that provides shade while keeping the fun intact! Enjoy the building process!

If you're placing it in a sunny spot, consider making the cover a bit like a roof. But honestly, I can say I never had any ant issues, probably because the kids disturbed the sand enough. My sandbox was built right on compacted soil and we didn’t use any gravel. Kids usually stayed pretty much in the sand and didn't seem to care about making mud pies, so that worked out well!

I'd recommend going deeper than just a couple of inches. From my past experience, a base might end up mixed in with all the digging; we just filled a large area with about a foot of sand without any base or mat and had no ant issues at all. If your soil drains poorly, like clay, a cover might be wise to prevent water from accumulating. Just rake the sand occasionally to keep it clean!