Hello everyone! I'm getting a children's playground installed in my backyard soon, and the landscaping team has leveled the area, which is currently just bare dirt. I'm thinking about putting down playground mulch once the equipment is set up. I'm considering whether to lay down a weed barrier fabric before I install the playground. I've seen mixed opinions on this in the landscaping community, with many saying weed barriers aren't effective. My worry is that if I place the wooden structure directly on the soil, it might rot faster over time. What do you all think? Is a weed barrier a good idea, or can I get away without it?
1 Answer
Honestly, I really can't stand weed fabric! If you ever need to remove it, you'll wish you'd never installed it in the first place. My suggestion is to just put down a good 4 inches of wood mulch, and that should do the trick. If you want a barrier under the mulch, maybe consider using cardboard instead.
Thanks for the advice! I should mention that I can only put the mulch down after the playground is installed to ensure it’s on a flat surface. So that means it would still be right on the dirt. I’m worried about the wood deteriorating quickly if it’s in direct contact with the soil. Do you think this still makes the weed barrier a necessary step?