Friday, March 21, 2008

Gardening with Children: Replacing the Playground Mulch with Cedar Mulch

Last year, we put down a fresh layer of playground mulch in our children's play area (pictured). However, the playground mulch was made of pine and this was not a good thing.

Because the play area is at the bottom of the hill, rain washed down to the play area and the playground mulch became moist. By the end of the season, the playground had become a mushroom patch and the children refused to play there.

So last week, we skipped the pine playground mulch and put down thirty large bags of high quality cedar mulch. For the kids' sake, we hope the cedar mulch keeps away the mushrooms.

4 comments:

Mark said...

I thought your young gardeners would enjoy an indoor gardening adventure, growing the TickleMe Plant (Mimosa pudica). Recently featured by the National Gardening Associations Kids Store, http://www.kidsgardeningstore.com/14-1030.html
If you want to give your young gardeners an experience they will never forget, consider having them grow a TickleMe Plant. This is the plant that will close its leaves and lower its branches when you tickle it. They sprout in days and can be grown indoors any time of year. Just Google TickleMe Plants or go to www.TickleMePlant.com for seeds and growing kits. This plant has turned many kids into plant and nature lovers. I know, because I grow TickleMe Plants in my classroom.

Julia Erickson said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Julia Erickson said...

Mark,

You're right. The kids really do like this plant. I bumped into this plant a few years ago and it was called a "sensitive" plant. Unfortunately, I found it weedy and had to remove it from the garden. Perhaps it would be better in a pot.

-Heirloom Gardener

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Wow I didn't know Sensitive Plant would grow in the garden. I thought it was a tropical.

Anyway, as to your mulch problem in the play area would small pea gravel work for you? I have an area that is actually a pathway and the water would wash away the mulch. I tried pea gravel here and it was a winner. It didn't wash away and I don't have to replace it yearly just every couple of years. I can walk on it bare footed too.

Search Heirloom Gardener

Google
 

Blog Archive

Blogflux

Blog Flux Pinger - reliable ping service. Blog Directory Alltop, all the top stories
Powered By Blogger