How to make the underneath of an outdoor playset usable and not a mudpit

play-structures

Based on this bulletpoint from the allowed topics:

  • Which tools, materials, and best practices for home improvement task.

I'm looking for advice on dealing with our playset. Specifically the area beneath it that they usually recommend being a sandbox. We don't want a sandbox. However, since we haven't done anything with it yet, the thing ended up being a mud pit with some interesting weeds growing.

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So my questions are:

  1. What materials and best practices can I use to make the area a usable "indoor" space for the kids with a flooring of some kind and maybe even a door or gate?
  2. What do I need to do to make sure the flooring is weatherproof and won't become muddy or allow weeds/grass to eventually poke through?
  3. Any advice on making sure critters, bugs, spiders, hornets, etc. don't decide to take up residence inside?

Best Answer

Under our playset we have landscaping mesh with rubber mulch over the top. The top layer of mulch is for comfort and protects the mesh. The mesh keeps things from growing up through the mesh. It's been there for 4+ years and not a single weed.