Wood Chips – Around Playset
Q: We are creating a spot in our back yard for a big wooden play set. We are debating whether to put pine chips down for safety. We had some pines taken down so we have a mountain of chips. However, there seem to be a lot of bugs flying around them.
A: A friend’s child suffered a broken arm falling from a slide so I can appreciate your concern. The National Safety Council recommends a minimum depth of 12 inches of wood chips extending six feet out from playground equipment. To maintain a layer that thick you’ll need a foot high timber wall surrounding the play set. Insects might be attracted to fresh chips for a few days after they are produced. After rain has washed the sweet sap from the chips, though, I can think of no reason bugs would find them attractive.
-
-
-
1
Crapemyrtle – To Prune, Or Not To Prune
-
2
Leylands – Spacing for a Privacy Screen
-
3
Hosta – Diseases and Pests
-
4
Huckleberry – Growing
-
5
Green Persimmons – Bad Taste
-
1
Yellownecked Caterpillars – Identification
-
2
Sod – Laying too late
-
3
Pine straw – Weed control
-
4
Fatsia – Blooming in December
-
5
Fire Power Nandina – Not Coloring
-
