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Playground advice ground

andreamurray.212984andreamurray.212984 Posts: 10
in Problem solving
So we have a sloped garden. The bottom is flatish. When you walk on the grass a few times it gets muddy like you would see at the park ( at least the parks I go to) when you walk on the grass its soft. 
We have bought wood chippings membrane and we are thinking sharp sand under it? Is this enough please?
Its not waterlogged but it is soft so walking twice will cause mud. I need the area for my special needs child and its a new build and they arent willing to do anything? 
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  • Mrs-B3-Southampton,-HantsMrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants Posts: 732
    Any chance of a photo?  Welcome to the Forum.
    Southampton 
  • andreamurray.212984andreamurray.212984 Posts: 10
    Thank you 😊 . Yes I can in alittle bit. You want to see the state of the grass and the area ? 
  • andreamurray.212984andreamurray.212984 Posts: 10
    Mrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants said:
    Any chance of a photo?  Welcome to the Forum.

  • andreamurray.212984andreamurray.212984 Posts: 10
    Mrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants said:
    Any chance of a photo?  Welcome to the Forum.

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You would have to remove the turf first. It would then be better to lay some hardcore to get a firm base, before using your membrane and bark. You wouldn't need sand in that instance. The bark will also break down over time, so a firm base would allow it to last longer before topping up.
    I think the bark would tend to just sink otherwise, but it would depend on the condition of the soil underneath. 

    The problem with bark is that it can also be appealing to animals - as a toilet.  :/
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • andreamurray.212984andreamurray.212984 Posts: 10
    I hope you can see the slope on the photo. Walking on it does sound slushy lol but there isnt any visible water. The soil underneath the turf is a tiny bit of top soil and under that clay again
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Unamended clay is always difficult because it can indeed be soggy - permanently in wet parts of the country, and dried with lots of cracks in hotter, drier parts. It's why it's difficult to plant into as well.
    I think any prep you can do to make a good base will pay off. Laying sand and bark directly on the clay soil will just get messy - the same as the grass currently does. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • andreamurray.212984andreamurray.212984 Posts: 10
    Fairygirl said:
    Unamended clay is always difficult because it can indeed be soggy - permanently in wet parts of the country, and dried with lots of cracks in hotter, drier parts. It's why it's difficult to plant into as well.
    I think any prep you can do to make a good base will pay off. Laying sand and bark directly on the clay soil will just get messy - the same as the grass currently does. 

    Fairygirl said:
    You would have to remove the turf first. It would then be better to lay some hardcore to get a firm base, before using your membrane and bark. You wouldn't need sand in that instance. The bark will also break down over time, so a firm base would allow it to last longer before topping up.
    I think the bark would tend to just sink otherwise, but it would depend on the condition of the soil underneath. 

    The problem with bark is that it can also be appealing to animals - as a toilet.  :/
    Thank you for your reply is hardcore like a  gravel?

    I'll have alook at the hardcore and do that. Thank you so much. You've been very helpful. 
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    I would shell out the money to have someone come and put in a flagstone patio with good drainage.  A lot of money up front, but it will reduce issues for the duration of your time there.  It's a good surface for playing and toys, no issues with neighbor cat poo, and mean no soggy muddy wet grass everywhere.  As your kid grows, you can use it for other purposes.  Maybe the base of a small lean-to shed for bike storage?  Or a small green house?
    Utah, USA.
  • EmptyheadtimeEmptyheadtime Posts: 366
    We had a play area for our kids climbing frame/swing etc. We just put membrane on top of the grass and then covered it with bark and had a few of the square rubber slabs at high traffic areas (under swing/end of slide). Each year we would have to add a few new bags of bark to keep it topped up. A few weeds would appear but were easy to remove. It was safe for the kids to fall on off the frame/swing but was a bit messy. Over the years as more and more bark decomposed/was added the base became quite ‘muddy’ from this decomposed bark layer and the weeds/grass growing in it became more problematic. The kids are all grown up now and I have not maintained the area for a few years now and it is a weed magnet for now until the day I get round to clearing it. It worked for us.
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