YAHT: Putting down mulch\fill in play area

[djheater]

I put up a slide\swing play structure, and we just got a trampoline. I want to put some mulch down under it all. Can I just put up landscape lumber to hold the mulch in, and lay it over the sod, or should I take the sod off first?
I'm afraid it might rot and be gross, if I didn't take it off... Then again I'm not looking forward to removing it, and what would I do with it if I did take it off?

Oh, I'll need to level some ground for the trampoline, any good methods for disposing of the topsoil? (Maybe I'll do a raised bed somewhere...

 

[djheater]

::bump::

 

[imported_Mike]

I don't know why you'd need to desod it. It's just going to die and add to the mulch.

 

[EagleKeeper]

If you have a solid layer of mulch, the lack of light will kill off the grass without a problem.

Note that the mulch will "settle" and may decompose; if so, you will have to keep it refreshed.

 

[Hoober]

 

[mugs]

To dispose of the topsoil, just put a sign in front of your house that says "Free fill." Someone will want it.

In the past I have just put landscaping fabric over grass and then put mulch on top, and that killed the grass. Not sure if that's a good way to go.

 

[deerslayer]

The mulch will decompose regardless of what you do. When I worked at the park district we constantly had to go out and re-mulch stuff because it decomposes fairly quickly.

 

[Bryophyte]

Landscaping fabric, then the timbers, then the wood chips/shavings/whatever. Be prepared to add more mulch each year, as it will break down and compact. You can probably enlist your kids' help with raking it back under the swings and other high traffic areas when it gets moved around too much.

For the raised bed, mix whatever you dig up when you level the trampoline area with some good compost, fill in the box, then cover it all with plastic to kill off weeds and weed seeds (called soil solarization I think.) Leave it covered long enough to get the soil good and hot. Depending on how hot your soil got, you will probably want to add some more fresh compost to reestablish the proper soil microorganisms before you plant. There are undoubtedly websites devoted to this method that will tell you how long to leave it covered or what temp the soil should reach.

 

[Bryophyte]

I guess it's too late to tell you that the carpet you got rid of would make an ideal soil barrier under the mulch, huh?

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte
I guess it's too late to tell you that the carpet you got rid of would make an ideal soil barrier under the mulch, huh?

Thanks for all the advice. I didn't see 'landscape timbers" at Home Depot, last time I was there.. I should just ask for ground contact treated timbers right?