How to Choose the Best Bark for You

Playground Surfaces Bark

When it comes to creating safe, natural, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor spaces, bark is an excellent choice. Whether you are designing a playground, enhancing your garden, or looking for a soft landing for play areas, this offers numerous benefits. From being eco-friendly to its versatility across different settings, it is an increasingly popular option for outdoor surfaces.

In this blog, we’ll explore products available at PlayBark, their uses, the sustainability factor, and maintenance tips to help you keep your outdoor spaces looking great.

Why Bark is Good for Play Areas and Gardens

Bark is a natural material that not only enhances the appearance of your outdoor areas but also improves safety and functionality. For play areas, it acts as a soft, impact-absorbing surface, helping to cushion falls and prevent injuries, making it ideal for spaces with climbing frames or swings.

One of the biggest advantages is its sustainability. Products like Play Bark and Garden Bark are sourced from managed forests, meaning they come from renewable resources. This makes IT an eco-friendly choice that aligns with modern efforts to protect the environment.

Additionally, bark is great for moisture retention in garden beds, helping plants thrive while also reducing the need for frequent watering. It’s a simple yet effective solution for landscaping and playgrounds alike.

Types of Bark and Where to Use Them

We have several types available, each suited for specific uses. Here’s a breakdown of the key products:

Maritime Pine Play Bark

This is a premium, large-sized play bark made from maritime pine. The larger particle size ensures excellent durability and impact absorption, making it the perfect choice for play areas with high foot traffic. Whether it’s under climbing frames, swing sets, or slides, this creates a safe, soft landing space for children to play on. Available in bulk bags of bark, it’s an efficient and cost-effective solution for larger playground projects.

Hardwood Play Chips softwood chip in a play area with swings

Hardwood Play Chips are a sturdy, long-lasting option for outdoor areas. Made from hardwood, these play chips resist decay and provide excellent drainage, making them ideal for play area bark surfaces. Their durability makes them a great option for schools, parks, or community playgrounds where longevity is important.

Pine Play Bark

Pine play bark is a versatile product suitable for both playgrounds and garden areas. Its softer texture and smaller particle size make it great for garden pathways or areas that need an aesthetic boost, such as flower beds or decorative borders. Pine play also meets all safety standards for playground surfaces, so it’s perfect for multi-use spaces that need to be both functional and attractive.

Play Area Softwood Chip

If you’re looking for a softer, more lightweight option, Play Area Softwood Chips are a fantastic choice. They are particularly suitable for play areas because they are lightweight and provide a soft surface that reduces the risk of injury. These chips are also suitable for use in domestic settings, such as in gardens where children play or run around.

Decorative and Ornamental Bark Garden Bark

For those looking to enhance the visual appeal of their garden or outdoor space, Decorative and Ornamental Bark is ideal. This is often used in garden beds, around trees, and as a finishing touch to landscaping projects. It not only looks great but also helps with weed suppression and moisture retention.

Sustainable Surfaces

One of the key reasons people choose bark is for its sustainability. Sourced from responsibly managed forests, the bark used in PlayBark products comes from a renewable resource. Unlike synthetic play area surfaces, it breaks down naturally over time, returning nutrients to the soil. It also requires less energy to produce compared to other playground surfacing materials, making it a more eco-friendly choice.

Using bark also contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of your landscaping or playground project. Instead of using plastic or rubber-based materials, which have a larger environmental impact, it provides a biodegradable alternative that aligns with sustainable landscaping practices.

Maintenance Tips

To keep your bark looking great and functioning well, a bit of routine maintenance is necessary:

  • Regular Raking: Over time, it may become compacted or displaced. Raking it regularly will help maintain a uniform surface and keep it looking fresh.
  • Top-Up as Needed: Depending on the foot traffic or weather conditions, you may need to top up your bark every year or two. This will ensure that you maintain an effective depth for safety and aesthetics.
  • Weed Control: Bark helps with weed suppression, but it’s a good idea to periodically remove any weeds that do pop through, especially in garden areas.
  • Check for Decomposition: The surface will naturally decompose over time, adding organic matter to the soil. However, in play areas, this may require topping up to ensure safety standards are maintained.

Choosing the right product for your play area or garden can have a significant impact on both the safety and appearance of your outdoor space. Whether you need bulk bags for a large playground or decorative bark for a garden, there are a variety of sustainable, high-quality options to suit your needs.

From play area bark to garden bark, these natural products provide a sustainable, visually appealing, and safe solution for outdoor surfaces. With the added bonus of easy maintenance and eco-friendliness, it’s no wonder that bark remains one of the top choices for landscaping and playground surfacing.

For more information, follow us on Facebook!