Looking for ideas: outdoor play area

[Baby lady]

I'm looking to figure out a better surface for my backyard, I have a nice big deck, and a big play house, but my backyard is almost all dirt. It's either dust or mud, mostly dust in the SoCal drought. Looking for surface ideas that will stand up to lots of kids, and be safe even for littles.

What's your outdoor area like?

Thanks!

[Chellieleanne]

I have cement so I got the interlocking foam mats. For dirt, maybe the fake grass rugs with the foam mats underneath to provide some cushion for falls?

[originalkat]

I have grass with pea gravel under the play set. If I had a dirt yard I would use fake grass/outdoor carpet and and area with pea gravel for digging and cushion under play equipment. These are all pictures of a mix of outdoor carpet/art. turfand wood chips etc... Very nicely done.

[TwinKristi]

We have a deck and then cement. I would love to do some type of fake grass on the cement but don't know what to put in between as it's a little uneven?

[spud912]

Originalkat: I LOVE your backyard area!! Where did you get that big tree? Is it big enough for kids to crawl through?

[originalkat]

Oh, my yard is not nearly as cute as the one I posted. HEHE. I just looked for pics with artificial grass online and found these!

Here is my yard...not a very good pic.

[spud912]

Oh, my yard is not nearly as cute as the one I posted. HEHE. I just looked for pics with artificial grass online and found these!

Here is my yard...not a very good pic.

Haha that's what I get for not reading your post ::. Your yard is very nice too!

[Baby lady]

So I went from all dirt:



to artificial grass:



still have plenty of dirt for the kids to play in, may put a sandbox on some of it

[craftymissbeth]

Thats really nice! I bet cleaning them up before going inside is much easier now happyface

[Baby lady]

Thats really nice! I bet cleaning them up before going inside is much easier now happyface

Oh my gosh!! I can't believe how much cleaner everything is!!

I still have to bring more of the kids' stuff back into the yard, but maybe not all of it. It was so awesome to see kids doing somersaults on the "grass"

[Thriftylady]

Now I am jealous, I want grass I don't have to mow .

[Josiegirl]

I love your playhouse! I want one!!

[Wubby]

Baby Lady, what is your "fake grass"? Is it the rug or real fake grass? And was it costly?
Love the look.

[Unregistered]

So I went from all dirt:



to artificial grass:



still have plenty of dirt for the kids to play in, may put a sandbox on some of it

If you do a sandbox, won't the artificial turf get full of sand? What do you do then, vacuum it? And what happens when it rains?
It looks very pretty and clean, just wondering if it would work here.

[Baby lady]

Baby Lady, what is your "fake grass"? Is it the rug or real fake grass? And was it costly?
Love the look.

Yes, real fake grass, and professionally done.

Definitely costly, I'm afraid.