Author: Sara May

Backyard Fun, Outdoor Safety Tips

Backyard Playground Safety: Planning For a Safe Playground

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It’s not too early to start thinking about providing your kids with a Springtime surprise — a backyard swing set or playground.  In fact, it’s best to start early because there are a number of considerations to take into account when planning for a safe backyard playground experience.

Location is key! Be sure to select the best spot for your new playground set:

  • Avoid ground that slopes or is uneven. Level ground helps prevent a playground set from tipping.
  • Select a spot that is away from potentially dangerous obstacles such as trees, low branches and wires, stumps, roots, large rocks, fences, bricks, and concrete.
  • Plan for a safety zone of at least 6 feet around all playground equipment; set aside even more space in front of and behind swings.
  • Plan the location and position of any metal or dark-colored slides or surfaces. Placing these out of direct sunlight can help prevent burns on hot, sunny days.

Falls will happen! Don’t forget to choose a proper protective surface for under and around the playground equipment:

  • Grass and dirt are not adequate protection from injuries due to falls.
  • Pea gravel, sand, wood chips, and shredded or recycled rubber mulch are some recommended protective playground surface options. (Further details about the variety of protective playground surfaces will be discussed in future postings.)

In my next post on the topic of backyard playground safety, I’ll go into more detail about the variety of protective safety surface materials available.  You should then be able to make a more informed decision regarding the best choice of surface material to use under and around your playground equipment.

Garden Tools & Tips, Storage Solutions

Stock Up for Spring with a Garden Shed

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It’s never too early to get ready for spring gardening, even if the snow is still shin deep.  Spring preparations require stocking up on gardening essentials like soil and seeds, and there is no better time to prepare your gardening tools for a new season of use.  A sturdy cedar garden shed can safely house your spring supplies as well as offer a comfortable spot for cleaning and oiling your favorite garden tools.  Once the winter season wanes, you ‘ll be ready to get digging!

Environmentally Friendly Ideas, Garden Tools & Tips

Autumn Leaves a Hassle? Compost Them!

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Ecomposter Compost Bin

What do you do with all of those pesky leaves once you’ve raked them from your lawn?  This situation creates a yearly dilemma for many people because yard waste, including autumn leaves, makes up for about 20 percent of what is dumped into our landfills.  Tossing those leaves into the trash is not something that most homeowners wish to do.  Some communities, mine included, allow homeowners to burn yard waste.  This is neither a healthy or environmentally safe option.  According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Burning leaves and other yard wastes pollutes the air and can lead to uncontrolled fires. Leaf smoke can make breathing difficult for people who suffer from asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or allergies.”

Alternatively, some communities offer yard waste recycling, which is the best option, but it is not always ideal.  In my own community, we are only permitted to put out two yard waste bags each week for pick up.  We don’t have a forest of trees in our yard, but the few that we do have shed enough leaves to fill at least six or eight yard waste bags.  The challenge is finding space in our garage to store the full bags until the next time yard waste is picked up.

Another way to recycle those fallen leaves is to compost them.  Composting leaves, along with other yard waste and kitchen scraps, not only helps to get rid of a messy problem, but provides valuable mulch — for free — that can be used to cover and protect garden beds over the winter months.  Many compost bins can be used year-round, too, so over the winter, you can “stock up” on mulch to use when spring comes around again.

Insect Control, Storage Solutions

Outdoor Firewood Racks Save Your Firewood

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Outdoor Firewood Rack

After you take the time to prepare and cut your firewood for the cold months of winter, you’ll need to store it properly to keep it dry.  Stacking firewood on the ground next to a shed or garage is a common approach to storing firewood all winter, but moisture, termites, and other insects can easily damage the wood, spoiling your hard work and reducing the amount of usable firewood you have.  The best solution is to use an Outdoor Firewood Rack.  These sturdy racks keep firewood raised off of the ground, away from moisture and insects.  Plus, raised outdoor firewood racks help firewood dry for easier and safer burning.  A variety of sizes are available to meet each home owner’s individual firewood needs.

Outdoor Entertaining, Outdoor Living Spaces

Chimeneas Bring Warmth and Style

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Chiminea-ASCH028-Etruscan-Gold

Many home owners are reluctant to retreat indoors when the weather begins to grow cold.  Winters can seem extraordinarily long sometimes, so extending the time we can spend outside in the cooler months is a natural desire.  A number of options exist for keeping warm on the back patio, but probably the most beautiful one is the chimenea outdoor fireplace.

Traditionally, chimenea outdoor fireplaces have been constructed of earthen materials like terra cotta and clay.  Unfortunately, these materials can crack and crumble over time and with exposure to the elements.  A beautiful alternative is a chimenea made from a sturdy metal, such as cast aluminum or cast iron.  Metal chimeneas can withstand the elements, and they come in a wide variety of attractive shapes and sizes.