Outdoor Living & Lifestyles - Playset border w/landscaping timbers

Hi all,

If my question has been discussed feel free to post a link - I'm having trouble getting anything to come up.

Our swing set was installed a couple of weeks ago and I'd like to surround it with a border filled with pine bark. I have staked out the shape and I'm ready to dive in but I'm afraid I met be in over my head!

The swing set is sturdy and level. However, the part where the disc swing hangs is where the lawn begins to slope upward. I know we're going to have to dig the area out to a certain degree and I want to make sure I stack/secure the timbers correctly. I've never done this type of thing before.

Okay, so I've staked out the area. Is my next step to kill the weeds? Then dig so the area is level? And this is where I'll need serious advice - I'm planning on putting the timbers down a couple of inches below lawn level on top of some pea gravel and then stack more timbers until it's the right height. Maybe I'll dig further down... I don't know. I'm losing it.

So! How do I secure them? I've read to drill holes in the timbers and use rebar.

Any advice welcome:)
April

I did the same thing for my son a few years ago. I used a sod cutter to clear the area,(used the grass to lay in other areas), and layed down landscape fabric to help control the weeds .I used treated 4x4's to border the area and fastened them with long screws, ( about 6" long). I believe the brand name of these screws was Timberlock. I set the 4x4's about 3 inches below grade and drove spikes that I had cut into the ground about 12 inches and screwed them to the side of the 4x4 below grade. I then stacked the other 4x4's on top 2 high in the front and tapering them to 4 high in the rear,( it borders woods). Be sure to stagger the joints. I then filled the area with pea stone about 4" deep. I prefered pea stone to a wood product because of the wood product decaying.

Pea gravel is a good choice because it does not compact and turn into a hard surface under the kids.

sounds like you have quite the project! don’t bother killing the grass, you're going to dig it up anywway. First dig your area out to the depth you want, if you're going for level now is the time to set your standard. If the border is level it will be easiest to also make the ground level instead of dealing with unlevel ground later. Dig your base to the base of your wood, treated or stained/protected is best. Remember wood usually grows algae so be ready for them to get slippery later. Make sure it is easy to step over so little feet don’t have to step onto the border to get over. using a flat shovel is nice for the border, I use stakes and string. laying landscape fabric is nice for weed control. then, put your border down over the top of the fabric, not over pea gravel! pea gravel is not made for compactness, its made to roll, thats why its not used for driveways, roads, or under foundations. Just lay the wood over the fabric or ground. It should sit a few inches below the level of the ground outside of the structure. I used rebar to secure my border...very cheap. You can cut it with a metal cutting blade or you can buy them in nearly any size...usually in small boxes under the dimentional lumber at your local hardware dept store. predrill through your wood and use a sledge to level it. you can also put them on both sides of the outside of your wood but then they are more exposed and can cause injuries. now, you are ready to fill! I used pea gravel for mine at home, its 20x40 ft, to accommodate for the set and swing room. it took me quite some time to dig out, but the rest went very quickly. hope that answered a question or two! Good luck

~Tina