When creating a playground for your Dallas home or commercial property, a top priority is always safety. Balancing fun with safety can be a tall order when designing a playground, and it’s why an increasing number of homeowners are turning to synthetic grass for their playground flooring.

Artificial turf, especially playground turf, is beginning to overtake mulch as the most popular play area flooring, but there are debates about which is truly the best. To help you decide what’s best for your family, here are the four key points of comparison between playground turf and mulch.

Injuries

The first and most crucial factor to consider when it comes to playground surfaces is the risk of injuries. According to the CDC, over 200,000 children are treated in the emergency room each year for playground-related injuries. The type of playground surface can often play a significant role in determining the severity of those injuries.

Kids often don’t know their own strength and can’t process the consequences of daring actions on the playground, leading to playground injuries that range in severity. When slips, falls, and impacts inevitably do occur, mulch and woodchips are typically sharp and pointy, making falls more painful and increasing the likelihood of cuts and other injuries.

Artificial grass, on the other hand, offers two lines of defense against playground injuries. The synthetic grass itself is soft and cushioned, making it more comfortable if your little one does slip and fall. Playground turf specifically is also installed with a foam underlayer that further cushions the surface and protects kids from impact injuries and falls from up to 10 feet high. By offering shock absorption and a softer surface, playground turf is much more likely to protect kids from severe injuries while at play.

Displacement

Another hazard of mulch is displacement, especially in high-traffic areas. Displacement occurs when the playground surface is moved out of place during running or playing, causing gaps or uneven areas. This can be dangerous for children as it increases the chances of tripping and falling.

Mulch, as a loose-fill flooring option, is much more susceptible to displacement than playground turf. As children run and play, the mulch can easily shift and scatter, creating an uneven surface and posing a potential risk for kids.

Playground turf, on the other hand, is extremely durable and resistant to displacement. It’s thoroughly adhered to the sub-base beneath it, ensuring the surface remains stable and even for years. It can withstand even the highest foot traffic levels, providing a more secure play environment for children of all ages.

Hidden Hazards

When choosing the safest playground flooring for your kids, it’s essential to look beyond the surface and identify the potential for hidden hazards. Due to the messy, loose nature of mulch, there’s a risk of hidden objects such as glass, rocks, or other debris being hidden within the material as it gets piled up.

When synthetic grass, however, parents can rest assured that their playground is safe and hazard-free. The turf blades are always an even, consistent height, with no potential for piling up or otherwise hiding hazardous materials underneath the surface. Parents and caregivers can quickly and easily scan the playground surface for misplaced objects and remove them if needed.

Wet Weather

Wet weather conditions can greatly affect the safety of playground surfaces. During rainy days, playgrounds can become slippery and dangerous for children to play on. As such, it’s important to consider how mulch and playground turf each hold up in wet weather conditions.

When mulch gets wet, it can become heavy, hard, and compacted, increasing the risk of injury if a child falls. The moisture can also attract unwanted pests to the organic material, making it unsanitary for kids to play on.

On the other hand, artificial grass is designed to drain water quickly, providing a dry and safe play surface even in damp conditions. This makes it a safer and more reliable option for rainy days, and it also eliminates the risk of attracting insects or other pests.

If you need guidance in choosing the right artificial turf products for your playground, speak to your installer or contact your local Synthetic Grass Warehouse location. At SGW Dallas, we can help you find the perfect synthetic grass products and installation accessories for your home or business. SGW Dallas has been an industry leader for more than 20 years, helping distributors, installers and homeowners alike with all of their artificial grass installation needs. To find out more about our products or to receive guidance with your next artificial grass installation, contact your local Synthetic Grass Warehouse facility today.