Once spring weather rolls around again, many children want to head to the playground for much-needed outdoor time. Playgrounds are great for entertaining kids, but the plants around them can also provide entertainment and education. It’s important to install plants around playgrounds that are safe for kids and also hardy so they can stand up against heavy foot traffic.
Several plants are suitable for landscaped playground areas in Tennessee cities, such as Mt. Juliet, Hendersonville, and Lebanon.
Shrubs such as boxwoods and spindles can create a barrier for safety.
Around a playground in Mt. Juliet, TN, you may sometimes need to create a safety barrier to prevent balls from bouncing out or keep kids from running into the nearby street. Installing a border of shrubbery can help in this regard, but these plants need to be hardy. Using landscape plants that could be potentially weak may lead to you losing money and having to buy new plants. For creating a border around a playground, we recommend these plants:
- Boxwoods: Boxwoods can be grown into hedges and are proven to thrive in our USDA hardiness zones. This shrub sprouts bright green leaves.
- Japanese spindle: Spindles are often used for hedges or to create a privacy barrier. They thrive well in full sun.
Consider planting some shade trees to provide refuge from the sun.
Mt. Juliet playgrounds are often in full sun, and that sun can quickly heat playground equipment to the point where it may become unusable. If your playground doesn’t have a cover over it already, then consider planting some shade trees. These trees can help block sunlight and create a cooler area for children, providing some refuge from the sun during those hot summer months. Oak trees, elms, and maples are great for this—and children can also learn about how trees grow and benefit the Earth.
Avoid flowering plants around playgrounds, as those can attract bugs children may be allergic to.
While we enjoy the beauty of flowers, it’s important to consider that playground landscapes must create a safe play environment for all. Flowers use their vibrant color to attract pollinators, and while a butterfly may be harmless, a bee sting may not be. Children come to a playground to enjoy the outdoors, and it’s recommended to keep flowers a safe distance away to minimize the risk of bee stings. Some children are highly allergic to bee stings.
Other plants to avoid choosing for playgrounds include thorny plants or plants that can produce small berries that could be poisonous or a choking hazard.
To ensure you’re using the correct plants for a playground landscape, contact a professional landscape designer such as Master’s Landscape Design to help you.
Need help planning out your playground area’s landscaping? Contact the pros at Master’s Landscape Design.
At Master’s Landscape Design, our professional landscapers have years of experience and extensive knowledge of landscape plants. Our team can help you create a landscape for your playground in Lebanon, Hendersonville, Mt. Juliet, and nearby areas that are attractive and safe for the children playing there. Contact us for your park, HOA, or residential playground landscaping needs today at (615) 288-2052!