Hope this helps.

Here is a link that might be useful: Integrated Playsets

one reason why playstructures are challenging to integrate into the garden is because they require a substantial amount of clear 'fall room' around the structure for safety's sake.

Some folks plant a hedge around the play area to create a separate 'room' in the garden. This works well especially when the hedge reaches a helght to screen out the view of scattered toys or provides privacy when the kids get a little older yet still want a 'hang out' place.

Attached is a sheet showing several different playstructure integrations. {{gwi:37246}}From May 30, 2012

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I run daycare out of my home, so a playset will be in my yard for at least another 10 - 15 years! I have the set and the rubber mulch ready for us to install. We hope to get started on the install in the next few weekends.

deviant-deziner - our playset is like the one you posted in the bottom right photo. Its a monster and I guess there is no way to hide it! I like the idea of planting a low hedge to hide some of the toys from the street and house view. This will also help us keep the rubber mulch in the playset area. We might even try to add a bike path for riding toys.

Update: This is what we did for the playset and landscaping for the back yard

before landscaping around the playset:

removed photo

This post was edited by rtwilliams on Tue, Aug 19, 14 at 14:04

It looks really nice! Do the kids kick the mulch onto the lawn? Just curious.

You did a great job!

That looks great. One question--since you are running a business--are the concrete blocks(?) you have for edging going to be a safety hazard? Concrete less forgiving than grass or soil when a kid falls. Just wondering.

The stones for the retaining wall have not been a problem. KDHE Licensed Child Care department (Kansas Department of Health and Environment) inspects my property annually and has said nothing about using the stone around the play set. The stones are 10 inches wide and the kids love walking around the play set balancing. They are set out away from the play set. It looks like they are closer than they actually are.

The rubber mulch has been amazing. It stays put, does not stick to the kids clothes and does not get kicked out at least not enough to concern me. I love the rubber mulch and also used it in some spots up by my porch patio because the wood mulch was constantly blowing onto the patio with the slightest of wind so I replaced it with the rubber mulch in those areas it stays put no matter what kind of Kansas winds we get.
Another bonus of the rubber mulch is that it retains the dark brown color that I like. We have had this mulch down for 2 years and it is still a nice dark brown. We placed the mulch over a heavy duty landscape fabric and under the fabric we put newspaper right over the top of the grass. ( I had read about putting newspaper down under landscaping fabric and mulch to kill the grass and be weed free. It works! I really think it is the newspaper layer under the fabric that kills the grass.

Our neighbors thought we where crazy not to kill the grass first before putting the mulch down! I wasn't sure it was a great idea either but it definitely worked.

This post was edited by rtwilliams on Tue, Aug 19, 14 at 14:33

I bet the kids love running on all that lawn too! Your yard looks like a beautiful park!