How to Build a Sandbox and Blend it into Your Landscaping

Building a sandbox can bring the fun of a playground to your backyard. It’s a relatively easy, affordable project that will provide your children with hours of outdoor activity. Before you get started, here are some tips that will help you with everything from deciding where to build a sandbox to landscaping around it.

How to pick the right spot to build a sandbox

The first step to building a sandbox is to find a good place for it in your backyard. Here are four important factors to take into account when deciding where to build a sandbox:

1. Visibility: Choose a place you can easily see so you can keep an eye on your children while they’re playing.
2. Size: Determine what size sandbox you want to build. Factor in how many children, including your children’s playmates, are likely to be in the sandbox at one time. Make sure you also leave room for toys. A 4-by-4 sandbox should be big enough for one child. For each additional kid, add one to two feet to the length of each side of the sandbox. Once you have decided on a size, select a space in your backyard that will be able to accommodate it.
3. Shade: Find a shaded area so your kids don’t get too much sun. However, keep in mind that if you pick a spot under a tree, you may have to cut roots to clear ground for the sandbox. In addition to being a difficult job, cutting a tree’s roots can harm or kill it. For this reason, it’s best to avoid building a sandbox directly beneath a tree. Instead, try to find a place that is shaded by your house or surrounding trees.
4. Ground: Select a spot on level ground to avoid the hassle of creating a flat space for your sandbox.

How to build a sandbox in five steps

1. Once you’ve decided on a size and location for your sandbox, measure and stake out the area where you are going to build it.
2. Remove the sod from the area the sandbox will cover. Use a shovel to dig a shallow hole, roughly three to six inches deep, and then cover it with landscaping fabric. The fabric will help prevent weeds and grass from growing up through the sand. When it rains, the fabric will allow the water to drain into the ground.
3. Build a sandbox frame using two-inch wide wood boards. Purchase boards with enough length to make four sides. You will probably need to cut them down to the exact length needed for your sandbox. Nail the boards together at the corners.
4. Place the frame into the cleared area, making sure the landscaping fabric blankets the entire bottom of the sandbox.
5. Fill the frame with sand. If you aren’t sure how much sand you’ll need, you can calculate it online using the dimensions of your sandbox.

You should consider purchasing or building a sandbox cover to prevent animals from nesting in it. A cover will also help keep debris like falling leaves from dirtying the sand.

How to landscape around your sandbox

Once you’ve finished building a sandbox, landscaping around it can help naturally blend it into your backyard. Planting child-friendly plants – those that are not poisonous or thorny – around the border of the sandbox is a great way to camouflage it. For example, basil is safe for kids and can also help ward off cats, who don’t like the smell of it.

Before you plant, prepare the soil by tilling around the perimeter of the sandbox. Make sure you are using a quality tiller, like one with Cub Cadet parts. Whatever you choose to plant, ensure your children can easily step over it so it doesn’t get trampled. Also, select plants that will not obstruct your view of your children while they’re playing.

To make your landscaping look its best, be sure you are using quality outdoor power equipment parts. Trimming around the edges of your new planting beds will keep them looking tidy. When your children grow out of playing in the sandbox, you can turn it into a raised flowerbed by replacing the sand with soil.

*Provided as a gust post by Alex Kelly