I have a garden that is very water efficient, so it looks great in the warmer months, but it can become a little overgrown and wild in the colder months. I might not spend as much time out there in winter, but I still like it to look good. I have been working on the garden design to help it look good all year round, and I have found that with the right plant selection and preparation, the garden can look great throughout the year. This blog has tips for other homeowners who are looking to improve the appearance of their garden when the weather gets wet.
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When the rain starts to abate, it's great to get the kids out to start learning outdoors and making the most of your outdoor play area. However it's equally important to make sure that the outdoor environment is safe and comfortable for the kids to use in the heat. Here are some ideas to bring up with the school board so that you can maximise your school yard play time.
Shade sails over play equipment
When the weather heats up, monkey bars, climbing frames and slides can become hot to the touch. In order to keep the playground pleasant to the touch it can be a great idea to get a shade sail to cover the equipment. It also manages the heat load and UV load on the children, creating a safer environment for the children to play as well as limiting the amount of heat that the ground absorbs. A shade sail is a good alternative to planting trees: this way you don't have to wait for trees to grow and provide shelter, and it doesn't require extra landscaping support to keep the playgrounds free of fallen leaves and nuts.
Light coloured soft fall
Most schools have moved to soft fall ground cover to limit the severity of fall injuries; it's also a great idea to make sure the soft fall is a light and inviting colour. Not only does this make the area more engaging for younger students, but the lighter colour also makes the ground absorb less heat during the day and consequently also emit less heat during later play sessions. This emitted heat can also create hotter environment in the classrooms around the play area in the late afternoon and contribute to a higher need for air conditioning.
Mist sprays
If you live in a particularly warm climate, installing mist sprays can help to cool down the equipment and the children. You can install sensors so that these only work once the temperature has reached a specific temperature to maximise the water and energy efficiency of the sprays. These mist sprays can even be an education resource as you can work with the kids to work out how evaporation leads to a cooling effect.
If you are working with the school to create a safe and usable outdoor play area, get a specialist playground designer in to help come up with a heat management plan for your kindergarten play area.
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