School Playground Planting: Safe, Creative, and Low-Maintenance Selections

School landscapes need tough, non-hazardous plants that inspire—not institutional boredom.

Plants to Avoid

• Chinese holly (spines = weapons)
• Plants yielding "switches" for whipping
• Bland standards: Japanese holly, ligustrum

Recommended Palette

• Loropetalum (pink March flowers)
• Anise (licorice-scented leaves)
• Fragrant osmanthus (October perfume)
• Oakleaf hydrangea (May flowers, fall color)
• Chastetree (lavender August spikes)

Summer Planting Protocol

Soaker hose system under mulch. 1-hour soak every 3 days × 3 weeks, then weekly. Thankless work, but community-building at its best.