Rubber mulch for Maine playgrounds and landscapes, delivered statewide.
From Portland backyards to Bangor play areas, our recycled rubber mulch handles landscaping and playgrounds alike. It stands up to Maine's cold, snowy winters, ships to every address in the state, and holds its color for 12 years.
One pallet covers about 300 sq ft at 3″ deep.
Every order is final — so we help you get it exactly right before it ships:
IPEMA-certified to ASTM F1292 — the industry playground fall-height standard · supplied to schools, daycares, parks, and homes since 2004.
A tree planted for every pallet ordered →
IPEMA Certified to ASTM F1292 — see the certification
The Perfect Playground Safety Handbook — 2026 edition
12-Year Color Guarantee
Supplying rubber mulch since 2004
Delivered to every Maine address
Rubber mulch in Maine, in short
Our recycled rubber mulch works for both play areas and landscape beds anywhere in Maine. It ships by the pallet — 75 cubic feet, freight included — dropped curbside to the 48 contiguous states.
- Play-ready: Our playground nuggets meet the ASTM F1292 impact standard and carry IPEMA certification. They cushion falls under swings and climbers, and they also edge shrubs and trees with a clean, long-lasting border.
- Built for Maine's climate: Rubber is inorganic, so it cannot rot or feed fungus the way wet wood mulch does. In Maine's damp, freezing weather, that means no topping off every year.
- Buy right here: Order up to nine pallets online, or ask us for a delivered quote on six or more. Every color carries a 12-year color guarantee, and all sales are final.
Reviewed and sources last verified July 2026.
A safer landing for Maine play areas.
Our playground nuggets carry IPEMA certification to ASTM F1292. That standard measures how well a surface softens a fall from a set height. That number matters most when a child comes off a swing or climber.
Maine's child care rules back this up. 10-148 CMR Chapter 32, Section 148-32-14 requires "energy-absorbing materials" under any equipment taller than 36 inches. The rule names rubber among the accepted surfaces, and it bars concrete and asphalt outright.
A cushioning rubber surface beats bare ground and asks for little upkeep. Depth and fall height decide compliance, so confirm the details for your site with your licensing consultant.
How deep does the mulch need to be?
Home & backyardUpdated July 2026
| Where it’s going | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Home & backyard playsets | 3″ | Right for most home swing sets and play structures. Home playgrounds aren’t government-regulated — this is the standard recommendation. |
| Taller home playsets | 4″ | A little extra cushion for a taller backyard structure. |
| Landscaping & garden beds | 2″ | Blocks weeds and holds soil moisture — a landscaping depth, not a safety depth. |
Home guidance follows the CPSC’s voluntary Home Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. 324). Backyard playgrounds carry no federal depth requirement.
Schools, parks, daycares & commercial — by equipment fall heightUpdated July 2026
| Equipment fall height | Rubber mulch depth | Certified rating |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 10 ft | 4″ | Certified critical fall height: 10 ft |
| Up to 12 ft | 5″ | Certified critical fall height: 12 ft |
| Up to 16 ftCovers the tallest commercial play towers. | 6″ | Certified critical fall height: 16 ft |
Certified thickness-to-fall-height ratios for the IPEMA-certified recycled-rubber nugget mulch we ship, tested to ASTM F1292-22 and F3012-22. Public playgrounds follow the U.S. CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. 325). Loose fill settles when rolled, so spread about an inch over the target depth.
Made to last through a full Maine year.
Maine's weather makes the case for rubber here. The NOAA NCEI State Climate Summary for Maine describes "cold, snowy winters and mild summers." That means months of moisture, snow load, and repeated freeze-thaw on whatever sits in your beds.
Wood and bark mulch have an honest problem in that climate. They stay wet and slowly decay. Moist, rotting wood is exactly what breeds artillery fungus (Sphaerobolus stellatus).
The fungus shoots tar-like black spores onto siding and cars, and those stains barely come off. Penn State Extension plant pathologists tested 27 wood-mulch types; given time, all 27 grew the fungus. UMass Amherst CAFE reports the same in aging wood mulch.
Freeze-thaw and heavy snow break the wood down further. Most years, you top it off or replace it.
Recycled rubber is inorganic. It doesn't rot like wood or feed fungi, so it gives artillery fungus nothing to grow on and doesn't need the yearly replacement wood does. The color holds too, backed by our 12-year guarantee.
One honest caveat: nothing anchors loose mulch. A heavy nor'easter or high wind can move any loose material, rubber included. On slopes and exposed spots, edging and the right depth still matter.
“Equipment that exceeds 36 inches in height at the climbable or standing surface shall have energy-absorbing materials beneath it... Concrete or asphalt must not be used.”
— Maine child care licensing rules, 10-148 CMR Ch. 32, Sec. 148-32-14A clean frame for Maine’s native garden.
Rubber mulch frames a Maine native planting cleanly and holds that crisp edge without breaking down. Picture a bed of Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), Shadblow Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis), Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis), or American Elder (Sambucus canadensis).
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension lists all four in "Plants for the Maine Landscape." A rubber border keeps its shape and color while the plants grow. Because it never decomposes, you skip the spring re-edging and re-topping.
Six shades for Maine play areas, yards, and gardens.
Every Maine setting — play areas, front-yard beds, and native borders — has a shade that fits. Each color reads true and holds its tone season after season, backed by our 12-year guarantee.
Select this color →Brown $709/pallet
A deep brown that looks like a fresh load of wood chips. It holds that color under a 12-year guarantee, while wood grays and washes away. It sits easily beside brick, fencing, and green lawns, and works just as well under a backyard playset.
About brown rubber mulch →
Select this color →Red $709/pallet
A warm, deep redwood tone — the color kids head straight for on a playground, with a soft landing underfoot. In a landscape bed it stands out against gray stone, brick, and greenery, and it pairs well with green play sets.
About red rubber mulch →
Select this color →Black $709/pallet
A deep, dramatic black that makes garden greens and bright blooms pop. It reads clean and modern around a porch, a walkway, or a playset, and holds that depth season after season.
About black rubber mulch →
Select this color →Blue $749/pallet
A cool blue that makes a play area part of the fun — and adds a creative spark to flower beds, walkways, and water features. Our 12-year guarantee backs its color.
About blue rubber mulch →
Select this color →Green $709/pallet
Green keeps a play area feeling natural, blending into its surroundings. It's also a landscaper's trick for deep shade under trees, where grass won't grow — no water or sun needed.
About green rubber mulch →
Select this color →Unpainted $569/pallet
Unpainted natural mulch keeps a real, woody texture that looks at home anywhere. At $569 a pallet, it costs the least — and a durable play surface.
About unpainted rubber mulch →
Fast freight to every corner of Maine.
We deliver rubber mulch across Maine on the state's interstate corridors. That means Interstate 95 from Kittery to Houlton, Interstate 295 through Portland, Interstate 195 to Old Orchard Beach, and Interstate 395 into Bangor and Brewer. US Route 1 and US Route 2 carry the rest.
That network reaches Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, South Portland, Auburn, Biddeford, Sanford, Saco, Augusta, and Westbrook — and everywhere between. Mulch ships by the pallet, 75 cubic feet each, freight included. Orders land curbside, usually within 5–10 business days.
Not sure how much you need? Our mulch calculator sizes the order for you. All sales are final, so size the order before you buy.
Good questions, clear answers.
How much does rubber mulch cost delivered in Maine?
A single pallet delivered in Maine runs for unpainted rubber mulch up to $749 for the colors, with freight already included in the price. Each pallet holds 75 cubic feet — enough for a good-sized play area or landscape bed. You can buy up to 9 pallets online at your exact Maine delivered price; for 6 or more, ask us for a freight quote.
Does rubber mulch hold up in Maine's climate?
Yes. The NOAA NCEI State Climate Summary calls Maine's winters "cold, snowy" and its summers mild — months of moisture and freeze-thaw. Recycled rubber is inorganic, so it will not rot, decay, or break down under snow load the way wood does.
Our 12-year guarantee backs the color. Fair caveat: nothing anchors loose mulch, so a nor'easter or high wind can move it, and depth and edging still matter.
Is rubber allowed under playground equipment in Maine daycares?
Yes — the rules name it. Maine's 10-148 CMR Chapter 32, Section 148-32-14 requires energy-absorbing materials under equipment over 36 inches. It lists rubber among the accepted surfaces and bars concrete and asphalt.
Our nuggets carry IPEMA certification to ASTM F1292 for impact. Depth and fall height decide compliance for your equipment, so confirm the details with your licensing consultant.
Why choose rubber over wood mulch in Maine?
Moisture plus freeze-thaw. In Maine's damp, cold conditions, wood mulch stays wet and decays. Rotting wood breeds artillery fungus (Sphaerobolus stellatus), which shoots black tar-like spores onto siding and cars.
Penn State Extension tested 27 wood-mulch types; given time, all 27 grew the fungus. UMass Amherst CAFE reports the same. Rubber is inorganic — it doesn't rot like wood or feed fungi, so it gives the fungus nothing to grow on and doesn't need the yearly replacement wood does.
Does rubber mulch work with Maine native plants?
Yes. It makes a clean, lasting border around Maine natives — Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), Shadblow Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis), Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis), and American Elder (Sambucus canadensis). The University of Maine Cooperative Extension lists all four in "Plants for the Maine Landscape."
Because rubber never decomposes, it keeps its shape and color while your plants grow. You skip the yearly re-edging and re-topping.
Do you deliver across Maine?
Yes — statewide, and across the 48 contiguous states. We ship on Maine's freight corridors: Interstate 95, Interstate 295, Interstate 395, and US Routes 1 and 2. That reaches Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, South Portland, Auburn, Biddeford, Sanford, Saco, Augusta, and Westbrook, among others.
Mulch arrives by the pallet, 75 cubic feet each, dropped curbside within 5–10 business days. The price already includes freight.
Spread it once, enjoy it for years.