Who wouldn’t have a trampoline in their backyard? Anyone who has free space in their backyard would want a trampoline. Just buy a regular trampoline and enjoy bouncing around all season, except for the windy season.
The windy season or high winds, in particular, are a big problem for trampolines. Any kind of trampoline doesn’t matter its shape or size, is in danger of being blown away. That is unless they are installed in the ground. Yes, literally buried and installed in the ground.
Now, what is the benefit of doing this? Well, first of all, you can prevent your trampoline from blowing away. There are other benefits too. We will discuss them along the way and this blog is all about that.
So, Can you put a normal trampoline in the ground? Let’s find out.
Can You Put A Normal Trampoline In The Ground?
Yes, you can put a normal trampoline in the ground. By in-ground we mean, literally digging a hole and putting a trampoline there while leaving the top on the surface level. You can still have a safety enclosure on your trampoline even if it’s in the ground.
There are unique trampolines that are made specifically to be installed in the ground. However, any regular trampoline can also be installed in the ground.
The in-ground trampoline offers unique benefits. The most notable benefit is the protection from high wind. In-ground trampolines are less susceptible to being blown away. This saves a lot of headache and money as the owner won’t have to buy any wind stakes.
So to answer the question again, yes, you can install a regular trampoline in the ground.
How to Install a Regular Trampoline in the Ground?
Now that it is confirmed that you can install a regular trampoline in the ground as an in-ground trampoline, we can proceed with the installation process. First, let’s discuss the amount of money that will be required to make a hole for an in-ground trampoline.
The average cost for digging a hole and then perfectly placing and securing an in-ground trampoline is $300 to $600. If you hire a professional to do all the work for you, it might cost you $1000 or more. However, we believe it is possible to cover all the expenses for this task for under $400.
Now let’s talk about all the things you will need to complete this project if you do it yourself. We are not saying that you will need exactly these materials. These materials are more suited and more commonly used for this project.
You might need:
- Pressure Treated Woods
- Sheets of Rustproof Roofing Metal
- PVC pipes
- And Cinder Blocks
We can’t really give you the measurement and quantities of these materials. It is because we don’t know your trampoline size.
It is better to have a shovel, hammer, and drill ready for this project. Assistance will also be helpful. Let’s get started with the installment process.
Step 1 Dig a hole
The first step you will need to follow is to dig a hole. You will have to dig a bigger hole than the size of your trampoline frame. It is because you will have to make arrangements for the drainage system and the surrounding wall to stop the earth from caving in.
Let’s say your trampoline is 10 ft in diameter. You will need to dig a hole 12 ft in diameter. You will need to keep extra space around it.
How deep should you dig? You will need to dig 0.5 feet more than the size of your trampoline legs. It means if your trampoline legs are 2 feet you will need to dig 2.5 feet. So you can place the trampoline legs on the cinder blocks. However, you will need to dig 1 foot more under the mat. It is to increase air space under the mat.
Step 2 Measure and place your trampoline
Once you have the right hole, now it’s time to clean the hole and place the trampoline legs. Measure your trampoline frame and legs and then place them carefully in the hole. Start with the legs because it will give you a better image to work around.
Once you have placed the legs on the cinder blocks, now it’s time to make walls around them.
Step 3 Make the hole walls and drainage
Before you drop the walls, make sure to attach pressure-treated woods to your trampoline legs. This is to protect your trampoline legs from underground pressure. The legs will be in a different atmosphere underground and just their metal foundation won’t be enough to make them last longer.
So attach wooden planks to make them stronger.
Now, you can place the metal sheets around the hole to make keep the hole from caving in. The metal sheets should be rustproof so they will stay there for a long time.
And finally, use the PVC pipes to make a passage underground to make a drainage system. This will drain any water that appears at the bottom from rain.
Step 4 Finish the build
Now all is left is you finishing the rest of the trampoline. Assemble the rest of the parts to finish your project. Setup the enclosure net and call it a day. Now all is left is for you to try it out. And we bet that will only take you under $400. Try out our steps on a regular trampoline like Skywalker In-Ground Trampoline.
Benefits of Having a Trampoline in the Ground
There are many benefits of having a trampoline on the ground. It is obviously a new kind of setup and it offers unique benefits that are different from the regular ones. Let’s take a look.
- Easy access
The best part about in-ground trampolines is the ease of access to the trampoline surface. In-ground trampolines are at ground level because they are buried in the ground. Their legs are the ones that are in the ground leaving the mat on top.
This makes them lose quite a bit of height which makes them easier to get on to. You won’t have to step onto a ladder to climb a trampoline. For in-ground trampolines, all you have to do is step inside the frame.
- No wind protection required
In-ground trampolines are buried into the ground with their legs inside the hole. The only thing that is exposed is their surface or jumping mat and the exterior of their frame. This limits the flow of air under the trampoline which in turn protects the trampoline from being blown away.
This feature saves a lot of money as the owner doesn’t have to buy wind stakes or anchors. However, this feature also reduces the bounce on the trampoline as the flow of air is necessary for bouncing.
- Matches the landscape
As we said earlier, in-ground trampolines are easy to access because of their flat leveling. They match the landscape level which saves a lot of space.
- Safer
In-ground trampolines are actually safer than above-the-ground normal trampolines.
In-ground trampolines, first of all, have less bounce. This makes them very safe as you won’t be able to bounce high up in the air. Kids and even elders can get on this trampoline without worrying.
Another thing is, in-ground trampolines are less susceptible to being blown away. This already makes them safe for everyone because they won’t get blown up and then land on someone. We think this is one of the best ways to protect a trampoline in high wind areas like in the mountains.
You could use other ways to protect a trampoline from blowing away. Check out our guide on “How to keep a trampoline from blowing away?”. This guide is about regular trampolines, but it will be worth a read, we promise.
Safety Considerations
In-ground trampolines are buried into the ground and so they can’t move. They are leveled with the surface or landscape. So they have already lost quite a bit of height. Also since they don’t have much air flow like regular trampolines, they are not as bouncy.
However, the jumpers on an in-ground trampoline will still require a safety enclosure. Even though in-ground trampolines provide less bouncing power, it is possible to jump to a height of 6 to 7 ft in the air on them. This could lead to injuries in case someone jumps outside the trampoline boundary.
Another thing is a wet trampoline mat. Yes, even in this case a wet trampoline mat could lead to many problems and even injuries. We recommend anyone to wait out or dry the trampoline mat first before jumping on it.
Owners must keep these simple safety considerations under check. The list is small here but it is very important. Another thing is that owners must keep their in-ground trampolines in check for wear and tear.
It is very difficult to check under this kind of trampolines, as they are buried in the ground. This is why constant checking especially during rough weather seasons is very important.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Burying a trampoline into the ground is completely safe. Just make sure you have a proper drainage system and strong walls in the burrow to hold the hole.
For the in-ground trampoline to work properly, you will need to dig a deeper hole right below the trampoline mat. The hole below the trampoline mat will create pressure with air when you will jump. The bigger the hole the more effectively you will be able to jump.
Usually, a 2.5 to 3 feet hole is enough to get good bounces on the trampoline. In-ground trampolines rely on the air under the trampoline mat to create perfect bounces.
In-ground trampoline installation may cost around $300 to $1000 for most regular trampolines.
Final Words
Well, now you know the answer to “can you install a regular trampoline in the ground?” And yes, you can. In fact, you can do it on your own, by taking a DIY project yourself. It will save you a lot of money. However, it will take a lot of time and effort.
Doesn’t matter how you have your in-ground trampoline, all that matters is that you have it. We have talked about its insane benefits and the fun you can have in your backyard with it. You won’t have to worry about your trampoline being blown away.
You won’t even have to buy any wind stakes. This will also save a lot of money.
All we want to say is that the whole process of having an in-ground trampoline may seem costly and difficult; the end result is surely worth it
