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Why Home and Garden Proud Parents Love Flatground Trampolines

Trampolines can provide hours of wholesome entertainment for your kids, but they don’t exactly enhance the look of your garden. Thankfully, installing a flatground trampoline is the perfect solution for home and garden proud parents. 

best flatground trampolines in ireland

 

Home and garden proud parents love flatground trampolines because they fit seamlessly into the lawn, can add aesthetic appeal to any garden, and are usually safer than other trampoline varieties. 


This article will explain what a flatground trampoline is and dive into some of its benefits. I’ll also discuss what you need to know before installing one in your garden. Let’s get started!

Round Flatground Trampolines

Rectangular Flatground Trampolines

What Is a Flatground Trampoline?

Before discussing the benefits of installing a flatground trampoline for house proud parents, it’s worth explaining what it actually is. 


As its name suggests, a flatground trampoline is installed in the ground so that the jumping mat is level with it. To facilitate jumping, you need to dig a hole before installation. 


Flatground trampolines are not the same as in-ground trampolines but share many similarities. In-ground trampolines are also installed in the ground, but you don’t need to create a hole, as the structure sits slightly above the ground. 

Benefits of Flatground Trampolines in Ireland

Now that I’ve explained what a flatground trampoline is, I can discuss the benefits of installing one in your garden: 

They Fit Seamlessly Into Your Lawn

Because a flatground trampoline’s jumping mat sits flush with the lawn, it looks neater than a standalone model and won’t obstruct your view of your beautiful plants and flowers. 


Regular trampolines require safety nets and a step ladder, which can look messy, especially if they’re showing signs of wear and tear. 


The standard trampoline color is black, but if you choose a flatground model in green, visitors to your home might not even notice that you have one installed. Alternatively, you could choose one in the same color as your house or one that complements your garden. For instance, if your home is painted gray, you might choose a trampoline in the same color. 

They Can Be Attractive Features in Your Garden

In the previous section, I mentioned that flatground trampolines fit seamlessly into your lawn, and you can make them blend in with your garden. However, instead of trying to hide your trampoline, why not create a beautiful trampoline area? 


Here are some trampoline area ideas for you to consider: 


  • Choose a trampoline shape that complements your garden. Does your garden have many curved flower and plant beds? If so, a round flatground trampoline will suit it perfectly. On the other hand, a rectangular-shaped one will look fantastic in a long garden with plenty of sharp edges and lines. 
  • Incorporate the trampoline into an activity area. Your garden should be a place for the whole family to enjoy, so why not create a beautiful play area for the kids? A dedicated area with a flatground trampoline and playground equipment can be a gorgeous feature if it has a neat border. You might also consider lining the surrounding ground with soft wood chips for an attractive contrast to the lawn. 
  • Plant a hedge or place large pot plants around the trampoline. To give your flatground trampoline a glamorous element, consider planting a hedge around it or using large outdoor pot plants. This can hide the trampoline completely and maintain your garden’s beauty. You could also use stepping stones to create an attractive pathway leading to it. 

They Can Be Safer Than Other Trampoline Types

As a parent, worrying about your children’s safety while they’re jumping on a trampoline is natural. Flatground trampolines are safer than other trampoline types for various reasons: 

There Is No Vertical Fall Risk 

Having a flatground trampoline can eliminate some of the worry about safety because there is no vertical fall risk. It’s also easy to climb on and off a flatground trampoline, and you don’t need a ladder. 


In-ground trampolines are also incredibly safe, but since they are slightly raised above the ground, jumpers can easily trip over the edge, a risk that flatground trampolines don’t carry. 


However, if you’re concerned that your kids may fall sideways, you could always install a safety net, which comes as an optional extra with these trampoline varieties. 

They Offer Excellent Stability

Flatground trampolines also offer excellent stability because they’re anchored into the ground and won’t fall over. This eliminates the risk of the trampoline accidentally falling onto a child or pet and prevents them from crawling underneath it. 


If an upright trampoline is outdoors during a severe storm, it could tip over or fly into the surrounding vegetation or a building, causing damage.  

They Have Less Bounce 

Another reason flatground trampolines are safer than regular models is that they have less bounce. Your kids might prefer a trampoline that allows them to jump as high as possible, but one with less bounce can keep them safer, and prevent falls. 


Flatground trampolines aren’t as bouncy as other models because there is less airflow under the jumping mat. Reputable trampoline brands (such as BERG) mitigate this by using airflow mats, but their flatground trampolines still have slightly less bounce.  

Flatground Trampolines Require Minimal Maintenance

Although it’s time-consuming to prepare the ground for a flatground trampoline, once it’s been installed, it requires little maintenance. 


Since most of the trampoline is underground, there’s a decreased risk of it becoming damaged due to rain, wind, or constant exposure to UV rays. If you buy a trampoline from a reputable brand (such as BERG, Springfree, ETAN, or EXIT), the parts will be corrosion-resistant, durable, and last you for years. 


That being said, you might consider using a trampoline mat cover to keep it in pristine condition and to prevent the unpleasant experience of jumping on a wet mat after it rains. 

What To Know Before Investing in a Flatground Trampoline

After reading about the benefits of having a flatground trampoline in your garden, you’re probably keen to invest in one. Before you do so, here’s what you need to know:

You Must Dig a Hole in Your Lawn

As mentioned in the previous section, installing a flatground trampoline is time-consuming, mostly because you need to dig a large, suitably-sized hole in your garden. 


So that you know what to expect, here is the process you’ll need to follow: 


  1. Choose a location for the trampoline and check the user manual for the hole diameter size. 
  2. Using a piece of string or cord attached to a stake in the ground, mark out a circle on the lawn with the correct hole diameter. 
  3. Start digging your hole with a shovel, being mindful of creating it according to the measurements in the user manual. For reference, a hole for a BERG FlatGround Champion Trampoline measures 430 cm/169.29 inches in diameter, 100 cm/39.37 inches deep in the center, and 85 cm/33.46 inches deep at the sides.  
  4. After creating the hole, line it with a root cloth to prevent weeds from sprouting and growing into the trampoline. 

Digging the hole can easily take an entire weekend, so you may need to enlist a friend’s help or rent excavating equipment. Many landscaping companies will also dig the hole for you. 


You will also need to remove the excavated soil, but a rubble removal service could do this for a small fee. 

You Might Need To Install a Drainage System

With Ireland’s high annual rainfall, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the hole underneath your trampoline will soon fill up with water. 


The truth is that even with constant rain, your trampoline’s hole should drain well because the surrounding soil will absorb it. However, if your garden’s soil has a high clay content, you might need to install a simple drainage system because clay doesn’t promote water drainage as well as sandy soil. 


In such cases, you might need to invest in a drainage pump to use when the hole becomes waterlogged. After connecting it to the electrical supply, turn it on, and the pump will move the water out of the hole. 


Alternatively, you could install a permanent drainage pump in a trench around the hole. However, this is only necessary for clay-like soil and if you often experience very heavy rainfall. 


If it’s been raining a lot, it’s a good idea to check underneath the trampoline mat to see if you need to drain it. 

You Might Need a Protective Wall 

Although a retaining wall is not essential, it’s useful to construct one to ensure that the surrounding soil doesn’t fall into the hole and start to fill it. Lining your trampoline hole with root cloth can help prevent this, but a wooden or concrete wall is more effective. 

Final Thoughts

Flatground trampolines are a popular choice among home and garden proud parents because they sit flush against your lawn. You can turn them into an attractive feature in your garden, and they offer the added benefits of requiring little maintenance and being safer than upright models. 


Before buying a flatground trampoline, you should be aware of the following: 


  • You’ll have to dig a hole in your garden.
  • You may need to construct a drainage system.
  • You might need a protective wall lining the hole.

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