How do I properly secure a trampoline in the garden?

A trampoline offers excellent exercise and entertainment, but without proper protective measures, the fall risk is significant. A comprehensive safety strategy addresses the bounce surface, the surrounding environment, and the structure itself.

Install a safety net of fine mesh that encloses the entire trampoline perimeter. Check net fixings weekly during the season, after severe weather, and before seasonal storage. Inspect mesh for tears, holes, and deterioration; small damage spreads quickly under ultraviolet light and wind stress.

The surface directly beneath and surrounding the trampoline is critical. Loose materials—bark chips, wood chips, or fine gravel (2–8 mm particle size)—offer short-term cushioning but demand constant maintenance. Particles compact, disperse, wash away, and become less effective with time. A superior alternative is rubber granulate safety tiles, specifically tested to BS EN 1177. These tiles provide slip resistance, excellent weather tolerance, minimal maintenance, and predictable long-term performance. Once installed, they require only periodic inspection rather than ongoing material replacement.

Clear a minimum 2-metre fall zone beyond the trampoline’s edge in all directions. Remove all hard or hazardous objects from this area: garden furniture, walls, play equipment, planter boxes, garden tools, and rigid structures. Even a single obstruction can transform a contained bounce into a serious injury.

Beneath the frame itself, if the trampoline sits directly on hard ground, retrofit shock-absorbing matting to cushion the frame and springs from impact with unyielding surfaces. This prevents frame damage and further reduces injury risk if a user falls outside the net.

Conduct a thorough safety check at the start of each season and again after storms: inspect the bounce mat for tears or permanent stretch, check frame welds and joints for cracks, verify that all springs or elastic connections are intact and properly tensioned, confirm net attachment points are secure, and check that feet or anchoring are firmly seated. Replace any damaged components before use.