Please please - Trampoline advice

[joanofarchitrave]

I really want to give ds a trampoline. We don't have a lot of space and the only area we have is currently plain earth (usually potatoes). Can you put a trampoline onto plain earth?? If not, what should I do about a base - turf? maybe a few bricks? Any thoughts gratefully received. Naturally all safety issues are my responsibility, don't hold back from posting if you aren't sure!

My only experience is of having a trampoline and it depends on how large it is. On soft earth, a trampoline with a smaller centre point will squash down more but maybe that'll make it safer?? Sorry if seems rubbish advice. Personally if he really wants it is just get it and then trial and error as to what works best!! Happy Xmas!!!

As long as you work out a way for him to get onto it without tromping through the dirt in his socks then it doesn't matter what it is sited on - if the ground is very soft though it may sink in. Also your plants weeds will grow like mad underneath it in the heat generated in the summer.

Yes plain earth is perfectly safe.

If you want to avoid a mudbath it's better to cover the earth with something. The very best thing to do is to get hold of some old carpet, lay it on the earth, put up the trampoline and then if you don't like the look of the carpet cover it with bark.

Don't use rubber-backed carpet. Use the woven stuff upside down. It is the best thing for keeping the weeds down, stops the trampoline sinking and is great for stopping mud being tramped into the house.

Hooray!! Thank you all for posting. We have a concrete path and it will be next to that, so that solves the entry problem. Carpet sounds ideal, thank you x