Solving Drainage Issues Around Your In-Ground Trampoline
Author: Jump Star Trampolines Date Posted:20 October 2025
In-ground trampolines are a great way to create a clean, streamlined look in your backyard while still offering plenty of fun for the kids. But if you live in Perth, where downpours during the winter months can leave soil saturated, drainage becomes a real problem. Without the right setup underground, water can quickly collect around or beneath the trampoline, leading to a range of issues from sagging mats to rusted parts.
By October, many families are bringing their trampolines back into steady use as the weather picks up. This is when hidden drainage problems start to surface. A few signs of moisture might seem small at first, but if left alone, they can cause long-term damage. Addressing drainage troubles early on, especially before summer, helps keep things safe, clean, and fully functional when the kids want to spend hours outside. Here’s what to check and how to stop water from turning your trampoline pit into a bog.
Identifying Drainage Problems Around Your In-Ground Trampoline
When water doesn't drain properly around your in-ground trampoline, you’re likely to notice it even if you don’t see puddles at first. It’s often the small, creeping signs that point to a bigger issue.
Here are a few signs that drainage might be a problem:
- The trampoline mat feels damp or heavy days after rainfall
- Water pools around the edges, particularly near the retaining wall
- There’s a musty smell coming from the pit
- Rust patches start appearing on the frame or springs
- The dirt surrounding the trampoline looks sunken or uneven
Perth’s sandy soils may seem like they'd drain well, but that’s not always the case. During peak winter months, water can linger longer than expected. When spring hits, rainfall is less frequent, but run-off from garden irrigation and random showers can still collect if the ground wasn't set up for proper run-off. Combine that with Perth's mix of clay-rich pockets in certain suburbs and water builds up quickly in pits that weren't well-designed.
Beyond just making the area look messy, poor drainage can mess with the bounce itself. Waterlogged pits can lead to trampoline mats sagging or shifting. Springs might not function as well, especially if they've started to corrode. In serious cases, a sunken pit can collapse in sections, making the structure unsafe for jumping. These aren't issues you want to sort once damage is already done, so spotting the early warning signs is key.
Effective Solutions for Better Drainage
Once you’ve realised your in-ground trampoline has a drainage issue, the next step is to look at practical fixes so water doesn’t sit under or around it. Good drainage doesn't just happen. It has to be built in and maintained.
A few simple but effective things can make a big difference:
1. Change the soil layers
Line the bottom of the trampoline pit with gravel or coarse sand. These materials let water flow through quickly instead of trapping it. Avoid compacted soil or clay-based layers since they slow down drainage.
2. Install drainage pipes or channels
Dig small trenches that lead away from the trampoline and direct water to a stormwater outlet or a garden bed. Flexible drain coil pipes are often used for this purpose. Just make sure they slope away from the structure.
3. Drop in a sump pump if water keeps pooling
For yards that frequently flood or have a low water table, a sump pump might be your best bet. It will move water out automatically when it builds up under the trampoline. While it’s a bigger install, it stops constant water damage over time.
4. Check the slope of your yard
Even slight changes in ground level can send rainwater right into the trampoline pit. Regrading the area by even a few centimetres helps direct water away. Most landscapers can help adjust the slope subtly without turning your backyard into a construction site.
One Perth family, living north of the river, had issues every winter with their trampoline turning into a small swamp. After adding gravel beneath the base and setting up a pipe to direct water to their stormwater drain, the problem cleared up completely. No more soggy soil or rusted springs the next year.
Getting drainage right helps keep the trampoline safe and bouncy for seasons to come. It also stops backyard headaches in the warmer months when everyone just wants to enjoy the outdoors. The key is acting before you're dealing with mould, warping, or turned-up trampoline edges. If water's collecting where it shouldn't, it's worth fixing sooner rather than later.
Regular Maintenance Tips To Keep Water Away
Once you’ve sorted out drainage issues, ongoing maintenance does the heavy lifting to prevent them from returning. Perth weather can shift quickly as spring moves along, with unpredictable rainfall and dry spells often happening within the same week. These sudden changes can affect how water moves through soil, and a drainage setup that worked last month might need a tweak later.
Start by doing light checks every couple of weeks, especially after storms or heavy watering. Even if your drainage pipes and rock layers are doing their job, debris build-up or shifting soil can block water flow over time. Look for signs of pooling or soft spots near the edges. If there’s new moisture under the mat or things feel uneven, take a closer look below ground.
A simple regular routine can go a long way:
- Clear leaves and dirt around the pit to stop build-up on grates or gravel
- Use a rake or blower to remove debris from nearby garden beds to reduce run-off
- Walk around the trampoline edge and feel for soft ground or shifting soil
- Check gravel or sand layers if exposed, and top them up if compacted
- After rainfall, watch how water drains. Any slow movement means it might be time to flush the pipes
Towards late October, as backyard use ramps up, these quick check-ins keep things consistent and safe for the warmer months. If you’ve installed a sump pump, make sure it’s actually switching on when needed. A failed pump can feel invisible until problems build up again.
When To Bring In A Professional
Sometimes the issue isn’t what’s visible at the surface. If the usual maintenance tasks don’t hold up, or the ground continues to flood no matter what you’ve tried, that’s when help becomes important. While some water build-up is easy to deal with, ongoing flooding or soft-ground indicators may mean the bigger setup under the trampoline isn’t quite right.
A professional can look at:
- Your yard's natural slope and how it redirects water
- Soil composition and whether it’s retaining more water than it should
- Drainage systems you’ve started and what’s missing
- Signs of structural damage to trampoline parts caused by pooling
Although it might seem like a bigger step, getting expert input now saves you trouble later. Especially in Perth’s mix of climate and soil types, local knowledge can make the difference between another patch-up or a complete solution. Fixing things early helps protect not just the trampoline but the space around it, including garden beds, paving, and even underground plumbing.
Don’t wait until summer for drainage issues to create real headaches. If things have already gotten out of hand or you’re unsure what’s causing the trouble, having a professional look into it can give you peace of mind and save some budget down the track.
Keeping Your In-Ground Trampoline Safe And Strong
Solving drainage issues around your in-ground trampoline is about protecting more than just the bounce. It’s about looking after the gear, the space, and the people using it. Water build-up can quietly impact the trampoline's strength, cause damage to retaining walls, or even push moisture into nearby structures like decks or sheds.
Staying ahead of the problem is far easier than cleaning up after it. With regular check-ups and a bit of prep around the base, your trampoline can stay firm, dry, and ready to go through Perth’s changeable spring and upcoming summer. Early fixes and good design carry you through peak use in the warmer months, with less risk of mud pits or rust.
Overall, a dry, well-maintained trampoline is better for safety, offers more reliable bounce, and keeps playtime stress-free. Whether it's casual backyard hangs or full-on spring afternoons with the kids, proper drainage saves you hassle and helps your setup last. Taking it seriously now means enjoying everything it offers without unwanted surprises.
To make sure your backyard stays fun and functional through every season, it’s smart to tackle drainage issues before they cause real trouble. If you're planning a new setup or updating your current one, explore our durable in-ground trampoline range built to suit Perth conditions. At Jump Star Trampolines, we’re here to help you create a cleaner, safer, and longer-lasting play space for the whole family.
