Perfect sports pitch in the garden
Perfect sports pitch in the garden to raise next Ronaldo? Spring is here, and with it, the opportunity to enjoy our gardens. But with the longer daylight hours also comes the challenge of letting the kids burn off steam! Now, experts have come up with the perfect way to combine the two – by turning our garden into the perfect sports pitch!
Perfect sports pitch
It might sound like mission impossible, but gardening professionals from MyBuilder.com, the reliable way to hire tradespeople, have put together some tips to help. Whatever your budget, or the size of your garden, there are tips and tricks to make the most of your outside space to provide your kids with a great environment for practicing their skills.
You might have a budding football star on your hands, or a tennis ace, but actually the requirements of your garden for any sport are similar. And the beauty of it is – most can be done simply yourself, or with a small level of support from a professional gardener.
James Lewis, an expert gardener from MyBuilder.com, said using your garden for sports is surprisingly simple.
“Flat lawns, adequate lighting, and clever use of garden materials are pretty much all that’s needed to turn your garden into a sports pitch. While we are a nation of football fans, and a kickabout in the garden is a firm favourite, these adjustments work for most sports.
“The other great element of these adaptations is that they still contribute to a smart looking garden, and many are temporary. While many of our tips can be done yourself, if you have any issues contact a professional who will be able to sort these for you in no time.”
The MyBuilder.com tips for a perfect sports pitch include:
Flatten your lawn
A bumpy lawn is not ideal for playing football or any ball sports. To create a perfect pitch or court, you will need to smooth out any lumps. You can do this by removing any debris,and then using a rake to flatten out the surface, filling any low spots with topsoil. Alternatively, you can also lay new turf on your garden by lifting your old turf, levelling your ground using a rake and then fitting the new turf into place.
Railway sleepers for “training” to kick a ball.
This is particularly good if you have an only child – a perfect independent game to improve their sports discipline. If you’re worried about the size of your garden, you can install railway sleepers either on the edge of your garden or next to some steps, where your child can practice his passing skills by kicking the ball against it. Railway sleepers are particularly useful for your garden as they are suitable for heavy loads and harsh conditions, which allows you to kick a ball against them without causing lasting damage. They can also protect your flower beds!
Lighting for late night training
While the days are currently long, you may as well make the most of your new pitch and install lighting for those late night training sessions. To install external lighting, you may need a professional to drill where you want your lights (presumably overlooking your lawn) and set them up. Whilst it’s not technically illegal to install external lighting yourself, it is strongly recommended that you hire an electrician who will know the best way to install lighting that doesn’t involve local authorities stepping in on grounds of it being a nuisance or health risk (UK Environmental Protection Act 1990 Section 79).
Install a winter surface – hybrid grass for your garden
Even in warm and dry weather, high traffic can ruin lawns. So consider installing hybrid grass to have a perfect pitch all year round. Hybrid grass can be installed by either stitching fibres into your natural lawn turf or laying a grass carpet on top of natural grass. This will benefit your lawn as it protects your grass from wear and tear and gives it a consistent “natural” green look.
Get a net to complete perfect sports pitch
We’ve all kicked or hit a ball into a neighbour’s garden, but to stop it happening (and hopefully to help keep your neighbours on side) install a large net over your fence. You might need to check before you do this as in some cases you might need the relevant permissions.
Draw a goal on a wall for target practice
Drawing a homemade target practice on your outdoor wall will turn your child into the next Bellingham in no time – and with the fitted external lighting, they will be able to do it all year round. Before you carry out this job, consider which paint is best to use for your outdoor wall in order to withstand long-term kicking. For example, masonry paint can be applied to external walls, including a bricked wall, but has different strengths, and you may want to consider a waterproof option.
Use a hanging tyre for target practice
If you have a tree, consider attaching a rope to a tyre, giving your child enough target for kicking accuracy. To do this – drill a hole into a part of the tyre, insert the rope and tighten up.
The best rope to attach to a tyre is polyhemp rope as it’s weather-resistant and durable – it doesn’t shrink when it gets wet so your child can practice all year round!
And perfect sports pitch for less football-related sports:
Basketball ring
A freestanding hoop setup is an option, but if you’re short on space you can drill a hoop into your wall before fitting in a net. Make sure your basketball hoop won’t be a nuisance for your neighbours in terms of noise and your ball bouncing into their garden. Referring to the Party Wall Act 1996, if you are building your hoop on your boundary wall, party wall, party structure etc, you may need permission from your neighbours.
Practice your swing
Consider dedicating a small section of your garden with artificial grass to practice your swing. “Putting green grass” (the actual name for it) is a good option – it stands out with its sharp green colour but blends in with artificial grass and gives a “golf” look.
Sunken trampoline
Garden exercise doesn’t just have to involve a ball, it can be as simple as jumping up and down on a trampoline. A sunken trampoline lowers the risk of falling from height, won’t blow away in the wind, and you won’t have to mow or get rid of weeds underneath, saving you time with your garden. Really, this is a job for professionals, as you will need to consider drainage, safety and a suitable base, but if you want to install yourself you will need to dig a hole where you want the trampoline, and put the frame together, before attaching the mat and springs.
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