With the summer months now here, many homeowners are enjoying spending time outside and making the most out of their backyard. If you’re a lover of sports and want to keep fit and active, landscaping your backyard into a sports friendly haven will help keep your fitness levels in check.
Regardless of the types of sports you enjoy playing, there are several factors you need to take into account first. With that in mind, here are five ways you can make your outdoor space more suitable for playing sports.
Lay Artificial Grass
If you have natural grass in your backyard, it’s likely that it will turn into mud when moderate or heavy rainfall occurs. For homeowners who love to play sports, laying down artificial grass will eliminate any worries of mud and let you play in any type of weather condition. Regardless of the weather forecast, artificial grass provides an increased level of versatility when compared with natural grass, meaning it can sustain heavy use without any period of recovery between activity. Artificial grass is also low maintenance, meaning you won’t need to keep watering, mowing, and fertilizing it.
Install Fencing
When playing sports outdoors, the last thing you want to do is annoy your neighbors. Noise is inevitable when participating in an activity, but installing a fence can act as a sound barrier, helping to keep the peace and ensure you get the most out of your outdoor space. In addition to privacy, fencing around your backyard will eliminate the risk of any sports equipment going into neighboring properties. Whether you are playing a game of tennis, baseball, or golf, having fencing in place will act as a barrier.
Choose a Safe Ground Cover
If you have young children who enjoy playing sports, as a parent, you need to make sure that their safety and security is your top priority. When engaging in physical activity, the risk of a slip or fall is increased, and the last thing you want is to have to deal with scrapes and bruises when playing in your backyard. While the risk of an accident cannot be completely avoided, you can invest in safer surfaces for your backyard such as rubber mats and wood chips which are primarily designed for outdoor use.
Decide on Permanent or Portable Equipment
When creating a sports friendly backyard, you need to decide whether you want to purchase permanent or portable equipment. Portable equipment tends to be less expensive and can be stored away when not in use. Portable equipment can also be altered should you or another family member want to play a different sport. Permanent structures, however, are more attractive and safer to use. This batting cage, for example, is perfect for the backyard and can provide tons of enjoyment.
Landscape Changes
No matter what kinds of activities you and your family enjoy, you may need to make changes to your backyard landscaping to cater to your needs. If you have trees and boulders in your outdoor space, removing them to create extra space should be your first step. When making changes to your backyard, you need to be aware that you could be losing aesthetic value, so if your plan is to put your property on the market in the near future, this could have a negative impact on your home’s curb appeal.
Whether you’re a lover of tennis, basketball, or golf, there are tons of sports that you can play and enjoy from the comfort of your home. If you have plenty of space, the possibilities are endless, so taking all the tips above into consideration can help you design an activity friendly backyard.
