A good garden trampoline lasts between five and ten years with basic care. Most of that care takes less than ten minutes a month and requires nothing beyond your eyes and occasional soapy water. The trampolines that fail early — springs snapping unexpectedly, mats tearing at the edges, nets developing holes — almost always have one thing in common: nobody checked them regularly and small issues were left to become bigger ones.
Monthly checks
A monthly check does not mean taking the trampoline apart. It means standing at the trampoline for a few minutes and looking at the things that fail first:
Springs. Each spring should sit at roughly the same tension as its neighbours. A spring that has stretched more than the others sits lower, looks less coiled, and produces a slight low spot in the mat tension. Look for springs that are noticeably different from the rest — gaps in the coil, visible stretching, rust spots at the hooks. A single faulty spring is worth replacing before it snaps. A snapped spring leaves a gap in the mat tension that puts extra load on adjacent springs.
Mat edges. The mat attaches to the springs at its perimeter, and these attachment points take the most stress. Look at the edge of the mat where each spring connects — the stitching at these points is what holds the spring load. Fraying, thinning fabric, or visible holes at attachment points signal early mat wear. Catching this early means monitoring it; leaving it means the mat could fail at these points under load.
Frame joints. The frame sections connect at bolted or pushed joints. On an older trampoline that has been out through multiple winters, these joints can work slightly loose as the metal expands and contracts. Check by gently trying to rotate adjacent frame sections — any movement at a joint means the connector or bolt needs tightening. Loose frame joints are simple to fix with a screwdriver; ignored, they allow the frame to flex in ways it was not designed for.
Enclosure net. Run your eyes around the net, top to bottom, at each pole. Look for holes, tears, and UV bleaching. The areas most likely to fail first are the points where the net attaches to the poles at the top and where the entry zip is. A small tear that goes unnoticed will grow quickly under use.
After storms
Any storm strong enough to move branches or leaves warrants a check of the trampoline before the next use. The things to look for specifically after high winds:
Whether the trampoline has moved. An unanchored trampoline can shift in a serious storm, which stresses frame joints at the contact points with the ground. If the trampoline has moved, check the frame legs for any visible bending and re-level the whole structure before use.
Debris on the mat. Branches, sticks, or anything else that landed on the mat during the storm. Clear the mat entirely before use — bouncing on a mat with a stick or stone on it can damage the mat surface or create an unexpected hazard.
Enclosure net tears. High winds put sideways force on the net that normal jumping does not. A net that was already slightly worn may develop a tear in a storm that would not have happened under regular bouncing use.
If you use an anchor kit, check that the anchor straps are still tensioned after the storm — a very significant storm can sometimes work the pegs loose in soft ground.
Cleaning the mat
Trampoline mats get dirty in the same way that any outdoor surface does: rain splash, bird droppings, pollen, and general outdoor grime. Most of this is cosmetic rather than damaging to the mat material, but keeping the mat clean extends its life and makes it more pleasant to use.
For general grime: hose the mat down with clean water. This removes most surface dirt and the mat dries quickly in reasonable weather. For stubborn marks, mild soapy water — a few drops of washing-up liquid in a bucket — applied with a soft brush and rinsed off works well.
Do not use harsh chemicals, bleach, or pressure washers on the mat. The polypropylene fabric is UV-stabilised and has a specific surface structure that harsh cleaning methods can damage. The fabric is tougher than it looks in normal use, but it is not designed to resist chemical attack or high-pressure water forcing through the weave.
Bird droppings should be removed when noticed rather than left. The acidity in bird droppings degrades the mat surface over time if left in contact with the fabric. A quick wipe with damp cloth when you see it — before it dries and hardens — takes ten seconds and prevents a more stubborn cleaning job later.
When to replace parts
The individual components of a garden trampoline have different lifespans, and replacing them as they wear out is considerably cheaper than replacing the whole trampoline:
Springs: 3-5 years is typical for springs on a regularly used trampoline. Springs that have stretched noticeably, developed rust at the hooks, or have started to show fatigue through irregular coiling need replacing. Replacing all springs at once — when the first ones start to show wear — is more effective than replacing individual springs over time, because springs of different ages have different tension and produce uneven bounce.
Mat: 3-5 years is also typical for mat lifespan on a well-used trampoline in full outdoor exposure. The mat is the component most affected by UV — the same UV that breaks down plastic bottles left in the garden also affects the polypropylene mat surface over time. A mat that has thinned at the centre or shows significant UV degradation (fading, slight crumbliness at the fabric surface) needs replacing before it develops holes under load.
Enclosure net: Nets typically deteriorate faster than mats. 2-4 years is a realistic lifespan for a net in outdoor use, depending on UV exposure and physical use. British summer weather is relatively mild on UV, which helps — but the net takes more physical contact than any other component, and it is the first thing children grab when they are in the enclosure.
Spring cover pad: 2-4 years. The surface material of the pad — usually a vinyl or PVC-coated fabric — degrades under UV and cracks at fold lines and edges. A cracked pad still covers the springs visually but is no longer waterproof, and the foam inside will degrade quickly once water gets in.
Protecting your investment
Three things extend the life of a garden trampoline more than anything else:
A weather cover during extended non-use. Keeping leaves, debris, and standing water off the mat when the trampoline is not being actively used makes a measurable difference to mat lifespan. Our accessories range includes covers sized for all standard round trampolines.
An anchor kit in any garden that is not completely sheltered. A trampoline that has been flipped in a storm has often sustained frame joint damage that is not always obvious on initial inspection. Preventing the flip with an anchor kit is cheaper than replacing a bent frame section.
Regular checks. The monthly check described above catches small issues before they become expensive ones. A spring replaced early costs a few pounds. A mat that fails because worn attachment points were not noticed costs considerably more.
For guidance on size selection, our trampoline size guide covers all sizes in our trampoline range with dimensions, weight limits, and age suitability.
Frequently asked questions
How long do trampoline springs last?
Typically 3-5 years on a regularly used outdoor trampoline. Springs that have stretched unevenly, developed rust at the hooks, or show fatigue in the coil should be replaced. Replacing all springs at once produces more consistent bounce than replacing individual springs piecemeal as they fail.
How do I clean a trampoline mat?
Hose the mat with clean water for general grime. For stubborn marks, mild soapy water with a soft brush, then rinse. Avoid harsh chemicals, bleach, and pressure washers — these damage the mat surface. Remove bird droppings when noticed rather than leaving them to dry, as the acidity degrades the mat material over time.
When should a trampoline mat be replaced?
When it shows significant UV degradation — fading, slight surface brittleness, or thinning in the centre. Attachment point fraying at the spring connections is an earlier indicator. A mat that has developed a visible hole anywhere in the jump zone needs immediate replacement. Replacing a worn mat before it fails is safer and cheaper than dealing with a mat failure during use.