Most garden trampolines stay up year-round. They are designed for it. The frame is galvanised or powder-coated steel, the mat is UV-resistant polypropylene, and the springs are galvanised against rust. Taking a trampoline down every autumn and reassembling it every spring is unnecessary work for most families — and for larger trampolines, it is several hours of effort each way that most people do once, then decide not to repeat.
That said, a few practical steps in late autumn keep a trampoline in better condition through winter and mean it is ready to use properly in spring rather than needing significant cleaning or repairs first.
Do you need to take it down?
Generally, no. The argument for leaving it up is straightforward: the materials are designed for outdoor use, taking it down and reassembling it every year adds unnecessary wear to bolts and frame connector points, and for any trampoline 10ft or larger, the labour involved is substantial.
The argument for taking it down applies in specific situations: if the garden is very exposed and an anchor kit cannot fully secure the trampoline against the winds in your area; if storage space is available and you prefer to free up the garden in winter; or if the trampoline is for young children who will not use it at all in cold months and the garden benefits from the space. In these cases, disassembly is the reverse of assembly — net off, spring pad off, springs and mat off, enclosure poles off, frame disassembled, legs off. Store in a dry shed or garage if possible.
For the majority of families in standard garden situations with a secure fence line, leaving the trampoline up year-round is the practical choice.
Using a weather cover
A weather cover sits over the trampoline mat and protects the surface during months of non-use. The main things it prevents are:
Leaf accumulation. Leaves left on a trampoline mat over winter decompose slowly and leave staining that is difficult to remove. This is cosmetic rather than structural, but mat staining on an otherwise good trampoline is worth preventing. A weather cover keeps leaves off the mat surface.
Standing water. After rain, the dipped centre of a trampoline mat can collect standing water. This is not immediately damaging, but standing water that freezes can stress the mat fibre at very low temperatures. A cover that channels water off the sides prevents this.
UV exposure in reverse-season sun. Spring sun at low angles can cause uneven UV exposure on the mat surface. A cover during non-use months extends mat life in the same way that sunscreen extends fabric life — it is not dramatic, but it adds up over several winters.
Weather covers are made to fit specific trampoline diameters and clip or strap around the frame. Our accessories range includes covers sized for each of the round trampoline diameters we stock. A weather cover costs a fraction of a replacement mat — buying one with the trampoline is the straightforward way to protect the mat from day one.
Anchoring in winter storms
Wind is the main risk for a trampoline left up over winter. An unanchored trampoline — particularly a large, light round model — acts like a sail in high winds. The enclosure net catches wind, the frame lifts, and the whole structure can travel across the garden or flip. A 10ft trampoline that has blown against a fence can sustain frame damage, net tears, and dents to the spring cover pad. A 14ft or 16ft model that flips is a more significant problem in terms of weight and clearance damage.
An anchor kit addresses this. The kit consists of straps or tie-down pegs that anchor the trampoline frame to the ground, preventing lift in high winds. In a sheltered garden with solid fence lines, the risk of wind movement is lower — but in an exposed garden, on a rise, or in an area that regularly sees high winds, an anchor kit is not an optional extra. Our accessories range includes anchor kits for all standard round trampoline sizes.
If a storm is forecast and you do not have an anchor kit, temporarily moving the trampoline to a sheltered position or weighting the legs with sandbags is better than leaving it unsecured. An empty plastic storage box filled with water placed centrally inside the frame (not on the mat) can also add weight to the base. These are workarounds rather than solutions — an anchor kit is the correct answer.
Checking for damage in spring
The first thing to do when spring arrives and the trampoline comes back into regular use is a check of the main components. Winter weather can cause or reveal wear that was not obvious in autumn:
Springs. Look for rust on individual springs — particularly at the hooks where water can pool. Light surface rust is cosmetic and common on springs that are not galvanised. Rust that has pitted the metal or weakened a spring is worth replacing before it snaps. A snapped spring under load can cause mat instability and leaves a spring-free gap in the tension pattern.
Mat edges. The edge of the mat where springs attach is the highest-stress point. Look for fraying or thinning at these attachment points. Mat fabric that is wearing at the edges needs monitoring — it will not fail immediately, but it signals the mat is nearing the end of its life.
Enclosure net. Inspect for tears, particularly near the zip or overlap entry, and for brittleness from UV exposure. A net that has bleached significantly in colour over winter may have lost structural integrity even if there are no visible holes. A gentle tug test at several points in the mesh reveals brittleness that visual inspection misses.
Spring cover pad. The pad that covers the spring zone takes UV exposure and rain over winter. Look for cracking in the surface material, particularly at the folded edges. A cracked or torn pad exposes the foam underneath, which will degrade quickly once the waterproofing is broken.
Our full trampoline range can be found at all trampolines. For size selection guidance and weight limit information, see our trampoline size guide.
If you do want to take it down
Disassembly is assembly in reverse. Net first, then spring cover pad, then springs (use the spring tool — unhooking under tension is easier with the tool but still requires care), then mat, then enclosure poles, then frame. The frame disassembles into the same curved sections it arrived as.
Store in a dry shed or garage if possible. Damp storage causes springs to rust faster than outdoor exposure with proper galvanisation — condensation in a poorly ventilated outbuilding is more damaging than open air rain, particularly for galvanised steel. Lay the mat flat or roll it loosely rather than folding it sharply, which can crease the polypropylene fabric at the fold lines.
Label the frame sections if the model uses numbered connectors. Some larger trampolines have frame sections of slightly different lengths that need to go in the right order — what seemed obvious during assembly may not be obvious eighteen months later during reassembly.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take my trampoline down in winter?
Most families leave trampolines up year-round. The materials are designed for outdoor use in all weather. Taking it down and reassembling it each year adds unnecessary wear and significant labour. Leaving it up with a weather cover and anchor kit in exposed gardens is the practical choice for most situations. Disassembly makes sense if the garden is very exposed, storage space is available, or the trampoline will not be used at all over winter.
Can wind damage a trampoline?
Yes. An unanchored trampoline in high winds can move across the garden, flip, or sustain frame and net damage. An anchor kit prevents this. In sheltered gardens, wind risk is lower but not zero. In exposed gardens or areas prone to storms, an anchor kit is necessary rather than optional.
How do I protect my trampoline mat in winter?
A weather cover is the most effective protection. It keeps leaves, rain, and debris off the mat surface, prevents standing water from pooling, and reduces UV exposure in winter sun. Covers are sized by trampoline diameter and clip or strap around the frame. They cost significantly less than a mat replacement and extend mat life noticeably over several winters.