A sloping backyard can really make it difficult to install any outdoor structure in your backyard and constructing a playset will pose many of the same challenges.

So, can you put a playset on a slope? Sometimes, but you can only install a playset on a slope without leveling the ground if the playset is a custom playset or a special model meant to be installed on a slope. Otherwise you will need to level the ground beneath the playset in order to install it.

All well graded yards will slope away from the house to help with drainage. This can make a playset installation difficult, but if you’re yard has some serious slope, it brings playset installation to a whole new level of difficulty. Continue reading to discover what you can do to install a playset in your sloping yard.

Why Must a Playset Be Level?

Safety is the main reason a playset must be level, and of course, you want any equipment your children to play on to be constructed in the safest possible way. An unlevel playset is a hazard to people and property, and it is a liability.

If your playset is unlevel, it will be unsteady and prone to tipping over, and this is even more of a risk because most playsets are top heavy.

An unlevel playset could fall over from the vigorous play of your child, a strong wind, or severe weather. If a playset topples over, it could injure anyone near it, it could damage your property, and it could cause irreparable damage to itself.

This is a risk for the safety of your family, but if your playset hurts another child or a structure on your neighbor’s property when it falls, you will be held legally responsible.

If a playset is unlevel, it will also put undue stress on the wood and hardware so that the playset could become damaged or wear out prematurely. This will reduce the longevity of your playset.

In addition, it might not be as important as the safety issues, but if your playset is unlevel, it isn’t going to look very nice in your backyard.

Finally, installing your playset on unlevel ground could void any warranty you have on it. Many manufacturer’s stipulate that the playset must be installed on level ground to be covered on the warranty because they do not want to have to pay for preventable damage.

Playsets Designed for Slopes

If your yard slopes significantly enough that the work involved in leveling it seem daunting, do not fear! There are a number of playset manufacturers that offer playsets that are signed to be adjustable to accommodate slopes.

If none of those designs work for you or your yard, then you could also have a playset custom built. Depending on your needs, it might not be as expensive as you’d think.

Playsets for Slopes

Playset manufacturers are beginning to respond to the need for playsets that will be safe on sloping yard. Many of them are coming up with solutions for this problem. The only drawback is that you will be limited to a select number of models, but all of them offer a variety of designs and accessories.

Rainbow Play Systems have several playsets that are designed to be installed on sloping ground. These playsets are made with an A frame construction, which allows the supports of the playset to be adjusted. The legs can be moved closer together or further apart to offset the sloping of the yard.

One benefit of this design is that is allows for more space under the playset for your kids to play in, but they also take up more ground space.

Wood Play’s Outback Playsets have a similar design that takes advantage of an A frame constructed to make a more adjustable playset.

Additionally, a playset that does not have an attached swing set will be easier to level simply because the playset takes up less ground space. You would only need to level a 4 foot by 4 foot space for many playsets that do not have swings.

Custom Playsets

Custom playsets are the ultimate solution to any challenges your yard throws at you. The posts and A frames can be measured and designed at lengths and angles that will work with the slope of your yard.

A custom playset can also take advantage of things like steep hills by installing climbers or slides on them with the clubhouse on higher ground. They can even work around the existing landscaping of your yard and create a solution that looks like its been there forever.

Jack’s Backyard has a picture gallery that showcases all of their custom builds, some of which are constructed around trees to give the playset a treehouse feel. These builds are truly amazing.

If you enjoy a good woodworking project, Paul’s Playhouses creates do it yourself playset plans that are amazing, and they even offer to make custom DIY plans. If you went with a custom design, it could account for the slope of your yard. This is a great option if you’d like to build the playset yourself, but don’t have all the knowledge necessary to draw up plans yourself.

How to Level the Ground

If the A frame construction or custom design options do not appeal to you, you could always opt to level out the area where the playset will stand. Leveling the ground is relatively simple, but it does take hard work, and depending on the slope of your yard, you could need to use heavy equipment and build a retaining wall.

The entire play area does not need to be level, although it can make laying a ground covering easier. When you measure out the area that needs leveling you only need to include the area directly under the playset.

Keep in mind that you don’t want your kids jumping off the swing and rolling down a hill. Make sure you pick a good location and level as much as is necessary to create a safe play environment.

To level the ground in your backyard here is what you will need to do:

Select the area of your yard that is both flat and has plenty of open space.

Mark the area with stakes and string. The string will need to be taut and level.
Remove the sod from the entire area using a shovel or a sod cutter.
Dig into the ground starting at the highest point. You can discard the dirt, or you can move the dirt to the lower end.

Check if the area is level by measuring the distance from the string to the dirt. It should be consistent all the way around the perimeter of the area you intend to put the playset.
Use a level down the center of the area to check if it is level down the middle. If your level is not long, you will need to place it on a long board to do this accurately.
Continue moving or removing dirt until the area is completely level.

If your yard has a steeper slope, you may need to build a retaining wall to build up the lower end of your yard. This will take some extra materials and time, but it isn’t as difficult a job as you might think, especially if you use interlocking retaining wall blocks.

How to Level the Playset without Leveling the Ground

There is an alternative to leveling the ground under the playset, and that is to just level the points where the playset support posts will go, but this method is not recommended unless you have no other choice.

Why This Isn’t the Best Method

This method will result in a level playset, but it should only be used as a last resort because it has some serious drawbacks.

This method will not work with a playset unless it has open space under the clubhouse.

It may not work with all accessories including climbers and slides without extra digging or without making alterations to the playset.

This method will also reduce the height of your playset, which could limit the amount of space your kids have to play under it, and generally limit the fun that can be had by being up high.

Additionally, and most importantly, some of the playset’s posts will have to sit in the ground where they will be in constant contact with soil and moisture. This is not a healthy environment for wood, and it will cause the wood to rot rapidly, especially if it isn’t treated with a wood preservative.

You might consider encasing the wood in concrete, but even this is not recommended because concrete also causes untreated wood to rot more quickly.

That being said, in some cases, this may be your only option, and beyond the issues with rotting, it will result in a playset that is level, and not going to tip over.

Mark the location where each of the posts will be.
Ideally, the A-frame of the swing set should be on the lower ground so that the ability to swing is not limited by the slope of the yard.
Dig out the areas that need to be lower using a post digger or a shovel.

Check that all of the locations where the playset’s posts will touch the ground are level with each other. To do this, you will need to run a string from the top of the stake that is in the lowest part of the ground to a stake in the higher part of the ground.
Measure the distance from the ground to the string on the stake that is on the lowest area.
If the distance between the ground and the string on this stake is equal to the distance between the ground and the string at the other stake, and the string is level, then the ground in both locations are level with each other.

After the playset is constructed and anchored to the ground, you will need to fill in the holes with soil or other material appropriate for use around a playset. Leaving the hole open would not safe because it could be a trip hazard, or someone could end up with a twisted ankle.

Some may recommend that you save yourself some work by lifting the legs of the A-frame of the swings and putting cement blocks under them. This is an option, but the CPSC recommends against this as it would cause a trip hazard, and beyond that, it isn’t exactly the sturdiest of solutions.

Can You Put A Playset On A Slope?