Does napping in your own backyard hammock sound like heaven to you? Spring is here, and there’s no better time to relax outdoors! Read on for simple instructions to set up your hammock.
Step One: Find the right spot. If you’re like most people, you want to relax in the shade. So choose a spot beneath shady trees, if you can (Palm trees may be pretty but they do not create shade so they are not a good choice for this). If you want to create a shady spot in your hard, come visit our nursery and we can help you select some fast-growing trees that will meet your needs.
Now for the technical part, before hanging your hammock, make sure you have chosen a spot that provides the right height and hanging distance. Keep in mind that most hammocks stretch a bit, so you don’t want to end up too low to the ground. On the other hand, you also want to be able to get in and out of your hammock easily.
As for hanging distance, most hammocks require a width of 10 to 15 feet. You can look for two sturdy trees that happen to be spaced correctly, or you can install two sturdy posts. If you decide to install posts, make sure you choose posts of appropriate thickness and cement them into the ground correctly. Give us a call and we would be happy to help you with your post installation.
Step Two: Choose a hanging method.
If you’re hanging your hammock between trees, you might want to use tree straps. These are the easiest way to hang your hammock, and they can be adjusted for distance. Tree straps are also easy to remove and set up again, so you can move your hammock around the yard depending upon daily preference. Tree straps won’t damage your trees, and you can also use them with concrete posts.
You can also utilize special hanging hardware to hang your hammock. You will need two good wall anchors (J hooks), 2 lengths of chain about 1.5 feet long, and two large S hooks. Simply screw the J hook into your posts, and use the S hooks to connect each end of the hammock to the chains. The beauty of this system is that you can adjust the tension of your hammock by simply moving the S hooks up and down the chain. You can also use this system with porch or ceiling beams.
Step Three: Grab a book, your Ipod, or a cold drink. Enjoy your hammock!
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