Slip and Slides

Length and lawn

Slip and slides are sold by length, and the number matters less than the shape of your lawn. You need a clear straight run with nothing at the end — no fences, no garden edging, no retaining walls — and enough room past the splash pool for someone to slide further than they intended.

A gentle downhill slope makes an enormous difference to speed. A flat lawn works but needs more of a running start.

Preparing the ground

Walk the run first and pick up anything sharp. Sticks, stones and sprinkler heads sit unnoticed in grass and will find the underside of a slide within minutes. Mowing the strip beforehand also helps the sheet lie flat.

Peg it down at both ends and along the sides. An unpegged slide bunches up as soon as someone lands on it.

Water supply

Slip and slides connect to a standard garden hose and run continuously. On low mains pressure or tank water you will get less spray, but the sheet still stays wet enough to work — you simply need the water on for the whole session.

Positioning the slide where the runoff drains away keeps that end of the lawn from turning to mud by mid-afternoon.

Packing up

Hang it over a fence or line until it is completely dry before rolling it up. A slip and slide put away wet develops mould along the folds and is unpleasant to unroll next summer.