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Hammocks are a great way to relax and enjoy the summer weather in your backyard. They are lightweight, comfortable, portable, and incredibly convenient.
You can simply hang a hammock when you want to lounge and enjoy the sun, and then take it down when you are done. If you want to get the most enjoyment from a hammock, it’s important to hang it correctly.
You can’t truly relax if you are concerned about a hammock falling down and potentially injuring you or your family. Here’s how to hang a hammock in your backyard.
How to Hang a Hammock from a Porch
To hang a hammock from a porch, you need sturdy support posts or ceiling joists to support the weight. If you have the suitable structure for hanging a hammock, here is what you need to hang a hammock from a porch:
- Hammock hooks or a hammock hanging kit
- Ropes, chains, or straps
- if you are using rope, you must know how to tie secure knots
- if you are using chains, you will also need heavy-duty S hooks
- if you are using straps, you will also need heavy-duty carabiners
- You may also need basic home tools like a drill, a stud finder, a measuring tape, a ladder, etc.
To hang your hammock, follow these steps:
- Measure the length of your hammock. You will need to hang it from studs, posts, or joists that are two feet longer than the length of your hammock. For example, if your hammock is 10 feet long, you will need to hang it from points that are 12 feet apart.
- Use a stud finder to identify the appropriate hanging points.
- Measure the hanging height of your hammock from the ground. A good rule of thumb is to keep both ends of the hammock four feet above the ground.
- Find the center of your stud, mark it with a pencil, and hang your hammock hooks appropriately.
- Use chains, ropes, or straps to attach the hammock to the hook, using carabiners, S hooks, or knots as appropriate.
How to Hang a Hammock from Two Trees in Your Back Yard
If you are lucky enough to have two sturdy trees in your back yard, they are the hang a hammock from a porch.
When hanging a hammock from a tree, the most important thing to remember is that you don’t want to damage the tree, so some extra care is needed. To hang a hammock between two trees, you will need:
- Hammock tree straps
- You may also need additional lengths of strap or rope, and carabiners to secure them.
Here’s how to hang a hammock between two trees:
- Measure the distance between the two trees. As above, you want the trees to be about two feet further apart than the length of your hammock. However, as long as the trees are further apart than the length of your hammock, you can use them.
- Measure the hanging height of your hammock from the ground. You want both ends of the hammock to hang approximately four feet from the ground.
- Remember that your ground may not be perfectly level, so you may need to compensate for differences in height.
- If your trees are a few feet further apart than ideal, you can still use them to hang a hammock. You will need to use extra rope or straps to cover the additional distance and will need to attach the tree straps higher in the tree to compensate.
- Attach your tree straps to the tree, and hang the hammock from them, using additional straps and fasteners if necessary.
How to Hang a Hammock from a Hammock Stand
A hammock stand is a perfect way to hang a hammock anywhere, anytime, even if you don’t have convenient trees or a sturdy porch.
Many types of hammock stands are available, so choose the style that suits you best, and always hang your hammock according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
If you are more ambitious or want to save money, you can also build your own hammock stand with sturdy posts cemented into the ground for safety and stability.
Conclusion
Hanging a hammock in your backyard is an easy project, and there are so many ways to do it. Whether you have a porch, trees, or even a sturdy arbor or fence posts, you can hang a hammock.
You can also choose to simply purchase a hammock stand for speed and convenience.
