Choosing a suitable backyard playset that’s age-appropriate and entertaining for your children is worth the cost. A backyard playset you can update and upgrade as your kids grow offers even more benefits. Although a playset won’t substantially increase your home’s value, it won’t negatively affect it either.

If your seedlings have reached a few inches in height and the weather outside has stabilized to where you’re no longer seeing overnight temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it may be time to start hardening them off to get them ready to be planted in the garden.

It’s usually possible to install a playground yourself, but we don’t recommend it. Playground construction can be complicated and involves moving large, heavy, and bulky components into place while you affix them to other pieces. Not only is the work physically demanding, but any mistakes could reduce the lifespan of your playground and potentially put any children who use the equipment at risk of injury. It’s relatively inexpensive to hire a professional playground installer, and it’s usually worth the investment, if only for the peace of mind it provides.

If you want to know from the outset how much you’re likely to pay to install an outdoor basketball court, create a budget breakdown that lists the following expenses:

• Labor: How many work hours will you need, and what is the average price of labor in your area?

• Materials: What material do you plan to use, and what is the average price per square foot?

• Drainage, grading, and laying cement slabs: Do you need to level or prep your area? Have a professional evaluate your property to determine what you will need to pay a contractor to do this work.

• Hoops, lighting, fencing, painting lines, and other extras: What extras are non-negotiable? Create a list of all of the extras you want your court to have.