Summertime is here, and Southern California living is easy! If you’re looking for smart, simple ways to enjoy the beautiful weather in your own backyard, try out these five do-it-yourself tips for kids and adults alike:

Have you always wanted to get the kids a trampoline but were concerned about injuries? Why not bury it in the ground? Not only are in-ground trampolines safer than your standard above-ground trampolines, but they’re actually nicer to look at, as well.

While it’s true that burying a trampoline requires a large hole, it’s easy to rent a mini excavator for the day to get it done. Just be sure to check with your utility company about the location of underground utility lines first.

If your kids aren’t old enough to enjoy standard croquet, build a kick croquet course with hula hoops. Simply snip plastic hula hoops in half and bury them in the ground, creating a fun course kids can kick a medium-sized plastic ball through!

Inexpensive, safe and sure to provide hours of summertime entertainment, a kick croquet course is a good bet for virtually any outdoor space.

Standard slip-and-slides can create painful grass burns because they’re not wide enough to prevent kids from slipping off and getting hurt, especially if they’re getting a lot of use.

Solve this problem by using a standard tarp and a sprinkler, instead. You can even use some biodegradable dish soap to add some extra slip (and a few fun bubbles) if you’d like!

Missing the drive-in movies you went to as a kid? Why not recreate the experience in your own backyard? All you need is a large blank space, such as a bed sheet hung up or even the blank wall of a home, and a projector, which you can rent from your local electronic store.

To make the evening more homey and comfortable, lay down some vintage blankets and pillows, and set out a self-serve candy station. You may also want to start a fire in a fire pit and set up a DIY s’more station!

Who says you have to head to the mountains to go camping? Instead, pitch a few tents in your backyard and encourage the kids to bring their friends.

If it’s warm out, leave the rain flies off the tent so you can star watch. For bonus points, host a barbecue dinner, with built-it-yourself hamburger patties and hot dogs, or even grilled pizza with self-add toppings like pepperoni, cheeses and plenty of fresh veggies.

Summertime is here and it’s a great time to get out in the sun and enjoy the season with your family and friends. These five tips are fantastic options for spending some memorable times outside with the people you love the most, and enjoying the beautiful Southern California weather in your own backyard.

What’s more, simple additions like an in-ground trampoline can actually improve the value of your home and make it more desirable to buyers.

With a few simple tweaks and some weekend elbow grease, your backyard can quickly become an outdoor dream space you’ll love to spend time in.