Have you decided to celebrate barbeque night on your lawn? Fire is ready, but stop for a moment and read this post. Maybe you don’t know you can harm the lush green grass by putting a fire pit on it.
Wondering where should you place the firepit? Is it safe to fire pit on grass? How to protect grass from heat damage? How to fix the damaged grass?
Can you put a fire pit on the grass? Yes, you can put a fire pit on the grass. But it is not recommended to put it directly over the grass. The heat from it can damage and kill the grass if you don’t follow safety measures. It’s better to place a heat shield or heat mat to avoid direct heat exposure. Wetting the grass and changing fire pit locations are other helpful ways to protect the grass.
You better know the struggle of growing and caring for grass if you are a lawn owner. You may not love the discolored grass when your party is over. It may take time to recover the grass in its original freshness once it is damaged. So love your grass and follow the safety tips mentioned here:
Can You Put a Fire Pit on Grass Directly
Wondering to know should you place a fire pit directly on the grass? Yes, you can. But you should not do so as it is damaging to grass. To protect your grass you need to take precautionary measures. It is better to place heat resistant mat, heat shield to avoid heat damage to the grass.
Once the grass is damaged under the pit, it is really hard to recover. It may take a week or two to recover naturally. But if don’t, you will have to reseed it. Keep watering the grass until it pops up and restores its fresh look.
Is It Safe To Put A Firepit On Grass: 3 Risk Factors
Is it Ok to put a fire fit on grass? NO, it’s not a good practice. It may damage your grass under the area where the pit is placed. High temperatures can cause heat stress, burning marks and discolouring of grass. If you love your grass, take measures before placing any fire source on the grass.
Below are 3 major issues that fire pit can cause on grass:
Heat Stress
One of the biggest issues caused by fire on grass is heat stress. It can also be caused by high temperatures in summer. When you place a fire pit directly on grass, it ends up causing burning marks and heat stress. This may also result in killing grass and excessive weeding. To avoid this issue, it is necessary to create a barrier between the fire source and grass.
Ghost Print
This is another big issue that burning can cause. When the grass area is gone from a certain place on the lawn, it is called ghost print. It is usually caused when a fire pit is placed for the long term. The grass under the pit compresses and takes time to recover. Sometimes grass even stops growing and you may see areas without grass.
Discolouring of Grass
With fire source exposure, the grass of your lawn may turn yellowish or even blackish somewhere. It looks odd in the green lawns. It also takes time to recover. Most of the time it requires regrowing grass to that area where grass loses its original colour. So, it’s better not to expose the fire source directly to grass.
How To Protect Your Grass From Fire Pit Damage: 7 Tips
There are many ways to protect your grass from expected firepit damage. Some ways require the purchase of fire safety products, while few ways are free of cost. If you want safety you will have to spend a few bucks. Below are few helpful tips to protect grass from fire damage:
1. Level UP The Fire Pit
It is essential to choose the right location to place your fire pit. If the ground is uneven, it can destabilize. If it does not stand correctly, it is hazardous. YOu can provide support to your fire source using patio slabs and bricks. Use non-inflammable material in order to level up the fire pit.
2. Stabilize Fire Pit Properly
If you are making your fire pit manually, there are high chances of it destabilizing. YOu can use brocks and patio slabs to support it from getting detestable. When fire burns hotter, it releases ashes. These ashes if they fall on the ground can damage your lawn and grass. So, provide durable support to your firepit.
3. Create Barrier Between Grass & Fire Pit
Always try to keep distance between fire source and grass. It’s better to create a barrier of patio bricks or slabs to prevent direct contact with fire. Change the place of the fire source when you are done with it. This way, you can further protect the grass from heat marks.
4. Use Heat Shield
Place a heat shield if you are worried about your lawn. This heat shield comes in different shapes and sizes. It is 36 inch in diameter and round in shape. It fits under most portable firepits. The good news is that it can withstand temperatures up to 1300F. Make sure it should not be placed directly under the heat source. Keep it at a distance of 1-inch from your stove. Direct contact with heat can lower its effectiveness.
5. Use Fire Resistant Mat
If you want the protection of a large grassy area, it’s better to use a fire-resistant mat. All you need to do is to place the mat under the fire pit. It will capture carbon fir, ashes and other splashes on your outdoor patio or lawn. It provides large area coverage without fear of slipping away.
6. Keep The Grass Wet
If you don’t want to spend money, soak the grass with water. It is an easy solution and obviously free of cost. Water on the grass will protect it from heat damage. It evaporates creating a barrier between fire and grass. No guarantee it will work for a long fire pit.
7. Change The Place of Fire Pit
Dont fix one place for your firepit on the grass. It can compress the lawn from that area. Keep moving it in the yard from one place to another. But make sure to hold it carefully. Also, ensure a safe location for it.
How To Fix The Damaged Grass By Firepit
Enjoying fire outdoors on your lawn!
If you don’t think much about your grass health, the fire can kill it. It’s better to think about the damage before burning a fire pit. And take all precautionary steps you read in this post. Is there any way to fix the damaged grass with firepits?
It’s not easy to recover the grass from heat damage. Just leave it for a week or 2 to recover it alone. Water it and wait for itself-recovery. If it did not come back to its normal form, re-seed it entirely on the affected area. If damage is on a greater area, you will have to re-seed the entire grass.
The damage depends mainly on the time you placed a fire pit on the grass. It’s better to keep moving the fire source in your patio to avoid more damage to any specific area. If you want to restore grass color you can use this spray.
8 Safety Measures To Consider For Fire Pit on Grass or Lawn
There are many measures to consider before and after burning a fire pit in the grass. These measures can protect you and your family from any mishap. So read these thoroughly before you light up youtube stoves outdoor:
- Don’t leave the fire pit unattended before or after burning. There might be kids who love playing with fire. In your absence, anything can happen. So, stay around.
- Be aware of your surroundings. There may be pets or children nearby. They can throw anything on the fire. It’s better to supervise the whole process until the fire extinguisher is properly.
- Keep the fire source at the distance of 20-25 feet away from objects that can catch fire. If there are other trees in your garden, try to maintain a 10-15 feet distance.
- Don’t sit or stand near the fire if you have consumed alcohol. In this situation, it will become difficult for you to stay alert.
- Always burn fire near a water hose. If there is no water source, keep a water bucket or fire extinguisher near an accessible place.
- If you are burning in your backyard, don’t use gasoline and petrol-based fuel. Because fire will rise high and you may not be able to manage it well.
- Use a fire pit screen if you are cooking on the fire pit. It will stop flames from rising higher.
- When you are done, don’t leave the flames in a burning position. Put water or sand and wait for the fire to extinguish.
Best Firepits For Grass
For outdoor use, fire pits should be stable and a little bit higher.
If you are looking for a lawn-friendly fire pit option, consider the list of best firepits recommended on the grass below:
- DROZIP Large Outdoor Fire Pit
- Pleasant Hearth OFW717RC Palmetto Fire Pit
- TrustBasket Heavy Gauge Campfire Bowl for Outdoor
Most Asking Questions
Can You Place a Fire Pit on Synthetic Grass or Artificial Grass?
It’s unsafe to put a firepit directly on synthetic or artificial grass. This grass is made up of synthetic fibre that can damage with constant heat. Without precautionary measures, don’t try this. It is harmful to your landscape and lawn.
What Should You Put Under a Fire Pit on Grass?
YOu should put a fire mat, heat shield or deck protector under the firepit. If you directly place the fire source on grass, it is unsafe and damaging. It can kill grass texture by fading its colour and freshness.
Where Should I Put The Firepit in My Yard?
The firepit should be placed at a distance of 20 to 25 feet from trees and hanging branches. It should be placed 10 feet away from the house and neighbouring yards. It’s better to choose a place away from kids and pets.
Last Lines
To summarize, there is no hard and fast rule that tells you can’t place a fire pit on the grass. But it’s unsafe if you do so. With proper safety measures as mentioned above, you can put it over the grass.
Stop worrying about your grass and enjoy barbecues or bonfires outdoors. Buy the right stove and recommended item that fits well in your yard. Whenever I need to place a fire pit I always soak grass with water before the burning fire.
