Thinking about using your fire pit on your grass lawn? We have put together our top tips for using fire pits on grass that will make sure you stay safe, don’t damage your grass, and can enjoy a nice cosy spot next to the fire without worrying.
Let’s dive straight in…
Heat and Grass, how well do they mix?
You may not have heard of it but heat stress for grass can cause considerable damage, not just in the short term, but for the long-term health of your lawn too.
This is an important consideration given your fire pit can reach temperatures of more than 600 degrees Celsius!
Heat stress is generally caused in dry hot conditions, particularly in the summer months, and can diminish the grasses’ ability to fight off weeds, as well as add to its vulnerability to damage from insects.
Fire pits can exacerbate this problem in the spot it sits and its immediate surrounding area.
Protecting your grass from this is important, and why the tips below are so vital in helping you protect your lawn when using your fire pit on grass.
Safety is key with fire pits
Your first consideration when using your fire pit should always be safety!
Keeping your fire pit away from flammable materials, a good distance from buildings or any sort of flammable structure, keeping it away from blustery areas or spaces that have a lot of wind, are some of your key basic safety precautions.
When using your fire pit on the grass there are a couple of other considerations to keep in mind:
- How level is the ground?
- How dry is the grass?
- How moveable is your fire pit?
As you’ll see below, these safety concerns form the basis of some of our tips below.
6 Top Tips For Using Your Fire Pit On Grass
- Make sure the grass isn’t dry
- Move the Fire Pit Regularly
- Use a protective mat under the fire pit
- Find the level ground
- Create a fire pit hole in your lawn
- Maybe build a permanent spot for your fire pit
1. Make sure the grass isn’t dry
Dry grass is incredibly flammable! It makes excellent kindling which is great for starting your fire but not great if there is an abundance of it around your fire pit.
Any embers or sparks from your fire pit could cause the dry grass to catch on fire. If this happens it can spread quickly and can cause more than just dame to your lawn!
If the weather has been particularly hot and dry and you can see that your grass is suffering because of this then it is important to thoroughly water not only the spot you intend to place your fire pit, but also a good area around it too so that any stray ember doesn’t have some free kindling to light.
2. Move the Fire Pit Regularly
As mentioned above, heat stress is an important consideration for your grass, and moving your fire pit regularly is an excellent way to help make sure that one particular section of your grass is not damaged beyond repair.
Grass also needs light to grow and survive and keeping your fire pit in one spot for the whole of the summer is a sure-fire way to make sure you kill the grass underneath it.
3. Use a protective mat under the fire pit
The best thing you can do when using fire pits on grass is to use a protective base plate underneath. It adds an extra layer of protection for the grass from both the heat and any embers that spill out of the fire pit.
They are not very expensive and you’ll often find that whatever make of fire pit you have the company will have their own base plate to fit the size and style of your fire pit.
4. Find the level ground
As we’ve mentioned above, finding level ground on grass isn’t always easy. It is, however, essential for the safe use of your fire pit, so you should pay close attention to the grassy area you are wanting to place your fire pit on.
Any uneven ground will jeopardise the stability of your fire pit.
We like to place your fire pit and test its stability before lighting. This way, if there is any doubt you can find another spot for it.
5. Create a fire pit hole in your lawn
One solution to uneven ground (and is generally a good solution if you are willing to make the cut) is to create a specific fire pit hole in your lawn.
By this, we mean removing a patch of grass from your lawn and then placing the fire pit on the ground underneath. (Make sure you keep that patch of lawn safe so you can replace it later.)
This will not only protect the grass, but will also give you the chance to create a nice level surface for your fire pit to sit on.
As long as you replace the grass you cut out from your lawn once you’re done, you’ll never know there was a fire pit there at all!
6. Maybe build a permanent spot for your fire pit
The next big step from number 5 would be to create a permanent spot in your lawn for your fire pit.
This way you don’t have to worry about protecting the grass underneath your fire pit as there won’t be any, and you won’t have to remember to move it regularly either.
Can you repair fire pit damaged grass?
Sometimes having damaged grass from using your fire pit happens. Perhaps you left it in one spot for a little too long, or you lit it one too many times in that same place.
The unsightly black mark on your lawn can feel like it’s not fixable, but the good news is it is! (though it will take a little work).
Here are the key steps to repairing damaged grass:
- First, you’ll need to rake the areas thoroughly to remove the dead grass and any other debris that may have been left by the fire pit.
- Next, you’ll need to reseed the area. You’ll need about 35g of seed for every square meter of the damaged area. We like to bury the seed a little as this helps with germination but sprinkling them in the area also works.
- To help your new grass blend with the surrounding area you may also want to overseed the borders a little too
- Finally, you want to make sure it gets plenty of water, particularly at the start.
Before you know it, the patch will be gone, and your lawn will be looking lush and green once again.
Final Thoughts
While grass is not the ideal surface to use your fire pit on there is no reason that you can’t enjoy the benefits of a nice warm fire in the middle of your lawn without damaging your grass or being unsafe.
If you remember and follow the above tips for using fire pits on grass then we have no doubt you’ll be able to avoid the headaches that can come from a damaged patch of lawn.
If you are thinking of putting a fire pit on some decking, check out our guide and tips on doing this.
Post Code Checker
Using a wood burner outside is legal; being a nuisance with an outdoor fire can cause problems with the neighbours and the local council. Here is our local council checker for their guidelines.
This is currently for postcodes in England and Wales. It will soon expand to Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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