Seasonal Tip: How To Protect Your Lawn from Heat Stress

If you’re like a lot of us, getting your lawn looking good (and stay looking good) is part of your summer pastime. Things can get in the way. The neighbor’s dog seems to find a way to pee on your grass, out-of-control weeds, spots where grass won’t grow, your kids and their friends tearing up the grass, lack of rain, etc…etc. 

The truth is, getting your grass to look how you want it to isn’t always a simple thing, so crossing your fingers and hoping the old fire pit won’t leave a nice scorch mark is definitely a no go.  

Every lawn is exposed in some form or another to a variety of conditions that are not good for it. Heat stress, in particular, is a big contributor to grass problems that are both cosmetic and bad for the long-term health of your lawn.  

Heat stress is typically a result of hot dry conditions common in summer and weakens your lawn’s ability to thrive by crowding out weeds and resisting damage brought on by insects and disease.

Fire pits on grass can add to or create these conditions in a particular section of your lawn if you don’t take precautions to protect grass from direct heat and the lack of moisture around the fire pit itself.  

Ghost prints (grass not recovering quickly from pressure) and discoloration are common end results of excessive heat stress.  

Shielding your lawn properly from direct heat and ensuring hydration while using fire pits on grass can help the area recover quickly after use.

When using fire pits on grass, remember to look around and assess your immediate surroundings and make sure there is enough distance between you and nearby structures, trees, and anything else you don’t want to see catch on fire.  

20 to 25 feet (7.62 m) from structures such as your home, shed, stacked wood, etc. 10 to 15 feet (4.57 m) from tree branches if you choose a spot near trees.  

As the nights grow cooler, enjoy your fire pit, but don’t forget to protect your lawn!