You might think that you need a patio or cement slab to use a fire pit. But a fire pit can be used on grass.
While it’s not the most ideal situation, it’s actually possible to put a fire pit on grass, as long as you follow some very necessary precautionary measures. Here, we answer some of your most common questions—and worry—about this idea:
Will a fire pit kill your grass?
One thing holds true when you put fire on grass: it burns. In the case of a fire pit, it’s not the direct fire that could kill your grass, but the heat stress coming from the pit. If the grass underneath will be constantly exposed to extremely high temperatures, it will eventually die.
Another concern is the presence of ghost prints that will be left in the area if you remove the fire pit. It will take some time for grass to grow back if it’s been exposed to constant heat. This will cause you to have to deal with a flat, discolored eye sore in your backyard for a while.
But if you really want to enjoy a fire pit in your backyard, you can take some measures to prevent any damage to your grass.
Will a fire pit burn or catch your grass on fire?
Of course, you don’t want your backyard to start burning because of your fire pit. In most cases, you won’t see that happening unless you light the grass itself on fire. But with fire pits giving off at least 800 degrees Fahrenheit of heat, a fire pit can definitely cause some damage to your grass if you don’t protect it.
One thing you have to be causitous about is fire falling on the grass from the fire pit. If your fire pit is rusted out, with holes in the bottom, fire can fall to the ground. Dry grass will catch fire easily, so be sure no fire is falling from your fire pit if you place it directly on your grass.
Also, you need to be careful of embers flying out of the pit and catching your grass or something else on fire. Most fire pits come with a screen to place over it. A screen will help to limit any embers from flying out of your pit and catching your grass on fire.
What can you do to protect your grass from damage?
If you already have a fire pit and you’d like to use it without damaging your lawn, here are some steps that you can take:
Use a fire pit protective mat
With a lot of homeowners wanting to have a fire pit in their backyards, there are now protective mats designed specifically for fire pits.
You’ll only need to place this high-strength mat underneath your fire pit and it will absorb all the heat from your pit instead of going directly to your grass and damaging it.
You can ask your local hardware store about protective mats or you should be able to get one from the same store where you bought your fire pit.
You can also find some great fire pit mats online at Amazon.com.
Use a fire pit heat shield
If you have a bigger fire pit, you have the option to use a fire pit heat shield instead. Unlike the protective mat that only absorbs heat and is made of thinner non-flammable material, a fire pit heat shield is usually made from aluminum.
It will not only protect your grass from the heat of the fire pit, but also reflect some of the heat back to the fire pit and outward so it doesn’t go to the ground and damage it.
Some fire pits come with an aluminum heat shield. If you think you would like a heat shield, you may want to price fire pits that come with heat shields and individual heat shields to see what is the best option for you.
Use some brick pavers
If you want to put a permanent fire pit in your backyard, but you don’t want to spend money building an entire concrete patio, you can lay out some brick pavers over your grass. This will create a solid platform where you can safely place your fire pit.
Brick pavers are a lot stronger than concrete and they are highly resistant to heat and stress. This makes them a great option for protecting your grass while making your fire pit area look good.
If you plan to move your fire pit in the future, you can easily remove and transfer the brick pavers so you don’t need to spend money on a new platform.
You may also want to seal the pavers to prevent staining in case anything spills on them.
Wet the grass before lighting the fire pit.
If you’re just getting a portable fire pit that you don’t use often, you can soak the grass underneath before lighting your fire pit. Spray the grass with some water to give it a protective barrier against the heat from your lit fire pit.
Can you put a fire pit on artificial grass?
The great thing is artificial grass is non-flammable. But if you don’t want to damage your beautiful faux turf, you need to protect it by not putting your fire pit directly on the grass.
Instead, create a platform using brick, stone or any non-flammable material that will look good with the rest of your landscape.
What are some ideas for building a fire pit on grass?
Now, if you’re just starting to plan your fire pit project, you actually have several options for making it happen without sacrificing your precious grass.
For one, you can go for an elevated portable fire pit, which is ideal if you only want to use it on certain months. You can store the fire pit in a shed or garage if you live in an area where the winter months can be harsh. A raised fire pit is a great option since it allows heat to move between the fire pit and grass and not put high heat directly on the grass.
While you’re at it, you can also make a wood box to easily access your logs while keeping them dry. And if you have the space, you can extend your platform to include seating so you can gather around the fire pit with ease.
Now, if you want something permanent in your backyard, you can hire professionals to build one following all the safety standards like pouring a concrete pad or using some sand to create some barrier between your grass and the fire pit.
The takeaway
Building a fire pit doesn’t have to be expensive. Just make sure to follow some safety tips so you can enjoy the outdoors without having to worry about your grass getting damaged.
