Well, it’s that time again, chilly evenings that are perfect for firing up the fire pit. Your bundle of wood, cold beer, and lawn chairs are all set up. All you need now is a few friends and a radio that seems to play louder and louder as the evening winds on. It sounds like a pretty fun evening. But, the following day, the fun comes to a full stop when you find a big burnt spot under your fire pit. Well, before you fire up that fire pit, let’s look at how you can protect your lawn first and save you from that morning surprise of burnt grass.
Protecting Your Grass from a Fire Pit (The Short Answer)
If you are looking to protect your lawn from the heat generated on the underside of your fire pit, then here are four tried and tested methods I’ve used in the past that all worked great for protecting my lawn.
- A layer of Concrete Slabs
- Fire Pit With Good Clearance
- Fire Pit Heat Shield
- Heat Proof Matting
The Damage that a Fire Pit Could Potentially Do to Your Lawn
Depending on how long you have your fire pit burning will determine how badly your lawn will be affected. The longer it burns, the more damage it’s going to cause. Now, my fire pit can burn for hours on a Saturday night as long as I don’t run out of wood, beers, and friends.
So, just like mine, your lawn will be subjected to some pretty intense heat for a fair amount of time. Therefore, the grass will first be scorched, then it will burn, and finally, it will die. This is because the embers in a fire pit will reach anywhere between 900 to 1650 F (500 to 800 C), definitely, way above what your lawn can withstand. My best advice is to use something to protect your lawn before firing up your fire pit.
How to Set Up a Fire Pit on Grass So It’s Protected (My 4 Fav Hacks)
Here are my four favorite hacks for how to set up a fire pit on grass. You don’t need tools or special equipment to install them. Plus, they can all be removed once your fire pit has cooled down. Let’s take a look at the first method.
A Layer of Concrete Slabs
When I was looking at what to put under my fire pit, concrete slabs first came to mind. This was because concrete has a pretty good ability to stop heat and is cheap. A 12x12x1.5 inch concrete slab from home depot is less than $2.
So, a three-foot by three-foot square of concrete slabs uses 9 slabs and costs less than $18. For me, that’s a pretty affordable option. So, all you need to do is lay them out in a square tightly pushed together on some flat, even ground, and you are ready to go.
Fire Pit With Good Clearance
You can buy fire pits with some pretty long legs designed to be used on grass. They have just the right amount of clearance between the bottom of the fire pit and the lawn not to cause any damage. But if you’re not in the market for a new one, you’ll need to figure out how to create clearance for your existing fire pit.
So, if you can get your fire pit higher off the ground, you’ll be able to avoid grass damage. After some digging around through the concrete blocks, I found concrete deck blocks. These are the blocks that you use to build a wooden deck on without digging holes.
They measure W11.5″ x D11.5″ x H8″ with a hole in the top. They’re perfect for placing a fire pit with legs on top as they add 8″ of clearance. A set of 4 costs around $25.
Now, I suggest you avoid stacking up regular concrete blocks to increase the gap between the fire pit and the ground. This is because your fire pit will be very unstable, and it could quite easily fall over.
Fire Pit Heat Shield
The next option is a purpose-made fire pit shield. These specially-made platforms on legs lift your fire pit off the ground a few inches. Usually, they are made of aluminum and a metal frame and are suitable for small fire pits as they are generally small. On the downside, they are a more expensive option and will cost in the region of $150 plus. But all you need to do is lay it on the floor, and off you go. Plus, they are pretty lightweight. So, if you don’t like the idea of moving around heavy concrete slabs or blocks, then this is a good option for smaller fire pits.
Heat Proof Matting
A heatproof mat is the last method I tried when testing out what I could put under my fire pit to protect my grass. These mats have been around for years and used in many different ways. I remember using one on a camping trip under my camp cooker to prevent setting the forest on fire.
I have also seen them used under kitchen countertops, and on wooden decks to protect the surfaces from heat damage. A decent heatproof mat designed for a fire pit will cost about $40-$50. There are cheaper options available, but they look a little on the thin side, which gives me little confidence. When it comes to how to set up a fire pit on grass, all you have to do is roll out your mat and place your fire pit on top.
What to Do After Removing Your Fire Pit from Your Lawn (Post-Use Recovery)
So if you try one of these methods for protecting the lawn from a fire pit, then all you need to do is allow your fire pit to cool down and then remove the protection from the lawn. The quicker you remove the protection, the less effect it will have on the grass. I suggest watering the area that was covered just in case your fire pit managed to dry out the soil a bit.
But, if you have yet to decide what to put under your fire pit and place it straight on your grass, then you’ll want to make sure you water the grass before you light your fire, during, and after. This will help protect the grass and keep the soil from drying out.
Also, if it’s badly heat-damaged after use, then you’ll want to avoid mowing until the grass comes back. That’s if it does.
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