What to Put Under a Fire Pit on Grass
How do you keep grass safe when using a fire pit on the grass?
Two main considerations when placing a fire pit on grass are protecting the grass and the stability of the fire pit. When using a fire pit in your garden on the lawn, you want to protect the grass from the heat. Apart from that, you want to ensure the safety of everyone around the fire and that there’s no risk of the fire pit toppling over.
Can metal fire bowls damage the grass underneath?
Unfortunately, yes. Metal fire bowls radiate a lot of heat all the way down to the base and to the ground, so you need something underneath to prevent the heat from damaging your lawn.
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How Do I Protect Grass Under a Fire Pit
When enjoying your fire pit in the garden, you don’t want your beautifully cared for lawn to end up with a patch which is discolored or burnt because the fire pit was placed directly on the grass. Here are some tips on protecting the grass under fire pits.
Keep the grass wet
When using a heat shield or a fireproof mat under your fire pit, an additional thing you can do to protect the grass is keeping the grass wet under and around the shielding area.
Do I need a mat under a fire pit on grass?
Yes, you need something to protect the grass from the heat. You can use a fire pit heat mat, but it’s not the only option you have. If you are using a fire pit on your garden lawn or you are camping in the wild, you need something heat-resistant to put under the fire pit to protect the grass. Let’s look into the options you have and different materials you can put under the fire bowl.
What can I put under a fire pit on grass
Paving slabs
The most effective material to put under a fire pit on grass is paving slabs. They provide a stable base and absorb the heat.
One thing you want to remember about is not to keep the paving slabs for too long in one place. Keeping them for more than a few days in the same place will damage the grass, so you want to move the firepit around to let the grass recover.
Heat shields
Another option you have to protect the grass under a firepit is a heat shield. There is a range of heat shields which you can use on patios, wood decks or lawns. Here is an example of a heat shield suitable to use on grass:
How to use a heat shield under a fire pit
Heat shields are easy to use and you don’t need to assemble anything. However, you need to be aware that heat shields can only be used under fire pits but should not be directly exposed to fire. Their function is to reflect the heat and they shouldn’t be used to place fire directly on them.
Fire resistant mats
Fire pit mats for grass are a convenient solution for those who need something portable when travelling or camping. You can fold them and they don’t take up a lot of space, some of them can be as small as a folded shirt! Similarly to heat shields, they are hassle-free as all you need to do is to place them under the fire pit.
Final note
Protecting the surface under your fire pit or wood burner is fairly easy. Protective mats and heat reflectors are widely available to buy online or in stores. If you want to maintain your lawn properly, remember to use something to protect your lawn and enjoy both, the warmth of the fire and the green grass later!
We hope you found it useful. If you can recommend more ways of protecting lawn under fire pit or have your favorite heat mats, share your comments below.
