How To Prevent Lawn Furniture From Turning Your Grass Brown

Nov 15, 2023

While you might be enthusiastically bringing out your outdoor furniture from storage to soak in the spring and summer seasons, think twice before placing them directly on your lush green lawn. Your lawn furniture, however beautiful and relaxing, won't do your grass any favors. Quite the opposite, actually, with each piece of furniture helping to turn your green grass brown.

It only takes a few days for lawn grass to begin to yellow from a lack of air, water, and sunlight. The weight of furniture puts unwarranted stress on grass, flattening the blades and damaging the ground. What's more, the purpose of lawn furniture itself only invites increased foot traffic to the area. Thus, whether the furniture is made of wood or metal or constructed from a lighter material like resin, the damage to your lawn will ultimately be about the same. But don't worry. There are preventative steps and corrective measures you can take, such as rotating your lawn furniture, that will help protect the verdant appeal of your grass.

Though your primary concern is preventing your lawn furniture from harming your grass and turning it brown, it's actually a two-way street. Furniture placed directly on grass can be damaged due to moisture and mud, especially your porous or outdoor wood furniture. In comparison, the furniture will starve your grass and cause additional damage to the naturally uneven ground.

The cheapest and easiest way to protect your grass is to install stepping stones as patio pavers. These stones are inexpensive, durable, and DIY-friendly, and can be placed directly on a leveled surface or gravel base. Alternatively, you can replace lawn grass with pea gravel or artificial grass. All you need to do is dig out a few inches of the grass, level the ground, and add a weed barrier and gopher wire before installing the alternative.

If you don't have a budget constraint and have enough space in your lawn, however, consider putting in a patio, deck, or gazebo. These structures will make enjoying your lawn easier and entertain guests without worrying about killing the grass underneath. Interlocking floor tiles is another great option.

If none of the above solutions sound good, rotating your lawn furniture weekly should prevent the furniture from turning your grass brown. Moving your furniture around will allow your grass a chance to get in some much-needed sunlight and gulp some fresh air. Alternatively, in case you don't want to use your lawn furniture for long, you can place a tarp or plastic sheet over your grass to create a protective barrier. Remember, this is only a temporary solution, and you must remove the covering as soon as possible to prevent stifling your grass.

Another approach? If you're feeling creative and are in a DIY mood, grab some tennis balls and cut them in half before placing them over the legs of your lawn furniture to provide some cushioning. Though this is an effective method, it might not be for everybody as it's an unattractive sight and might detract from your lawn's beauty. Another option is to repurpose the plastic bottles in your home by cutting off their bottom and placing them over the ends of the furniture to prevent them from sinking into the ground. Empty cans can work as stilts for the furniture, too.