Do you often mow the lawn and find yourself with a ton of grass clippings you want to dispose of? Read our short list of how to burn grass clippings for a tidy home.
Can’t Compost? Burn It
The greener alternative to disposing of grass clippings is to turn it into compost. With composting, you recycle organic waste by putting the cut grass in a container and allowing it to dry out and break down.
You can also put it in a special garbage bag and hand it off to a recycling center or disposal company.
Pick the Right Time
Fire is an unpredictable element and can be enhanced by the environment and surrounding conditions. Strong winds can either make creating fire a tedious process, and more importantly, it can lead to a fast and uncontainable spread.
Prevent an out of control situation by skipping windy and dry days and planning it on a calm and cool day. Sunrise or sunset are the two best times of the day you can burn grass clippings as the sun has already passed. Consider wind conditions and chances of rain as other elements to skip the burning activity to another day.
Choose a Safe Area
The safest way to burn grass clippings is to first choose an area that won’t present any fire hazards.
When burning grass, you’ll want to observe a minimum space of 50 feet radius where there’s no structure or building. Furthermore, there shouldn’t be any wires or trees hanging above the fire pit. This could be in your yard or walkway; doing it in the garage or lawn is not recommended.
The Best Way to Burn Grass Clippings
A metal barrel can serve as an incinerator for burning organic materials such as dead branches, stems and grass. You can also fashion a makeshift fire with logs or by creating a fire pit.
Get the fire going and make sure the flames are strong and established. For logs, you can use kindling, a newspaper and a lighter until it ignites. Wait about a minute to ensure the fire doesn’t go out, then start throwing handfuls of grass into the fire in an even manner.
The safest way to burn grass is to keep the fire small. Wait until the grass you threw in completely burns before you throw in another handful. Having too much material can cause sub-par ignition and you may need to re-light if it goes out.
Every now and then you can stir the logs to spread the fire and put the burned grass clippings on the ground. Add more logs if you need to burn more grass.
A heavy metal mesh on top prevents errant embers from going out. Keep a rake or shovel on hand so you can manage the fire and promote good airflow between the materials.
Have a Fire Extinguisher Ready
Even in the best condition a fire can go wild or astray. In this case, you’ll want to be ready with a pail of water or a small fire extinguisher so you can control it.
A good-sized shovel, water from a hose and a fire extinguisher should be enough for you to be able to contain the fire.
How to Burn Grass Clippings?: Stay From Start to Finish
Burning grass clippings should be monitored by from start to finish. Do not burn grass clippings unattended, and stay near it and as long as there are embers.
Allow the fire to burn itself out or thoroughly soak with water to prevent embers. Make sure to turn the coal, logs and ashes until they’re sufficiently cold and can be touched.
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