Bonfire Night – Looking After Your Lawn
Our guide to an at-home fireworks display.
We all know the story of Guy Fawkes and the failed gunpowder plot that gave us Bonfire Night.
But how do you keep your home and lawn safe during a fireworks display?
Having a bonfire in your garden can be potentially dangerous for your lawn.
Thankfully, there are some simple and effective ways to keep your lawn safe and healthy.
Here are our top 5 tips for caring for your lawn this Bonfire Night so that you can enjoy the show without worry.
1. Utilise water buckets
When setting off rockets, the best way to prevent fire damage on your lawn during Bonfire Night is to prepare soil buckets to avoid scorching the lawn.
How?
- Fill large buckets with soil and place them out in the garden
- Place the stake attached to the firework in the soil
- When ready, light the fireworks and move a safe distance away
- Sit back and enjoy the show
2. Dispose of sparklers properly
A favourite Bonfire Night activity for many is using a sparkler to write a message in the sky.
Whilst there are many other captivating sights to focus on this weekend, avoid the temptation to drop your sparkler on the floor when burnt out.
Beyond the eyesore of littering, doing this is bad for your lawn and can scorch it.
The best thing to do instead is to grab a bucket.
You can clean and reuse your soil buckets or grab another one.
Either way, fill this one with water and be sure everyone who has a sparkler places it into the water when done.
This is far safer and a much better alternative to burning holes in your lawn!
3. Don’t send your lawn up in smoke
The staple of any good Bonfire Night celebration is, of course, burning the bonfire.
However, doing this is dangerous for you and your lawn.
To avoid damage from a bonfire, ensure that the pyre is not burned in an area covered in grass, like an old vegetable patch no longer in use.
Also, avoid burning dry and organic matter, such as dry leaves, due to the excess smoke that can be produced.
If nothing else, you want to see the fireworks!
Finally, remember to check for any wildlife before lighting your bonfire and stand at a safe distance away.
4. Get rid of rogue rockets
After the display finishes, clear up any stray rockets that may have fallen onto the grass.
To make them burn brighter, fireworks can contain Sulphur, Potassium Nitrate, and Aluminium, along with charcoal and other dangerous chemicals.
These can damage your lawn if left to sit for too long, so keep a close eye on them.
Even when planning your display, sweep the garden for any that may have fallen from the neighbours.
Look for burnt-out fireworks, as well as the small rounds of concrete that can be used to secure them in place.
Stray fireworks can also easily lead to grass fires that are likely to spread rapidly if they land on the lawn, so be sure to be thorough.
5. Look after your pets
In addition to the lawn, the primary concern for many pet owners this week is keeping their pets happy.
Here are some things you can do to take care of your furry friends on Bonfire Night:
- Keep them in a separate room, such as a TV room, lounge, or conservatory, and drown out the sound of the fireworks with a radio or TV.
- In this room, make sure they have space to hide somewhere safe if they get scared by pulling your sofa away from the wall to leave room for your pet to hide.
- Close all the doors and windows to minimise the noise from outside.
- Check on them regularly and give them lots of cuddles and attention to reassure them.
What if fireworks or sparklers burn your lawn?
Should a bonfire or fireworks cause damage to your lawn, it is important not to panic.
Repairing such damage with the right renovation programme in the affected areas is possible.
Firstly, it is vital to prepare the ground, so remove as much of the ash from the affected area.
Whilst doing this, also remove a thin layer of soil to leave you with as clean a surface as possible.
A small amount of wood ash will not cause long-lasting problems or hinder you from re-grassing the lawn, so do not be concerned if a small amount remains.
Once this process has been completed, lightly cultivate the soil using a garden fork before adding fresh top dressing.
Note: This will be mixed into the existing material before being firm and levelled.
Given the time of the year, some further work may need to wait until the spring.
For example, given that it is November, if you plan to over-sow the area.
This work may need to wait for warmer air and soil temperatures to allow strong germination and grass establishment.
Should you wish for the repairs to be completed sooner, the option would be to turf the area, considering the depth of the turf when preparing the ground to prevent an uneven surface.
Contact us
For damage control or bespoke year-round lawn treatments, contact your nearest TruGreen business to book your free 14-point lawn analysis, or call 0800 021 3074 to learn more about how we can help you achieve the lawn of your dreams today.
