For many lawn obsessives, the perfect turf isn’t just mowed – it’s torched.
Across parts of the United States, particularly in the southern states, diehard Bermuda grass fans deliberately set fire to their lawns once a year in a carefully controlled burn designed to strip back winter thatch and supercharge spring growth.
It sounds extreme and In Australia, it could sound downright reckless.
But among serious turf enthusiasts, especially those growing Bermuda grass (also known as couch grass locally), the annual “burn off” has become something of a cult ritual – praised as a fast-track to a thicker, greener, golf-course-style lawn.
Why would anyone set their lawn on fire?
Bermuda grass is a warm-season turf variety that thrives in heat and goes dormant in cooler months, turning brown as temperatures drop.
In late winter or very early spring in the US, some homeowners carry out a quick, low-intensity burn across the dormant lawn.
The goal isn’t destruction. It’s reset and within weeks, the blackened surface is often replaced by bright green shoots.
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On social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, videos of suburban front yards being set alight – flames racing across the turf before being extinguished within minutes – regularly rack up millions of views.
US-based property agent Dana Ellington recently shared a video of her husband backburning their lawn. Source: Instagram/ @justsoldbydana
She says it’s the best way to grow back Bermuga grass. Instagram/ @justsoldbydana
To enthusiasts, including Dana Ellington, a seasoned US-based real estate, it’s oddly satisfying.
To others, it looks like a neighbourhood emergency waiting to happen.
“Yes, it looks dramatic. Yes, the neighbours pause. But this is a controlled burn that has been researched, planned, and done with purpose by my husband, Chip!,” Ms Ellington, recently shared with her online followers, alongside a video of her front lawn going up in smokes.
“I’ll explain,” she continues.
“We’re conscious about water use. We’re thoughtful about how we maintain a large lawn. And we believe that sometimes the healthiest thing you can do for something is to clear it back so it can grow the way it was designed to.
“Bermuda grass is naturally drought-tolerant and resilient. Instead of relying on heavy watering or constant chemical treatments, we reset it.
The same lawn only a few months later. Instagram/ @justsoldbydana
“The burn clears built-up thatch, reduces pests, and allows sunlight and nutrients to reach the soil again. The roots aren’t destroyed in the process, but strengthened.
Burning looks destructive in the moment. But what comes back is stronger, thicker, and more sustainable. Sometimes clearing is part of growth. In lawns. In homes. In life.”
Would it even be legal in Australia?
Here’s where things get complicated.
Australia’s relationship with fire is vastly different to that of suburban America.
With catastrophic bushfire seasons still fresh in the national memory, including the 2019-20 Black Summer fires, fire authorities across the country have repeatedly warned against unnecessary burning near homes.
In most states, lighting an open fire in a residential backyard requires strict compliance with local council and fire authority regulations – and is outright banned on Total Fire Ban days.
Even during cooler months, permits are often required for hazard reduction burns, and conditions can change rapidly.
Backburning lawn has become a popular way to restore turf in the US. Source: TikTok/ TheTurfTamer
However, experts caution that it must be done in a controlled way. Source: TikTok/ TheTurfTamer
A small patch of turf may look harmless, but embers can travel.
In dry, windy conditions, sparks from a lawn could ignite fences, garden beds, neighbouring properties or surrounding bushland.
Fire agencies consistently stress that even controlled burns can escalate quickly without proper preparation, equipment and clear weather conditions.
Indeed, even Ms Ellington urges caution.
“Remember, safety first. Always follow local fire regulations and safety guidelines. Use appropriate fire-safe material and never lave flames unattended.”
Does burning actually work?
Turf experts say the practice can be effective in certain climates – but it’s not essential.
Bermuda grass is resilient.
In Australia, couch grass already thrives in hot conditions without needing to be set alight.
Alternative methods to achieve similar results include mechanical dethatching, scalping (mowing very low at the end of winter), aerating the soil and applying pre-emergent herbicides for weed control.
These options carry far less risk than introducing open flames into a suburban environment.
Many Australian lawn specialists also argue that while burning may look dramatic online, it’s largely unnecessary in a local context.
The practice is less common in Australia…so far.
In parts of the US where lawns are large, properties are spaced out and humidity is higher, controlled turf burns are often seen as manageable.
In Australia, many homes back onto bushland or are located in high-risk fire zones.
Even suburban blocks can be tightly packed, with timber fencing, sheds and dry landscaping materials acting as fuel.
The optics also matter.
In a country where entire communities have been lost to bushfires, deliberately torching a front yard could draw swift backlash from neighbours – and authorities.
The bottom line
For hardcore lawn enthusiasts, the annual Bermuda burn is about pride, perfection and performance.
It’s a dramatic shortcut to that deep, velvety green finish when spring arrives.
But in Australia, the risks likely outweigh the reward.
With strict fire regulations, volatile weather patterns and a national trauma around bushfires, setting your backyard alight for aesthetic gain is unlikely to become mainstream.
For now, the only thing Australians may want blazing this spring is their mower – not their lawn.
English (US) · 