For many lawn enthusiasts, the entire turf is not just cut – it is burned.
In many parts of the United States, especially in the southern states, diehard Bermuda grass fans deliberately set their lawns on fire once a year in a carefully controlled burn designed to strip winter grass and supercharge spring growth.
It sounds extreme and in Australia, it can sound ridiculous.
But among serious turf enthusiasts, especially those who grow Bermuda grass (also known locally as couch grass), the annual “burn-in” has become a cult — touted as the fastest way to a big, green, golf-style lawn.
Why would someone set his grass on fire?
Bermuda grass is a type of warm-season turf that thrives in the heat and goes dormant in the cooler months, turning brown as temperatures drop.
In the late winter or early spring in the US, some homeowners heat quickly, with low pressure on dormant lawns.
The goal is not to destroy. It resets and within weeks, the dark area is usually replaced by green shoots.
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On social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, videos of suburban front yards being set ablaze — flames running through the cool area before being extinguished within minutes — regularly rack up millions of views.
US-based real estate agent Dana Ellington recently shared a video of her husband burning grass. Source: Instagram/ @justsoldbydana
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He says it is the best way to grow Bermuga grass. Instagram/ @justsoldbydana
For enthusiasts, including Dana Ellington, a US-based real estate veteran, it’s oddly satisfying.
To some, it looks like a neighborhood emergency waiting to happen.
“Yes, it looks amazing. Yes, the neighbors stop for a moment. But this is a controlled burn that has been researched, planned, and done on purpose by my husband, Chip!,” Ms. Ellington, recently shared with her followers on the Internet, next to a video of her front lawn going up in smoke.
“I’ll explain,” he continues.
“We know about water use. We think about how to maintain a big lawn. And we believe that sometimes the healthiest thing you can do for something is to remove it so it can grow the way it was designed.
“Bermuda grass is naturally drought tolerant and drought tolerant, instead of relying on heavy watering or frequent chemical treatments, we re-establish it.
Same grass a few months later. Instagram/ @justsoldbydana
“Burning removes thatch, reduces insects, and allows sunlight and nutrients to reach the soil again.
The burn seems to be hurting at the moment. But what comes back is stronger, stronger, and stronger. Sometimes cleaning is part of growing up. In the grass. In the houses. In life.”
Would it even be legal in Australia?
This is where things get complicated.
Australia’s relationship with fire is very different from that of American cities.
With dangerous fire seasons fresh in the national memory, including the dark summer fires of 2019-20, fire authorities across the country have repeatedly warned against unnecessary fires near homes.
In many states, building a fire in a residential yard requires strict compliance with local council and fire authority regulations – and is strictly prohibited during Total Fire Ban days.
Even in cooler months, permits are often required to minimize accidents, and conditions can change quickly.
Backburning lawn has become a popular turf restoration method in the US. Source: TikTok/ TheTurfTamer
However, experts warn that it must be done in a controlled manner. Source: TikTok/ TheTurfTamer
A small patch of grass may look harmless, but embers can.
In dry, windy conditions, sparks from the grass can ignite fences, garden beds, neighborhoods or surrounding woods.
Fire agencies consistently stress that even controlled fires can spread quickly without proper preparation, equipment and clear weather conditions.
Indeed, even Mrs. Ellington urges it to be employed.
“Remember, safety comes first. Always follow local fire laws and safety guidelines. Use proper fire safety equipment and never open flames unattended.”
Does heat really work?
Turf experts say the practice can be successful in certain weather conditions – but not essential.
Bermuda grass is tough.
In Australia, bed grass already thrives in hot conditions without needing to be weeded.
Other methods to achieve similar results include mechanical weeding, skin cutting (a very low cut at the end of winter), aerating the soil and using pre-emergence herbicides to control weeds.
These options carry far less risk than introducing open flames to the suburbs.
Many Australian lawn experts also argue that while burning may look impressive online, it’s not really necessary in real-world conditions.
This practice is rare in Australia…until now.
In parts of the US where lawns are large, buildings are isolated and humidity is high, controlled burning is often seen as more manageable.
In Australia, many homes back onto bushland or are in fire-prone areas.
Even suburban blocks can be packed tightly, with timber fences, sheds and dry landscaping materials acting as fuel.
Optics also matter.
In a country where entire communities have been lost to wildfires, deliberately setting a yard on fire could prompt a swift backlash from neighbors — and authorities.
An important point
For lovers of tough grass, the annual Bermuda burn is about pride, perfection and performance.
It’s a wonderful shortcut to that deep green perfection, come springtime.
But in Australia, the risks probably outweigh the rewards.
With strict fire laws, changing weather conditions and the trauma around the country surrounding wildfires, setting your yard on fire for aesthetic gain may not be the norm.
For now, the only thing Australians may want to heat up this spring is their lawnmower – not their lawn.
