How To Protect a Lawn During Heavy Construction

 

Do you ever drive by a construction site and notice all the tread marks and damage done to the landscape? This means contractors and workers should have been more careful with their machinery, and the grass lawn will have difficulty growing back due to the damage. When you’re working on heavy construction, protect the lawn to prevent near-permanent damage to the soil and plants on the work site.

Avoid Using Heavy Equipment in Wet Conditions

The damper and wetter the soil is on the construction site, the greater the risk of ruining the lawn and landscaping with heavy machinery. When the soil is dry, it’s more compact and stable enough to absorb the weight of your equipment. Avoid working with your machinery when it’s raining or wet outside so you can prevent damage to the grass and surrounding landscaping.

Use Lawn Protection Mats

You could have high-quality construction equipment or more affordable machines—either way, they will impact the lawn when you drive over it without protection. Without lawn protection mats, the treads on your machines could pull the roots from the grass, making it much more difficult to regrow. Place these mats down in high-traffic areas to minimize damage to the landscaping.

Consider a Plywood Alternative

Plywood shouldn’t be your first line of defense for protecting the lawn surrounding your construction site, but the material works when you do not have lawn protection mats available. While plywood can cover a wider area of the lawn, it can become slick when wet, and it wasn’t manufactured to withstand repeated outdoor use or driving heavy machinery over it. However, don’t be afraid to utilize this alternative when you need some protection but don’t have enough time to purchase mats. Use the plywood you have available in your construction materials.

Place Tarps in Lower-Traffic Areas

You still need to protect the lawn during heavy construction in worksite areas less frequented by equipment and workers. Because these areas will see less damage, you don’t need to spend as much money on materials protecting the grass. For these areas, place a tarp over the lawn—a tarp is affordable, and you can reuse it for other work sites and applications.

Landscaping can alter the look and feel of any building. If you damage the lawn during your construction project, the result won’t be as successful. Ignoring these practices and ruining the lawn could cause damage to the root system of the plants in the area, compact the soil, and tear up the grass. Remember to protect the grass before driving over the landscape with your heavy machinery for the best preventative care.