You love a good football scrimmage in the backyard but hate the holes it leaves in your lawn. We\u2019ve got nine lawn games that are easy on your turfgrass so you can enjoy the time outdoors instead of worrying about your lawn with every snap.<\/p>
Badminton<\/a> can be played with as few as two people. If you\u2019re feeling social, invite three friends over and play doubles. All you\u2019ll need is a net, a few shuttlecocks, and some rackets, and you\u2019re ready to play.<\/p> Why badminton won\u2019t ruin your lawn:<\/strong> If you play infrequently and keep up with the recommended yard maintenance for your grass type, your lawn may not see any wear or will recover quickly. If you plan to play more often, this may not be the best game choice if you want to keep your lawn pristine.<\/p> Most people are familiar with cornhole. Each player aims to toss small bags (yes, they\u2019re often filled with corn) into the hole or on top of the board to earn points. If you\u2019re not familiar with this game, it is a kind of bean bag toss. Whether you\u2019re playing solo or have several friends, you can enjoy a game o<\/a>f cornhole on your lawn. <\/p> Why cornhole won\u2019t ruin your lawn:<\/strong> The bags are very lightweight. Move the board(s) around the lawn each time you play to avoid wearing down the same area of turf.<\/p> Throwing a frisbee is a fun game the whole family (including Fido) can enjoy, and it\u2019s one of the best lawn games if you\u2019re on a budget. <\/p> Why frisbee won\u2019t ruin your lawn:<\/strong> Unless you play ultimate frisbee every week, a few hours of frisbee every so often won\u2019t hurt a healthy lawn.<\/p> If you prefer to spend your summer days in your own backyard instead of at the beach, try these jumbo-sized classic games. <\/p> Buy or make a giant set with jumbo X and O shapes, or keep it simple with Hula Hoops and bean bags<\/a> or whatever you have around.<\/p> These are great for outdoor dice games like yard Yahtzee (AKA Yardzee). Low on cash? Homemade giant dice<\/a> are a great DIY project.<\/p> Giant Jenga is a jumbo-sized version of the classic game. Most sets even come with a handy carrying case so you can take it on the road.<\/p> Take these indoor board games outside. Don\u2019t leave the set on the grass long-term, though, unless you don\u2019t mind going without grass in that area.<\/p> Why giant yard games won\u2019t ruin your lawn:<\/strong> As long as you pick up the giant game after you use it, there shouldn\u2019t be any harm to the lawn.<\/p> First off, let\u2019s get this pronunciation right: Sounds like \u201ckoob.\u201d Ok, so what is Kubb<\/a>? The story goes that this is a modern version of an ancient Viking game. Kubb<\/em> means \u201cblock of wood,\u201d and the modern game is composed of three kinds of large wooden pieces: one king, six batons (femurs) and 10 kubbs (skulls). <\/p> Have a minimum<\/em> of four to six people to play on opposing teams. (Exact rules of engagement vary in official competitions.) Knock down all of the opposing team\u2019s kubbs without knocking over the king. Then knock down the king for the win.<\/p> Why Kubb won\u2019t ruin your lawn:<\/strong> You will need to smush the grass a little to get the pieces to stand up in the lawn, but not to worry. If you have a healthy lawn, it should rebound without any trouble.<\/p> You may have seen ladder toss games outside stadiums on game day. To play this tailgate favorite<\/a>, you\u2019ll need a ladder toss set which includes six bolas (two balls attached by a string) and two small \u201cladders.\u201d You can play with two or four players. The goal is to earn points by throwing the bolas to hit the horizontal rungs and wrap around the ladder. <\/p> Why ladder toss won\u2019t ruin your lawn:<\/strong> Most ladders are very lightweight and won\u2019t cause damage to healthy grass.<\/p> Ring toss games are simple but have been enjoyed for eons. If you like to DIY, this is a great game to construct f<\/a>rom scratch or use things you have around the house. Horseshoes are another variation of this theme.<\/p> Why ring toss won\u2019t ruin your lawn:<\/strong> Most ring toss footprints are very small. Change the location each time you play to avoid wearing down the lawn.<\/p> Spikeball is a fun game to play with three friends. Since the field of play is centered around a small net, this game is perfect for those with small lawns.<\/p> Why spikeball won\u2019t ruin your lawn:<\/strong> The field of play is very small. Move the net around each time to avoid hitting the soil in the same place each time you play.<\/p> Fill up a bucket of water balloons, choose your teams, and start dodging. <\/p> Why water balloon dodgeball won\u2019t ruin your lawn:<\/strong> Most people only play this game during the hottest months of the year, so the season for this game is limited. With such a short season, a healthy, well-maintained lawn should be fine.<\/p> Outdoor games don\u2019t have to hurt your lawn. Here are a few tips and tricks to avoid damage in the first place.<\/p> Certain turfgrasses are more resistant to wear than others.<\/p> Warm-season grasses that resist wear<\/strong> in high foot traffic situations:<\/p> Cool-season grasses that resist wear<\/strong> in high foot traffic situations:<\/p> Most cool-season lawns are mixes of more than one cool-season grass. This helps the lawn resist disease and gives a stronger overall lawn. This happens because you\u2019re taking advantage of the strengths of more than one grass species.<\/p> Note:<\/strong> Keep in mind that the recuperative potential<\/a><\/strong> (see chart on pg. six) is different from wear tolerance<\/strong>. The grasses listed above (both warm- and cool-season) are good at resisting damage (wear tolerance). But once damage occurs, you have to think about its ability to recuperate as well. <\/p> Both bermuda and Zoysia have stolons (above-ground stems) and<\/em> rhizomes (below-ground stems) that help them to recover if there is too much wear and you get a few bare patches in the lawn. Bermuda spreads aggressively and has excellent recuperative ability. Zoysia recovers well also, but its growth habit is very slow, so recovery will take more time.<\/p> Perennial ryegrass and tall fescue get top marks for their ability to resist wear, but they fall at the bottom of the pack when it comes to recuperative ability. Tall fescue (with some exceptions) and perennial ryegrass are bunching grasses and do not have the stolons or rhizomes to repair themselves. Kentucky bluegrass only has moderate wear resistance but its rhizomes give it a moderate ability to recuperate from wear. <\/p> Grasses with high recuperative potential:<\/p> OK, we\u2019re not talking hockey here, but it\u2019s a good idea to vary the traffic (er\u2026 game) patterns in the lawn. Don\u2019t set up cornhole boards, blocks, dice, etc., in the same spot each time you play. Rotate the equipment around to different spots on the lawn.<\/p> Once you\u2019re done for the day, pick up your boards, nets, or rings and store them away from the elements. This not only protects your equipment, but also prevents the games, nets, or balls from pushing the grass down for an extended period.<\/p> When you\u2019re hauling your equipment to or from the storage area, carry it to its final destination. Pulling a cornhole board across the grass will cause unnecessary damage.<\/p> As you enjoy backyard sports with your friends, consider adding a new twist to your favorite games: going barefoot. Not only may going barefoot have health benefits, but it is also easier on your lawn as well.<\/p> The way to do as little repair as possible is to keep up with your seasonal lawn maintenance. It\u2019s similar to your health. If you give yourself a healthy diet and exercise, you\u2019ll be less likely to succumb to bugs when they come your way. And if you do get sick, it may be less severe, and you\u2019re more likely to recover faster.<\/p> Here\u2019s a quick snapshot of a seasonal lawn maintenance calendar:<\/p> Spring: <\/strong><\/p> Summer:<\/strong><\/p> *Late spring\/early summer<\/p> Fall:<\/strong><\/p> If you already have compacted soil, use a heavy mower, or play lots of sports on your lawn, aeration may be an annual chore. If you use the lawn for play and games throughout the year, plan to do overseeding annually as well.<\/p> The best way to repair damaged grass is to overseed it. Here\u2019s how:<\/p> For more information, check out our how-to guide: 4 Steps to Overseed a Lawn<\/a>.<\/p> Any sport that constantly impacts the lawn with balls (think bocce ball) or foot traffic will compact the lawn<\/a>. If left untreated, compacted soil will cause the turf to thin and die in spots around the lawn.\u00a0\u00a0 Here at Lawn Love, we\u2019re chock-full of articles on how to take care of your lawn. Dig into some of our resources for more information: Before you invite friends over for a game of water balloon dodgeball, be sure to pick up after your dog. If you have a dog, it might be helpful to have a designated dog zone<\/a> so the rest of your lawn is always ready for game day. <\/p> <\/div> <\/div> If you\u2019d rather focus on your cornhole toss than seasonal lawn maintenance, we can help. Let our <\/em>local lawn care pros<\/em><\/a> mow, edge, fertilize<\/em>, and keep your lawn ready for whatever games may come its way.<\/em><\/p> 2. Cornhole<\/span><\/h3>
3. Frisbee<\/span><\/h3>
4. Giant yard games<\/span><\/h3>
5. Kubb<\/span><\/h3>
6. Ladder toss (AKA ladder golf)<\/span><\/h3>
7. Ring toss<\/span><\/h3>
8. Spikeball<\/span><\/h3>
9, Water balloon dodgeball<\/span><\/h3>
How to protect your lawn from traffic damage<\/span><\/h2>
Know your lawn<\/span><\/h3>
Change \u2018em up!<\/span><\/h3>
Clean \u2018em up!<\/span><\/h3>
Carry (don\u2019t slide) equipment across the lawn<\/span><\/h3>
Go barefoot<\/span><\/h3>
How to prevent damaged grass<\/span><\/h2>
How to repair damaged grass<\/span><\/h2>
FAQ about backyard games that won\u2019t ruin your lawn<\/span><\/h2>