"Does anyone know how far away ornamental grasses should ideally be from a fire pit? I'd rather not rip everything out if I don't have to..."
I totally get your hesitation—I installed a fire pit last summer, and after the initial excitement wore off, I started noticing all the plants around it and wondering the same thing. I did a bit of digging around (pun intended, sorry couldn't resist) and found that most gardening and safety sites recommend at least a 3-foot clearance from anything flammable, including ornamental grasses.
We had some fountain grass too, and honestly, it was closer than that. Instead of ripping it out completely (felt like a waste of money and effort), we trimmed it back significantly and relocated a couple of the larger clumps further away. It wasn't as big a hassle as I expected, and it actually ended up looking nicer—less cluttered, more intentional. Plus, it gave me peace of mind, which is worth a lot when you're trying to relax around a fire.
One thing to keep in mind is that ornamental grasses, especially fountain grass, dry out pretty quickly during certain seasons. So even if they seem fine now, they can become a real hazard later on. Just something to consider when deciding how much to trim or move.
Also, maybe check with your local fire department or city guidelines? I know some areas have specific recommendations or even regulations about fire pit clearances. Better safe than sorry, right?
Anyway, good luck! Fire pits are awesome, but yeah...safety first.
I went through something similar last spring...built a fire pit and then realized my landscaping was probably a bit too close. I looked into it, and yeah, most guidelines say around 3 feet minimum clearance from grasses or shrubs. But honestly, I ended up giving it closer to 4-5 feet because ornamental grasses dry out fast, especially in late summer/fall, and I didn't want to stress every time we lit a fire.
I didn't rip everything out either—just dug up a few clumps and moved them further back. Took maybe an afternoon, wasn't too bad. Plus, it actually made the area look cleaner and more open, which was a nice bonus. I'd say trimming back is fine temporarily, but relocating is probably your best bet long-term. And definitely check local regs if you haven't yet; some places are picky about it.
Fire pits are awesome, but not worth losing sleep (or plants) over...
