If you are someone who regularly completes outdoor projects at home using heavy equipment or machinery, you probably know that damage to your lawn is a common issue. Trucks, steers, and diggers often weigh a lot more than your lawn is able to hold. So when these vehicles move across your yard, you have a higher risk of obtaining ruts, compacted soil, and torn-up grass.
In order to prevent unwanted damage to your landscaping, ground protection mats for heavy equipment are an essential addition to your outdoor supplies. Heavy-duty ground protection mats create a durable and stable surface that evenly distributes the weight of your machinery. By doing so, they provide premium protection for the landscaping you’ve put so many hours of work into.
In this article, we will dive deeper into the importance of ground protection mats for heavy equipment, including how they work, how to use them. It will help you to buy the right ground protection mats thats meet your specific needs.
How Heavy Equipment Can Damage Your Lawn
As stated above, the machinery used to complete landscaping tasks, work on your driveway, or prepare for an outdoor event is often extremely heavy. For example, a typical skid steer loader can weigh anywhere from 3,000 lbs to 12,000 lbs. Because your home lawn is generally a softer surface, this is enough weight to cause significant damage. Here’s a closer look at the ways heavy equipment can damage your lawn:
- Soil Compaction: Due to the immense pressure placed onto the grass by heavy machinery, the soil is often pressed down so hard it becomes difficult for grass to continue growing.
- Ruts: You can identify ruts as deep grooves or holes on the surface of your landscaping. Ruts can present significant dangers to those doing yardwork or simply walking in the grass, as they can cause you to trip and fall.
- Torn Up Grass: Heavy-duty lawn care machinery can easily tear up your grass as well. Once this happens, it becomes much more difficult for your grass to grow back. This also affects the appearance of your lawn.
How to Use Ground Protection Mats for Heavy Equipment
Heavy equipment ground protection mats are among the most reliable tools for outdoor projects. They can be used in many different ways to create strong surfaces and evenly distribute excessive weights across the surface you’re working on. To gain a better understanding of just how heavy equipment mats can be used for your outdoor operations, see the guide below:
Easy to Use:
- Step 1 – Plan out the path on which you will use your lawn protection mats.
- Step 2 – Lay down the mats next to each other to create your pathway.
- Step 3 – Connect your ground protection mats if needed for extra stability.
Various Applications:
- Protection from lawn damage
- Temporary walkways and driveways
- Staging and event areas
- Parking spaces over grass
- Home renovations and moves
Discover how lawn protection mats can provide durable, reusable ground support for various industrial and commercial applications.
How to Choose the Right Ground Protection Mats for You
Because ground protection mats are a tool made for wide compatibility, there are a few factors to consider when finding the best one to meet your needs:
- Weight Capacity: When selecting grass protection mats for your outdoor operations, it’s crucial to consider the size of your equipment or the items the mats will be holding. If you exceed the weight limit, they’re more likely to break.
- Type of Material: Ground protection mats come in various materials to work in various applications and industries, including heavy-duty plastic, rubber, and more. Be sure to match the material to the durability needed.
- Surface Texture: Ground protection mats are also available in a wide range of textures. For example, if you’re using your mats to create a walkway, consider purchasing some with non-slip treads for optimal safety.
- Size & Thickness: When using ground protection mats for heavy equipment, always match the size of the mat with the size of the machinery you are handling. This is essential for efficient damage prevention.
Some Final Tips to Protect Your Lawn from Equipment Damage
For you to get the best use out of your ground protection mats for heavy equipment, here are some final tips:
- Avoid working outdoors during and after heavy rain to eliminate the risk of muddy ruts.
- Plywood can be an alternative to ground protection mats for short-term outdoor projects.
- Clean your ground protection mats before storage to prevent the spread of dirt or disease.
By following this guide when using ground protection mats for heavy equipment, you’re guaranteed to keep your lawn in top condition no matter the project.
