Summer is the perfect time to relax outside. And while you’ve gone to great lengths to keep up with your Denver sprinkler repairs and made sure your lawn looks its best, you also want to be able to use it. There’s nothing better than keeping your friends and family entertained and having fun in your yard. But restricting activities to the patio or deck always puts a damper on things. You don’t have to. You just have to be smart about the types of activities you allow on your grass. Here are a few of our favorite lawn games that won’t damage your turf but WILL keep your guests entertained for hours at a time.

Spike Ball
Spike Ball is a fun multi-player game that’s ideal for older kids and adults alike. It’s best played with two teams of two players, but can be played one on one if you feel like being really active. It features a lightweight net that allows the balls to bounce high into the air when players spike the ball onto the trampoline. The goal is to hit the ball towards other players in a way that they can’t lob it back at you. Each pass has to hit the net for the play to count. And every time the other team misses the ball, you earn a point. The first team to reach 21 points wins the game. 

Since the net is lightweight and the supports are wide for the relative size of the net, you don’t have to worry about damaging the grass. Even if you end up leaving the net out overnight, your lawn will still look just as good the next day. Keep in mind it’s best if players remove their shoes when playing as the tread of their soles can rip up your grass. 

Ladder Ball
Ladder ball is a great game for players of all ages and two people can play at any given time. The game uses two 3-rung “ladders” with sturdy bases to keep them upright. The ladders are typically made of wood or PVC pipe and you can build your own set if you’re working with a tight budget. 

The object of the game is to get the bolas (two balls connected by a thin rope) to loop around one of the three rungs. The top rung is worth three points, the middle is worth two, and the bottom is worth one. Players throw from 15 feet away and must reach 21 points exactly. If you score over 21 points, you lose the game. 

Since ladder ball is lightweight and doesn’t require any permanent setup or tons of running to play, your grass will look great no matter how many games you get started during your gatherings. Just take care to play away from the house, windows, and anything else that’s breakable. The bolas are hard and when thrown with force, they can damage property and even dent your car. 

Badminton
Badminton is a centuries-old game that’s the perfect choice for your lawn party. It requires a net that can hang between trees or be set up in the middle of your lawn with thin stakes and supports. These won’t do any more damage to your lawn than aerating the soil would. But you will want to be cautious about where you place the net. Keep it away from any sprinkler heads to keep your guests safe and reduce the risk of damage to your system. 

The game itself is played by two teams of two players. The players try to send the birdie or shuttlecock over the net and points are won when the other team misses the shuttlecock. The goal is to keep the shuttlecock off the ground at all times. The first team to reach 20 points with at least a two-point lead over the other team wins. But if you want to keep the fun going, you can always make the winning point count higher. 

Feel free to leave the net up for the whole summer if you’re only playing on the weekends. If you’re going to use the net more frequently, you may want to move it once a week. This will keep you from wearing down certain areas of your lawn and spreads out the impact from standing and gameplay. 

Cornhole
What’s an outdoor gathering without cornhole?! Nothing! And the best part is that this classic game won’t do any damage to your lawn during the party. The goal is to toss your beanbags as close to the hole in the board as possible. 

The boards should be facing each other 27 feet apart if you’re following regulation rules. But if you’re just playing for fun or are playing with kids, feel free to move the boards closer.  You’ll throw at the opposing board from behind the other board. Each beanbag that lands on the board and stays put earns one point. Every bag that goes through the hole earns three points. 

You can play single rounds with the highest score winning or play a total of three rounds with the first person to win two rounds wins the match. It’s entirely up to you and because gameplay is fast, it’s the perfect way to keep an entire gathering entertained. 

Just make sure you put the cornhole boards up at the end of the day. Leaving them on the lawn will put excess pressure on your grass and shields the turf from the sun and water it needs to thrive. The last thing you want to deal with is ugly brown patches on your lawn because you forgot to pick up the cornhole set after last week’s party. 

Let your lawn turn into the best summer hangout spot on the block. Stock up on lawn games, host parties with abandon, and enjoy everything the summer brings in style. Just make sure your sprinkler system can keep up with your watering needs. Contact us today to schedule a maintenance appointment and let our team tune up your system before the weather gets too warm.