What causes grass deterioration?

[naelyn]

I know in City Folk it's caused by... everything; walking running, loading game, villagers walking, etc.

In New leaf is it just caused by walking/ running? Or does the loading and animal villagers still cause it. I would like a detail list and ways to prevent please. Thanks a bunch.

 

[Dummo]

I read somewhere that running and walking causes grass erosion, where running makes it deteriorate even faster. Not sure about animal villagers. I also know paths don't protect grass erosion either. The safest way to prevent grass erosion is to stay off it as much as possible. You can regrow grass by planting flowers and watering them over patches of dirt, but keep in mind that there are spots that are permanent dirt!

 

[visibleghost]

i'm pretty sure i've heard that villagers walking will not cause grass erosion but i'm not 100% sure if it's true

 

[tealeaps]

I don't think villagers walking will deteriorate the grass. As far as I know, it's just walking fast and running, while running makes it deteriorate faster.

 

[HungryForCereal]

-running on the same place everytime
-buildings
-PWPs

 

[Mick]

This is pretty much what is known:
Buildings and PWPs instantly destroy grass
Running and walking causes deterioration
Loading repeatedly does no damage (Rumoured but likely true, can say with personal experimenting)
Patterns do not prevent grass wear. They do, however, make you have it all in hidden places.
Villagers do no damage to your grass, ever. (Rumours do say that villagers will gravitate to places you visit often though, which might make it seem like they do.)

Regrowing:
Some spots will never regrow grass. These spots are there from the start of the game.
Flowers help, and so does watering them. This way, you can grow back grass pretty fast.
Trees do not help speed it up (I think), but they do prevent you from walking over the spot again, so they kinda do.

 

[Ettienne]

This is pretty much what is known:
Buildings and PWPs instantly destroy grass
Running and walking causes deterioration
Loading repeatedly does no damage (Rumoured but likely true, can say with personal experimenting)
Patterns do not prevent grass wear. They do, however, make you have it all in hidden places.
Villagers do no damage to your grass, ever. (Rumours do say that villagers will gravitate to places you visit often though, which might make it seem like they do.)

Regrowing:
Some spots will never regrow grass. These spots are there from the start of the game.
Flowers help, and so does watering them. This way, you can grow back grass pretty fast.
Trees do not help speed it up (I think), but they do prevent you from walking over the spot again, so they kinda do.

Regrowing:
You can prevent a villager from moving, TT forward a few weeks, then back to regrow grass quickly if you have large areas you'd like to regrow without waiting.