Fire-Wise Landscaping
A resilient, fire-wise landscape design uses sustainable practices, hardscape, plant selection and maintenance to reduce the risk of fire in the defensible space zone, while creating a beautiful garden.
A resilient, fire-wise landscape design uses sustainable practices, hardscape, plant selection and maintenance to reduce the risk of fire in the defensible space zone, while creating a beautiful garden.
Design and photo credit: April Owens Design
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Fire-wise landscaping integrates proper plant selection, placement and maintenance, with features such as retaining walls, paths, fencing, and open areas to reduce a property’s vulnerability to wildfire. Careful planning and design will reduce the possibility of ignition, lower fire intensity, and slow the spread of fire – all factors which will increase a home’s survivability during a wildfire.
Creating a sustainable, fire-wise garden takes careful planning, and it may be helpful to consult with a local landscape professional knowledgeable about the techniques described in this section. Within the 100’ defensible space, “fuel breaks” are a vital component in fire-wise design. Create fuel breaks with driveways, low-water use lawns, walkways, patios, parking areas, areas with inorganic mulches such as decorative rock, and with fences or walls of nonflammable materials such as rock, brick, metal or concrete to slow the spread of fire and separate your home from ignition sources. Leaving open space around the home and within the landscape also allows firefighters leeway to fight a fire safely and effectively. While bare soil can’t burn, it is not promoted as a firewise element due to aesthetic and soil erosion concerns, although some small patches of bare earth can provide habitat for native bees. |
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