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| Do You Need Fire Resistant Landscaping? |
By:
Marie Wakefield |
Each year, homes are destroyed by wildfires. If you live in or are planning to move to an area where homes are intermixed with woodlands, your home may be in jeopardy, and your life and the lives of your family may be at risk.
Fire prone landscaping around homes increases the possibility of fire damage, while also hindering the activities of firefighters. Homeowners and communities would benefit from landscaping techniques that create a semi-fireproof zone or defensible space around homes.
The first step is creating a series of zones that break the fire chain. The concept behind this landscaping is that while no plant is fireproof, some are more flammable than others. The area around the house is landscaped into four plant zones, with the most flammable vegetation planted farthest from the house. Zone 4, farthest from the house, would consist of vegetation that has been thinned to reduce the amount of fuel that could feed a fire. Zone 3 includes plants selected for their low profile and slow-burning characteristics. Zone 2 features highly fire-retardant plants. It's designed to be a greenbelt zone of maximum fire protection. Zone 1, closest to the residence, is a small area of plants that pose little risk of burning.
Here are some more suggestions on how to make home landscaping more resistant to wildfires.
Always keep a watchful eye towards reducing the fuel volumes available to fire. Be aware of growth habits of the plants within your landscape and of the changes that occur throughout the seasons.
Remove annuals and prune perennials after they have gone to seed or when the stems become overly dry.
Rake up leaves and other litter as it builds up through the season.
Mow or trim grasses to a low height within your defensible space.
Remove plant parts damaged by snow, wind, frost, or other agents.
Prune all plants, trees, and shrubs in a timely manner; this is critical. Pruning not only reduces fuel volumes but also maintains healthier plants by producing more vigorous growth.
Maintain your landscaping. This is a critical part of your home's defense system.
Consider too, that regular landscape maintenance provides fire safety. Over time, plants grow and spread; mulches dry out; leaves and pine needles accumulate. All contribute to the fuels from which a fire grows. Proper maintenance improves the appearance and helps protect your home from wildfire.
Using fire resistant plants in your landscaping is part of the overall fire defense plan.
What are fire-resistant plants?
Fire resistant plants are plants that don't readily ignite from a flame or other ignition sources. Although fire-resistant plants can be damaged or even killed by fire, their foliage and stems don't contribute significantly to the fuel and, therefore, the fire's intensity.
Plants that are fire-resistant have the following characteristics:
Leaves are moist and supple.
Plants that have little dead wood and tend not to accumulate dry, dead material within the plant.
Sap is water-like and does not have a strong odor.
Most deciduous trees and shrubs are fire-resistant.
However, it's important to remember that even fire resistant plants can burn, particularly if they are not maintained in a healthy condition.
It is impossible to control the factors that start the wildfires that occur in numerous parts of the world; homeowners can alter their landscaping and thereby increase the odds of their homes and property surviving a fire, while still enjoying the nature's beauty. |
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