Fire Safe Landscaping

Protective Plants

Over the last 20-some years, the idea of landscaping for fire safety has taken hold, especially in high risk areas. Lush sample gardens have been developed in parks and nurseries to illustrate that a fire safe yard and more effective defensible space doesn’t have to look barren or bland.

Fire resistant does not mean fire proof. Fire resistant plants’ foliage and stems do not contribute significantly to fire fuel which means they can reduce the intensity or at least not intensify a fire. Plant choices will vary with climate. Succulents like ice plant may be the fire resistant ground cover of choice in low altitude, coastal areas of California, but would be reduced to gray mush after the first harsh winters at higher inland altitudes. This site will provide the characteristics and some examples of fire resistant plants, but full lists of what will thrive in your area are available with just a little research. Local nurseries are another good resource. We’ll also list the characteristics of plants to avoid.

The key to a successful fire resistant landscape is maintenance. Keep the lawn mowed; follow the irrigation recommendations for your landscape; prune, clip and lop to reduce debris. A dead or dying fire resistant plant offers no protection.

Many rural communities that are surrounded by open, natural lands promote native plants for landscaping in an effort to discourage non-natives species that can, over time, choke out the natural habitat. Be careful in your selection and placement of natives as some are not fire resistant and in fact fit in the more flammable category.

Do’s

Select plants that…

• Grow close to the ground
• Have a low sap or resin content
• Have a high water content
• Grow without accumulating dead branches, needles or leaves
• Have loose branching patterns with a low volume of total vegetation
• Are easily maintained and pruned or grow slowly
• Are drought-tolerant, in some cases. Drought tolerant plants tend to have smaller leaves or succulent leaves that store water

Choices

• Deciduous plants (go dormant in winter) have a basic chemistry that is less flammable than conifers and have a higher water content in the leaves. Conifers have a high oil and pitch content and tend to be more flammable. If you love your pine trees, keep them limbed, pruned and not right next to structures. Conifers with thick bark, long needles and those that loose their lower branches naturally are better choices.
• Mulch to conserve water content. Organic mulches include wood chips and small bark pieces; inorganic mulches, gravel or rock. If you opt for wood-based mulches, keep them moist and preferably in areas away from the home. Compost or manures will work into the soil, great for the soil but you will have to re-mulch annually.
• A sampling of fire safe plants and trees include lilac, Rocky Mountain maple, honeylocust, spreading cotoneaster, wax flower, honeysuckle, rosemary, African daisy and periwinkle.

Don’ts

The following characterize plants that are highly flammable.

• Have fine, dry growth or retain dead material (twigs, leaves, needles) within the plant
• Leaves, twigs and stems contain volatile waxes, terpenes or oils
• Leaves are aromatic with a strong smell when crushed
• Sap is gummy, resinous and has a strong odor
• Have loose or papery bark

Tagged as: Fire safe landscaping