Wildfires destroy hundreds of homes every year across the country.
Fires can be particularly dangerous in hot and dry climates, and as we reach the fire season, landscapers can have a direct hand in reducing the spreading of wildfires.
Through careful plant selection, planting strategies and proper maintenance, landscapers can significantly reduce the rate of which fire spreads.
Landscapers can create a perimeter around residential and commercial areas by trimming the trees and brush within 30 feet of the buildings.
Choosing fire-resistant materials such as rocks, fire-resistant plants, less flammable trees like hardwood, maple and popular, fire will have less of a chance of spreading faster.
Landscapers have the ability to create fire-safe zone such as swimming pools, stone walls, patios and decks.
More tips from the U.S. Fire Administration:
- Remove all dead plants, trees and shrubs from the site.
- Reduce excess leaves, plant parts and low-hanging branches.
- Replace dense flammable plants with fire-resistant plants.
- The choice of plants, spacing and maintenance are crucial elements in any defensible space landscaping plan.
- Beyond 30 feet, remove dead wood, debris and low tree branches.
- Eliminate small trees and plants growing under trees. They allow ground fires to jump into tree crowns.
- Space trees 30 feet apart and prune to a height of 8 to 10 feet.
- Place shrubs at least 20 feet from any structures and prune regularly.
- Plant the most drought-tolerant vegetation within three feet of your home and adjacent to structures to prevent ignition.
- Provide at least a 10 to 15-foot separation between islands of shrubs and plant groups to effectively break-up continuity of vegetation.
