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| While driving around southeast Hesperia, I found some examples of fire-resistant landscaping, here are two of them. This one shows a beautiful design that includes grass and rock with a few shrubs. The only thing that could be an issue is the one palm tree planted right next to the home. Another plus about this landscape is that it is completely surrounded by a protective block wall fence that can help to stop a fire at the property’s edge. |
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| This home is in a more open space. It shows clearing around the property with low growing, lush plantings near the house. It does have a juniper, but it is isolated and well away from the home. |
With the ongoing
drought and huge potential for wildfires, I thought it might be a good time to
offer some fire-resistant landscaping information. For those who live in areas
where wildfires are a real possibility, it is good idea to maintain a
defensible space around your homes and use fire-resistant plant materials in
your landscaping.
The Colorado
State University Extension offers the following great information to protect
your home from wildfires: “Vegetative clearance around the house (defensible space) is a primary
determinant of a home's ability to survive wildfire. Defensible space is,
simply, room for firefighters to do their job. If grasses, brush, trees and
other common fuels are removed, reduced, or modified to lessen a fire's
intensity and keep it away from the home, chances increase that the structure
will survive. It is a little-known fact that in the absence of a defensible
space, firefighters will often bypass a house, choosing to make their stand at
a home where their safety is more assured and the chance to successfully
protect the structure is greater.”
- Landscape
according to the recommended defensible-space zones. That is, the plants near
your home should be more widely spaced and lower growing than those farther
away.
- Do not plant in
large masses. Instead, plant in small, irregular clusters or islands.
- Use decorative
rock, gravel and stepping stone pathways to break up the continuity of the
vegetation and fuels.
- Incorporate a
diversity of plant types and species in your landscape. Not only will this be
visually satisfying, but also it should help keep pests and diseases from
causing problems within the whole landscape.
- In the event of
drought and water rationing, prioritize plants to be saved. Provide available
supplemental water to plants closest to your house.
- Use mulches to
conserve moisture and reduce weed growth. Mulch can be organic or inorganic. Do
not use pine bark, thick layers of pine needles or other mulches that readily
carry fire.
Don’t forget about maintenance
A landscape is a dynamic system that constantly grows and changes. Plants considered fire resistant and which have low fuel volumes can lose these characteristics over time. Your landscape, and the plants in it, must be maintained to retain their “Fire Wise” properties.
- Be aware of the
growth habits of the plants within your landscape and of the changes that occur
throughout the seasons.
- Remove annuals
and perennials after they have gone to seed or when the stems become dry.
- Rake up leaves
and other litter as it builds up throughout the season.
- Mow or trim
grasses to a low height within your defensible space. This is particularly
important as grasses become dry.
- Remove plant
parts damaged by snow, wind, frost or other agents.
- Timely pruning is
critical. Pruning not only reduces fuel volumes but also maintains healthier
plants by producing more vigorous, succulent growth.
Characteristics of fire-resistant plants
• Store water in leaves or stems
• Produce very little dead or fine material
• Possess extensive, deep root systems for controlling erosion
• Maintain high moisture content with limited watering
• Grow slowly and need little maintenance
• Are low growing in form
• Contain low levels of volatile oils or resins
• Have an open, loose branching habit with a low volume of total
vegetation
The moisture content of plants is an important consideration because
high levels of plant moisture
can lower fire risk and act as a heat sink, reducing the intensity and spread
of fire.
Some California native fire-resistant landscape plants suitable for the High Desert and many surrounding areas include:
Western Redbud, Monkeyflower, Sage, Common Yarrow, California Sycamore, Toyon, California Fuchsia, Penstemon, California Poppy, and Flannel Bush.
Succulents such as Sedum or Ice Plant are also good choices for fire-resistant groundcovers on banks and hillsides.
Plants to avoid include Acacias, Eucalyptus, Cypress, Fir, Juniper, Pines and Chamise.
Visit following
websites for lists of California-friendly fire-resistant plants and other valuable
information for creating and maintaining a defensible space:
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