FIRESCAPE: PNWCG

FIRESCAPE: Fire-safe landscape design

Firescaping is a type of landscape design that reduces a home's vulnerability to wildfire. The goal is to develop and design a landscape with plants that offer fire protection and enhance the property. The idea is to surround the home with things that are less likely to burn.

Proper plant selection, placement, and maintenance can diminish the possibility of ignition, lower fire intensity, and reduce the rate at which a fire spreads.

Zone 1: Moist and Trim

Choose "firewise" plants for your defensible space. Low-growing, firewise plants resist catching fire and provide little fuel. Lawns, groundcovers, perennials, and annuals form a greenbelt that is regularly watered and maintained to eliminate dry plant litter. Rock mulches, patios, masonry, or rock planters are excellent fuelbreaks. Be creative with boulders, riprap, and dry streambeds. This zone may contain occasional individual shrubs and trees located at least 10 feet from the house.

The traditional foundation planting of junipers is not a viable solution in a firescape design. Because junipers, other conifers, and broadleaf evergreens contain oils, resins, and waxes that make these plants burn with great intensity, the use of these plants should be minimized within 30 feet of structures. A firescape landscape shows off plants and other garden elements by leaving space between plants and groups of plants.

Characteristics of Firewise Plants:

Little seasonal accumulation of dead vegetation
Open, loose branching habit
Non-resinous woody material -- avoid junipers and other conifers
Low volume of total vegetation
High moisture content in leaves
Slow growth requires less frequent pruning

Zone 2: Low and Sparse:

Slow growing, drought-tolerant shrubs and groundcovers keep fire near ground level. Native vegetation can be retained in this zone if it is low growing and doesn't accumulate dry, flammable material. The transition between zones creates breaks in the fire's path to slow advancing flames.

Zone 3: High and Clean

Fire intensity is reduced where it can burn less fuel. Native trees are thinned and dry debris on the ground is removed. Prune tree branches up to 10 feet or more above the ground to reduce the possibility of surface fires spreading into tree crowns. This zone requires removing overgrowth and major pruning every three to five years. Specimen trees can be planted at the edge of this zone if pruned properly.

Regular Maintenance

Experience and research have shown that a distance of 100-150 feet around your home needs this comprehensive landscaping. Greater distances are necessary on steep slopes or windswept exposures. Most plants accumulate excess woody material and shed seasonal foliage. Branches spread, often touching other vegetation. Weeds grow between landscape plants. You must actively reduce this accumulation of potential fuel by regular pruning, mowing, and raking, followed by proper disposal. The less accumulated plant debris, the slower a fire will spread.