Fire-Resistant Landscaping

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The typical arrangement of plant material near a home is often small plants in front and shrubs and small trees to "frame" the structure. In areas where wildfires are likely, however, this design strategy is a recipe for a disaster. Instead, adopt fire-resistant landscaping.
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Low-growing succulents like this ice plant provide colorful choices for a fire-resistant landscape. Get more information on fire-resistant plants and find out which ones to avoid.
by Marie Hofer, Gardening editor, HGTV.com

You know the principles of building fires at a campsite or in a fireplace--the more fuel, the hotter the fire; the more "tinder," the quicker it burns; fire burns upward and outward. Don't create the makings of a big one around your home.

Help firefighters defend your home in case of wildfire by creating a defensible space around your home. A defensible space is usually considered to be about 30 feet in all directions, unless the home is on a slope. The steeper the slope, the larger the defensible space needs to be--100 feet or more--especially below the home.

  • Remove all dead and decaying wood and brush from around your home. Clean out debris from roof and gutters.
  • Prune away limbs that overhang the house or any flammable structure.
  • Remove all flammable shrubs, trees, ornamental grasses and other plants within the defensible area and replace with low-growing, fire-resistant plants. Succulents like aloe, agave and ice plant are ideal. Replace pines and other conifers with deciduous trees.
  • Remove "ladder" vegetation--shrubs or small trees beneath or near larger trees, perennials beneath or near shrubs.
  • Allow plenty of space between plants that are near your home. Avoid planting in large, tight masses. Instead, create irregular, sparsely planted, small islands at least 10 to 15 feet apart.
  • Keep grass mowed. If you live in an arid region, irrigate the grass near the house. If you have to ration water during a drought, water only those plants nearest your house.
  • Let non-flammable hardscaping--things like flagstone walks, brick patios, stone retaining walls, pea gravel mulch--provide the beauty and curb appeal of much of the defensible area.
  • Mulch but avoid using pine needles or pine bark.
  • Install a spark arrester on the chimney. Prune trees so limbs are at least 20 feet away.

    • From paths and patios to pergolas and water features, our hardscaping ideas will help you create the yard of your dreams.