PREPARE YOUR PROPERTY

Fire Resilient Landscaping

Maintain space between the lowest tree branches and the ground or shrubs.

Remove all tree branches at least six feet from the ground.
Allow extra vertical space between shrubs and trees. Lack of vertical space can allow a fire to move from the ground to the brush to the treetops like a ladder. This leads to more intense fire closer to your home.
Keep at least three times the height of any shrubs between the shrubs and the lowest branches of trees.
Example: A 5-foot shrub is growing near a tree. 15 feet of clearance is needed between the top of the shrub and the lowest tree branch.
Maintenance is required year-round.
Download PDF for planting trees

Space between shrubs:

Flat or mild slope (less than 20%): Two times the height of the shrub.
Mild to moderate slope (20-40%): Four times the height of the shrub
Moderate to steep slope (greater than 40%): Six times the height of the shrub

Space between trees:

Flat or mild slope (less than 20%): 10 feet.
Mild to moderate slope (20-40%): 20 feet.
Moderate to steep slope (greater than 40%): 30 feet.

Maintenance is required year-round.

Download PDF for planting trees

Mulch plays an important role in Western residential landscapes. Mulches are often promoted as being environmentally friendly and a desirable landscape practice. Mulch can do the following:

reduce the water requirements of plants
cool soil temperatures
reduce the occurrence of weeds
control soil erosion and dust
prevent soil compaction
visually enhance the landscape

Unfortunately, despite the positive attributes, many mulches are combustible–a major drawback when used in home landscapes located in wildfire-prone areas

More info on Mulch types and concerns

Maintaining noncombustible, ignition-resistant areas immediately adjacent to structures is particularly important. Embers often accumulate adjacent to structures, providing an ignition source for combustible materials.

Inorganic mulches such as decomposed granite, gravel, or rocks offer superior fire-proofing as landscape mulches and should be used when mulch is needed within five feet of buildings or any combustible structural materials such as siding or decking.

Any fallen or windblown leaf litter or debris that has collected on the rocks must be regularly removed to prevent small debris fires from igniting structures.

Live plants, even when irrigated, are not recommended within five feet of buildings

Fire-Resilient landscaping uses carefully chosen and well-maintained plants that are strategically planted to resist the spread of fire to your home.

To create a fire-smart landscape, maintenance and design are often more important than the plant species itself. That said, some “fire-hazardous” plants burn readily and should be avoided in residential landscaping.

Fire Resilient Plants

Fire Resilient Landscaping - Download PDF