Eisley Nursery

GETTIN’ DIRTY with the Garden Goddesses…

By Earlene Eisley-Freeman and Cyndi Davis

Altho’ there are many fun topics to talk about when we get together to discuss gardening, the recent fire that destroyed numerous homes and businesses in North Auburn triggers the discussion about landscaping our homes and businesses with fire prevention and resistance in mind.

“FireScaping” is the concept of using fire resistant and fire retardant plants in the landscape in combination with other practices to protect our homes and families in the event of a wild fire. Plants alone cannot protect our homes, but in combination with good maintenance and other preventative and protective measures, proper plant selection can increase the chances that our homes will be the ones to survive a blaze such as the one that whipped through Auburn last month. Plant selection is the third most important thing to protect your home after roof choice and preventive maintenance.

Plants are rated based on ‘ignitability’, how quickly the plant will ignite when exposed to flames; ‘sustainability’, the amount of fuel a plant contains and how long it can keep burning; and ‘combustibility’, the amount of heat the plant is capable of producing as it burns.

Based on these factors, it is possible to select plants on the fire zone system. Zone 1 is the area closest to your home, usually about a radius of 30 feet. Zone 2 is the next area out, the greenbelt and firebreak area, begins from 30 out to 100 or up to 200 feet from the house depending on topography, slope and other hazards. Zone 3 and Zone 4 extend further away from the house. Many lists of plants exist giving suggested plants for each zone.

Altho’ plant selection can be critical in reducing the danger to your home, proper maintenance is also critical. Thinning trees and shrubs to eliminate “fire ladders”, removing dead and dying plants, keeping plantings irrigated properly, and other similar practices can also mean the difference between your home burning or not burning. It is also important to make sure emergency vehicles have sufficient room to maneuver on your property to make your home ‘savable’, and to prune back plants along your driveway and private road to make sure your vehicles and emergency vehicles can get through safely.

There are many resources available for you to review when planning a defensible home and yard. Come in and talk to us anytime – we love to help!!