With the threat of wildfires always looming in Colorado, you can minimize the spread of wildfire near your home by planting fire-resistant waterwise plants.
While there is no such thing as a fire-proof plant, there are types of plants that are more fire-resistant. There are also other measures you can take to minimize the spread of wildfire near your home such as creating a defensible space by removing flammable vegetation. Though your home may feel protected in a suburban setting, the Marshall wildfire proved that drought, high winds, and an ignited fire can destroy over 1,000 homes in less than a day in suburban neighborhoods.
Follow these five landscaping ideas to help protect your home from wildfires:
- Create a defensible space
- Grow fire-resistant plants
- Apply fire-resistant mulch
- Build hardscapes
- Decorate and furnish with metal
Avoid flammable mulches such as:
- Straw
- Shredded rubber
- Pine Bark
- Pine needles
- Cedar bark
Maintain your lawn:
- Mow the grass
- Water the plants
- Prune shrubs and trees
- Keep plants separated
- Remove dead and unhealthy plant material
Plant fire-resistant waterwise plants (recommmended by the CSU Extension):
- Lady’s mantle
- Nodding onion
- Pearly everlasting
- Spring beauty
- Rockcress
- Prairie sage
- Smooth aster
- Mariposa lily
- Jupiter’s beard
- Hard yellow ice plant
More information can be found at the following links:
Colorado State University Extension