Homes in the western parts of United States such as California have been targets of wildfires for many years which have played havoc consuming vast tracts of land costing the local economy millions of dollars. Many homes have gardens which are so designed that they pose a high risk of getting affected by wildfires.

If you live in the vicinity where there is a high probability of encountering wildfires, you have to minimize the chances of damage to your property and also design your home so that it is more accessible to firefighters in the event of a fire (God forbid!). But, it is better safe than to be sorry.

Basically, firescaping integrates the principles of traditional landscaping while incorporating principles of safety. The basics of firescaping include the introduction of plants with high moisture content, which are unlikely to ignite and start a fire. Basically there should be four zones of defense in a fire-resistant house. Zone 1 is closest to the house and must contain plants with the lowest risk of catching fire. Zone 2 contains succulents and vegetation growing close to the ground, which also have a low propensity to catch fire. Zone 3 has short trees, which may catch fire but offer little mass for burning. Zone 4 is the outermost zone and has native trees and vegetation which are well pruned all the time.

Use of herbaceous plants (which are soft and green) should be preferred over woody plants, the moisture content in herbaceous plants makes it less prone to catch fire; deciduous trees should be favored over evergreen trees; and it is safer to use shorter plants rather than tall ones. Resinous and aromatic plants have to be avoided as it is a good source of fuel because of the high content of aromatic and volatile oils. Hence pines, junipers and similar vegetation should be avoided at all costs.

Some plants are recommended for a firescaped garden. The use of native plants are very useful as they are adapted to the local climate and growing conditions You can use the Dwarf Coyote bush and Algerian Ivy as a ground cover. Succulents such as Sedum species and Dudleya species are high resistance to fire. Shrubs which can be used are Agave, Dogwood, Mahonia and Mountain Mahogany. You can choose from Clematics, varieties of Wisteria, Virginia creeper for use as vines. You can add color to the firescape by adding Californian wildflowers such as Lupines, Californian poppies and fuchsia. The trees which can be used are Maple, Birch, Ash, Aspen and Willow.

Bricks can be introduced in the landscaping between stretches of plants by using walkways, patios, and water bodies. This helps in creating fuel breaks incase of fire and can contain major damage to the property. In the major Californian fires in the past, it has been observed that well watered, pruned and clean landscapes escaped fires remarkably. All dry plant litter and dead wood should be removed from the premises. An important consideration is that trees should be kept away from power lines and should be away from chimneys at a distance of at least 10 feet.

If you like Gardening....These pages might also interest you:

Allium Directory, Amaryllis Directory, Begonia Directory, Crocus Directory, Daffodils Directory, Dahlia Directory, Hyacinth Directory, Iris Directory, Lily Directory, Tulip Directory

Also see:

A Love Affair With Gardening, Charming Camillias, Firescaping, Gardening for the Family, Garden Rodents, Garden Catalogs, General Gardening Tips. Gardens in the Shade, Hot Summer Cool Garden, How to Plant Leeks, Involve Your Children, Outfits for Gardening, Photograph Your Garden, Plant Care Basics, Using Leaves as Compost, What to Avoid Buying Guide, Cheap Garden Ideas, Creating Garden Berms, Garden Fragrances, Garden Lessons, Gardening for The Challenged, Gardening is Great, Gardening Math, Gardening Tools, How to Use Peat, More About Gardening, Love affair with Lilacs, Organic Gardening, Slow Down and Enjoy, Smart Plant Shopping, Tips for Beginners