After cleaning Zone 0 (0-5 feet from home) of any combustible materials (see August’s Fire-Smart tips), this month we’ll focus on applying the Fire-Smart Landscaping principles of “think lean, clean, and green”, and “start at the house and work out” to Zone 1 (5-30 feet from home).
A Clean Zone 1
Remove any dead vegetation and dry grasses from the landscape to reduce potential fuel. Regularly prune trees and shrubs to remove dead branches, and remove dead flowers to reduce flammable material from your landscape.
A Lean & Green Zone 1
Regularly inspect plants for drought stress and water appropriately to keep plants healthy. Plants will need less water as we enter cooler weather in the fall months.
Prune trees and shrubs to reduce canopies' density and maintain appropriate space between plants to slow down the spread of fire from plant to plant. Remove low-hanging branches from trees to create space between lower vegetation and reduce the risk of ladder fuels.
And remember, ongoing maintenance of Zone 0 (0-5 feet from home) is critical during fire season.