- 5 Fire-Resistant Landscaping Ideas for Colorado Springs<\/a>
- 1. Create defensible space<\/a>
- Zone 1<\/a><\/li>
- Zone 2<\/a><\/li>
- Zone 3<\/a><\/li>
- Advantages of a defensible space<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- 2. Grow fire-resistant plants<\/a>
- Growing plants on a slope<\/a><\/li>
- Firewise plant recommendations<\/a><\/li>
- Fire-resistant plant characteristics<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- 3. Apply fire-resistant mulch<\/a><\/li>
- 4. Say yes to metal<\/a><\/li>
- 5. Build hardscapes<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Why does my Colorado Springs home need fire-resistant landscaping?<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
5 Fire-Resistant Landscaping Ideas for Colorado Springs<\/span><\/h2>
1. Create defensible space<\/span><\/h3>
The secret to designing a fire-resistant landscape is to reduce your home’s exposure to fire hazards (a.k.a. fire kindling). For example, if the shrubs that grow against your home catch fire, the fire will spread to your home with ease. <\/p>
The best way to reduce your home’s exposure to fire hazards is to turn the surrounding area into a defensible space<\/a>. A defensible space consists of carefully planned, sectioned areas of the landscape that slow the fire’s spread. <\/p>
So how exactly do you turn a landscape into a defensible space? The Colorado State Forest Service recommends establishing three zones <\/strong>around every structure in the landscape. Structures may include your house, garden shed, or garage. <\/p>
Zone 1<\/span><\/h4>
Zone 1 extends a minimum of 15 to 30 feet from the structure. Since fire moves faster uphill, increase the distance 5 feet or more in areas downhill from the structure. <\/p>
This zone is the closest to the structure and should contain no fire hazards. It takes a lot of work to remove fire hazards in this area, but it will be worth it in the end. Here’s how to prepare the zone: <\/p>
- Remove all flammable vegetation within this zone. <\/li>
- Plant nothing within the first 5 feet of the structure. <\/li>
- Install a non-flammable ground cover, such as decorative rocks. The ground cover will help prevent the flames from coming in direct contact with the structure. <\/li>
- Prune any plants growing in this zone. <\/li>
- Remove all yard debris, such as branches, leaves, and twigs. Don’t forget to remove debris on the roof and in the gutters. <\/li>
- Do not store wood piles or combustible materials in this zone.<\/li>
- Do not grow any trees in this zone. If trees already exist, hire a qualified arborist who can safely transplant them. <\/li> <\/ul>
Zone 2<\/span><\/h4>
Zone 2 begins after Zone 1 and extends at least 100 feet from the structure. A larger defense zone will be necessary if the structure is on a hill. <\/p>
- Trees and large shrubs must be separated by at least 10 feet between the canopies. The 10-foot separation is not<\/em> between the trunks\u2019 bases but instead between their longest branches. You may need to remove trees and shrubs to achieve this distance. <\/li>
- Remove a tree’s branches 10 feet off the ground or one-third of the tree’s height (whichever is less) to help prevent flames from climbing up the tree. <\/li>
- Remove dead, dying, or diseased trees in this zone. <\/li> <\/ul>
Zone 3<\/span><\/h4>
Zone 3 extends beyond 100 feet from the structure. Your landscape may not extend beyond 100 feet, and that’s fine. This zone is specific to Colorado homes near wooded areas that require forest management.<\/p>
- A local Colorado State Forest Service forester can help you manage this zone. <\/li> <\/ul>
Advantages of a defensible space<\/span><\/h4>
Not only does a defensible space protect your home from a wildfire, but it also helps prevent the fire from spreading to your neighbors’ homes. <\/p>
The fire department is also more likely to target homes that have defensible spaces. Why? Because houses with defensible spaces have a greater chance of being saved and are less likely to endanger the firefighters’ lives than homes without defensible spaces. <\/p>
2. Grow fire-resistant plants<\/span><\/h3>
Don’t get too excited \u2013\u2013 there’s no such thing as a fireproof plant. Fire-resistant plants help slow the spread of fire, but they aren’t invincible. <\/p>
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when growing your fire-resistant plants: <\/p>
- Spacing is critical \u2014 plant shrubs at a distance that is twice their height<\/a>. For example, a 2-foot shrub shouldn’t be closer than 4 feet from another shrub. Trees need a 10-foot distance between the longest branches. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Avoid growing your plants in masses (such as a large flower bed). Grow them in small clusters instead.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Grow plants that retain moisture and don’t dry out quickly. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Maintaining your plants is essential. Remove any dead branches, pine needles, and dead leaves littering the landscape. <\/li> <\/ul>
Growing plants on a slope<\/span><\/h4>
![\"infographic](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_fire-resistant-landscaping-v4-1.png\")
<\/figure> Increase the distance between the plants (or the grouped clusters) if they grow on a hill. Remember, fire travels faster uphill, which is why you want to increase the separation between plants. <\/p>
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection makes the following distance recommendations:<\/p>
- Maintaining your plants is essential. Remove any dead branches, pine needles, and dead leaves littering the landscape. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Grow plants that retain moisture and don’t dry out quickly. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Avoid growing your plants in masses (such as a large flower bed). Grow them in small clusters instead.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Spacing is critical \u2014 plant shrubs at a distance that is twice their height<\/a>. For example, a 2-foot shrub shouldn’t be closer than 4 feet from another shrub. Trees need a 10-foot distance between the longest branches. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Trees and large shrubs must be separated by at least 10 feet between the canopies. The 10-foot separation is not<\/em> between the trunks\u2019 bases but instead between their longest branches. You may need to remove trees and shrubs to achieve this distance. <\/li>
- Firewise plant recommendations<\/a><\/li>
- Zone 2<\/a><\/li>
- Zone 1<\/a><\/li>
- 1. Create defensible space<\/a>