Landscapers can help prevent wildfires

DENVER — Last spring’s normal precipitation patterns brought abundant vegetation around our homes. Record heat, high winds, and low precipitation have now made this vegetation very dry.  

Rarely a day passes without wildfire stories in the media. Wildfires are most noted in the forest situation. However, fires can happen anywhere, including the urban corridors. Here are some common sense principles that can be employed to make your homes safer.  

Landscaping with less-flammable plants:

• Evergreen trees and shrubs with needles are more combustible than leafy plants. Junipers are on top of this list with needles high in resins that easily burn.

Plants that are more fire resistant will have these attributes:

• Leaves which are moist and supple;
• Plants that have little deadwood and tend not to accumulate dry, dead material in the plant;
• Sap is water-like and does not have a strong odor.  

Maintenance Pruning:

• Prune trees and shrubs away from the roof, eaves, and the fireplace.

Mulch:

• While mulch helps retain soil moisture when dry, it can become flammable. Periodically water your mulch beds.

Cleaning:

• Remove debris promptly and stack firewood away from buildings. Regularly clean gutters and the roof of any accumulation.

Grasses and Weeds:

• Grass in native areas can be highly flammable. Grasses are easy to ignite unless they are very green, moist, and well watered. Mow dry weeds and long grasses. Cheat grass (Downy Brome) is highly flammable and invasive – consider chemical control of this grass. 

Fire and Landscape Resources:

• Fire Wise Communities
• Colorado State Forest Service

Information provided by Swingle Lawn, Tree & Landscape Care in Denver.