Basic chores could save your home

From mowing your lawn to pruning trees, doing some basic yard maintenance will go a long way to reducing the sources of fuel around your property. Learn about the basics and best practices when it comes to FireSmart landscaping below, or download the FireSmart Guide to Landscaping.

Download: FireSmart Guide to Landscaping

Know Your Home Ignition Zones

FireSmart focuses on what is realistic for you to achieve to limit the risk of wildfire to your home. While changes within 10 metres of your home will have significant impact, it’s crucial to maintain a 1.5-metre, non-combustible zone around your entire home and any attachments such as decks. Fire embers may seem small and harmless, but the reality is that 90% of home ignitions caused by wildfires are started by embers.

To reduce the risk of ember-based ignition for your property, start by working directly on the home and then work your way outwards. Some renovations and upgrades may be costly or require a lot of time, but you can start by focusing on what is easily attainable for you and your home. Adopting FireSmart landscaping practices can make a significant difference in how and where embers from a wildland fire accumulate, potentially saving your home.

Learn more: Wildland Urban Interface + Home Ignition Zone

Creating a FireSmart Yard

• Slow the spread of fire by spacing out your trees.
• increase your home’s ability to withstand wildfire by breaking the continuity of your plants.
• Make informed choices for trees, plants, shrubs, and grass.
• Reduce the number and size of spaces where embers can accumulate.

Integrating FireSmart principles and practices into your long-term landscaping plan and daily yard work routine reduces your wildfire risk.

Vertical Considerations

• A ladder fuel is a term for live or dead vegetation that allows a fire to climb up from the landscape onto buildings or into the tree canopy. Common ladder fuels include: ornamental grasses, shrubs, vines, and tree branches. Be sure to prune all tree branches that are within 2 metres of the ground.

Horizontal Considerations

• Plant trees and shrubs away from buildings to ensure branches do not touch or hang over roofs.
• Consider mature plant and tree sizes before planting.
• Space plants apart from each other instead of bunching them together.
• Use decorative rocks, stone pathways, and rock retaining walls instead of wood.
• Design ponds and streams to create fire breaks and further increase fire resilience.

Plant Selection

• Know your FireSmart Home Ignition Zones (see above).
• Choose plants from the FireSmart Guide To Landscaping
• Select plants that meet your gardening time constraints.
• When selecting plants, consider:
  • Your cold hardiness zone.
  • The mature size of each plant.
  •  The location it will be planted in.
  • Maintenance requirements.
  • Water requirements.
  • Sun/shade requirements.
  • Native plant species.
• Lawns – A healthy lawn is an effective fuel break.
  • Plant a suitable lawn for your area.
  • Introduce clovers to keep the lawn green while reducing water requirements.
  • Replace areas that are difficult to mow with other fire-resistant ground covers and shrubs.
  • Replace sections of your lawn with hard surfaces such as decorative rocks, stone walkways, and gravel.

Hedges

Junipers, Spruce, Fir, and Pine have been used extensively to provide privacy. However, they are extremely flammable and often pose the most significant risk for ignition of homes and other structures.

The good news is that there are alternatives. Although they may not all provide the exact screening characteristics, many will provide adequate privacy while offering ecological value and other aesthetically pleasing features.

Location is very important when planting a hedge. Even the most fire-resistant plant should be no closer than 1.5 m to a house or any structure

Since it is often quite narrow between houses, fencing may be a suitable choice for privacy, but fencing poses its own fire risk. Click here for information on fencing.

Mulches

Bark, evergreen needles, and other plant-based mulches can be flammable and should not be used next to buildings.

Consider using gravel and rock mulches for areas next to buildings.

Mature compost is relatively FireSmart and considered lower risk for use in the intermediate zone. It’s also beneficial for fire-resistant plants as it helps to keep moisture in the ground and protects them from drying out or sustaining damage from frost.

Plant Maintenance

Unhealthy or dead plants present a greater fire risk. Keep your plants healthy by:

• Watering properly.
• Pruning correctly and as required.
• Fertilizing at the right time.
• Ensuring that the tip of the root ball is flush with the grade. If it’s too deep, the roots cannot breathe. If it’s too shallow, the roots will dry out quickly.
• Placing mulch slightly away from plant stems to avoid damage and reduce the risk of disease.

Keep your lawn healthy by:

• Ensuring that your lawn gets the right amount of water to keep it green with less water use. A healthy lawn requires about 2.5 cm once or twice a week, depending on soil conditions. Be sure to follow all applicable water regulations and restrictions for your area.
• Keeping your lawn mowed to a maximum height of 10 centimetres. Too short is not recommended either as your grass will dry out quicker and have a weaker root system.
• Leaving mulched grass clippings on your lawn. The clippings are mostly water and provide about one third of your lawn’s nutrient needs.

Regularly remove dead plant materials such as whole plants, branches, and leaves from your garden and around your property.

• Do not pile dead plant materials near buildings.
• Remove fruit and seeds that may pose a fire danger when dried.
• Keep roofs and gutters clear of branches and leaves.

Have a question?

Do you have a question about FireSmart landscaping or fire-resistant plants? Get in touch with the wildfire prevention and mitigation team for advice!

Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Team
FireSmart_Intellifeu@gov.nt.ca
Forest Management Division
Environment and Climate Change
Government of the Northwest Territories