Bushfire Risks Can Be Reduced With Good Garden Design

As the season continues to sizzle the country and the suburbs home owners can do much to manage and offset the risks of fire running havoc across their home and investments properties. The Country Fire Authority promotes some simple and effective steps that you can implement with your gardens.

Landscaping for bushfire is much the same as any type of gardening. It involves planning, designing, planting and managing the area around your house. Design and plant selection for bushfire can reduce the effects of direct flame contact and radiant heat on a house.  

Landscaping for Bushfire: Garden Design and Plant Selection provides information on garden design and plant selection which can be used for new or existing gardens in high bushfire risk areas.

• Use the online Plant Selection Key to help choose plants for a garden in a high bushfire risk area.

Garden design 

When modifying an existing garden or designing a new one, you need to consider the placement of garden beds, trees and other flammable objects.

You should aim to keep the area around your house and other structures (such as carports and sheds) free of plants that can easily catch fire and then ignite the buildings. You should also separate the flammable elements from each other and the house itself.

Garden design should incorporate the following four principles:

Create defendable space
Remove flammable objects from around the house
Break up fuel continuity (keep plants separate)
Carefully select, locate and maintain trees.

Choosing suitable plants

Although all plants will burn under the right conditions, some plants are less likely to catch fire than others. Choosing plants with low flammability and locating them correctly will help reduce bushfire risk within a garden.

Use the Plant Selection Key to help choose firewise plants for your garden.

Make a list of the plants you want to use in your garden and work through the questions in the Key to find out the flammability rating of each plant.

Remember: While a well planned garden is important, it is only one aspect of preparing for bushfire. A holistic approach to bushfire preparation is critical. Appropriate water supply, access, house construction and general property maintenance are all important. On Severe, Code Red and Extreme days, leaving early is always the safest option.

Sourced by Chris Snell, Property Manager Melbourne Australia 
See more at: http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/landscaping/#sthash.BcAEs28j.dpuf