Smart Landscaping can save your home
balancing fire, water, and plant resiliency
Fire safety and water conservation can feel like they are at odds with each other making it hard to balance the two. One says to keep things green and hydrated, while the other tells us to cut back on water usage. But they don’t have to compete. Smart landscaping can be both firewise and waterwise.
The easiest way to accomplish firewise landscaping is to plan out your lawn zone by zone, working to create defensible space.
defensible space
Defensible space is the area around a home that is intentionally designed and maintained to slow or stop a wildfire before it reaches the house. This is done through breaking up spaces into zones.
zone breakdowns
Zone 1 (0-5 ft. from home) – Hardscape with gravel, rocks, pavers or concrete. Requires no water.
Zone 2 (5-30 ft. from home) – Plant native, fire-resistant species like evergreens. Keep it Lean, Green, and Trimmed. Use drip irrigation instead of sprinklers to save water.
Zone 3 (30-100 ft. from home) – Maintain islands of natural vegetation instead of a sea of trees. Only plant species that will thrive on precipation alone so no irrigation is required.
Unsure what type of native plant species to put in your yard? Find a comprehensive list for Colorado here.
