Trees and Shrubs

FireWise Landscaping

Many naturally occurring plants in Arizona are highly flammable during the summer and can fuel a wildfire, causing it to spread rapidly. Removing flammable native plants and replacing them with low-growing, fire-resistive plants is one of the easiest and most effective ways to create defensible space.

Select landscape vegetation based on fire resistance and ease of maintenance, as well as visual enhancement of your property. In general, fire resistive plants:

grow close to the ground
have a low resin content
grow without accumulating dead branches, needles or leaves
are easily maintained and pruned
are drought-tolerant in some cases
are deciduous hardwoods that drop leaves in the winter

If fire-resistive plants are not available; vary the height of your landscape plants and give them adequate spacing. The taller your plants are, the wider apart they should be spaced. Contact your local fire department, county extension office, or local nursery to find out which fire resistive plants are adapted to the climate in your area.

Other FireWise Precautions

After you have created your defensible space around your home, there are other FireWise precautions that you should follow.

Work with your neighbors to clear common areas between houses, and prune areas of heavy vegetation that are a threat to everyone.
Avoid planting trees under or near electrical lines (they may grow into or contact the lines in high winds, thus causing a fire).
If part of your property extends outside of the newly created defensible space and is heavily forested, thin trees to decrease the fire hazard and improve forest health.
Remove dead, weak or diseased trees and trees with an obvious lean, leaving a healthy mixture of older and younger trees.

Home - Why Be Firewise? - Am I at Risk? - How to be Firewise - Surviving a Wildfire - Family Recovery - Wildfire recovery - Events - Cooperators - Links - Information
Website maintained by: Cooperative Extension University of Arizona Forbes 301, P.O. Box 210036 Tucson, AZ 85721-0036 Phone: (520) 621-7205 Fax: (520) 621-1314	Last Reviewed and Updated: September 7, 2006 Questions/Comments: ckjones@cals.arizona.edu 520.621.7263 Legal Disclaimer Privacy Statement
© 2002 Arizona Board of Regents. All contents copyrighted. All rights reserved.