Maintaining a Fire-Smart Landscape
Fall is a great time to do fire-smart maintenance. Here are some tips from UC Marin Master Gardeners:
- Check gutters, roof, eaves, vents, and chimney for leaf and needle litter.
- Remember to clear branches 10 feet from the roof.
- Beyond 5 feet from all structures, apply composted wood mulch chips to feed the soil, control weeds in the spring, control soil erosion and enhance the appearance of your garden.
- Separate wood mulched areas with noncombustible materials such as granite, gravel and stone to create fuel breaks, discouraging fire from traveling along a continuous path.
- Rake-up and compost or remove fallen leaves and evergreen needles. The spots where leaves collect are where embers ignite a fire.
- Remove dead vegetation and dry grasses.
- Prune or remove plants to eliminate fuel ladders and to separate shrubs.
Questions about creating a fire-smart landscape? Visit http://marinmg.ucanr.edu/Fire-smart_Landscaping/
