When planning your fire-smart landscape, start from the home and work your way out. The first 5 feet from your home is the most critical area.
Zone 0 – 0 to 5 feet from the house
Objective: create a fire-resistant barrier around any buildings by minimizing combustible materials.
● Use non-combustible mulch and hardscaping such as concrete, brick, rocks, decomposed
granite, and gravel
● Avoid planting near windows
Zone 1 – 5 to 30 feet from the house
Objective: Reduce heat and movement of flame by creating a “lean and clean” environment.
● Allow for ample plant spacing to slow the spread of flames
● Plant low-growing and well-irrigated plants closer to the home and larger shrubs and trees
further away
● Break up mulched areas with hardscaping
Zone 2 – 30 to 100 feet from the house
Objective: Decrease the energy and speed of a fire by eliminating plant density.
● Allow ample plant spacing both vertically and horizontally to slow down the spread of fire
● You may need to collaborate with your neighbors to plan out this defensible zone
For more information visit the UC Marin Master Gardener Website.
