THE BUFFER ZONE THE MEDIUM RESISTANCE ZONE THE LOW RESISTANCE ZONE AROUND THE HOUSE IF YOU LIVE IN THE GARDEN ROUTE AREA This area should be the furthest away from the house, This should be the area between the peripheral buffer This is the area closest to the house. Indigenous species that can be planted to create a FIRESCAPING within the essential 10 metre zone. zone and the inner band (low-resistance zone) around fire-proof thicket/foresthedge include: the house. • This area must be kept free of large . It should • low-growing groundcov- contain low-growing and groundcovers, inter- • Shrubs: Aloe arborescens IN THE ers with fleshy leaves that have • It is possible to plant a fynbos spersed with gravel or lawn. (Krantz Aloe), Azima tetracantha a high resistance to fire like garden here, but remember (Needle Bush), Carissa bispi- vygies (Lampranthus, Malepho- to space tall and short shrubs • Groundcovers for sunny areas nosa (Num-Num), Osteosper- Andrew Brown Andrew Colin Paterson-Jones GARDEN IN ZONES ra, Drosanthemum, Delosperma to prevent a large dense thicket include Cliffortia ferruginea, mum moniliferum (Bietou), Colin Paterson-Jones Plant your garden with a fire-resistant buffer zone on and Carpobrotus), Gazania, of continuous fuel developing Otholobium decumbens, Buddleja salviifolia the periphery, a medium resistant ring within that and Arctotis, Cliffortia ferruginea that could support a very hot Dymondia margaretae, Gazania (Sagewood), Cassine

an approximately 3m wide zone of low resistant plant- and Aloe brevifolia. These need fire. cynaroides spp., Helichrysum argyrophyl- Colin Paterson-Jones tetragona (Climbing Saffron), ing around the house. to be watered at least once a lum, Hermannia saccifera, Diospyros dichrophylla week to retain their high fire- • To prevent mud slides after a fire and to ensure a Cotula lineariloba, Agathosma (Common Star-apple), Euclea See inside for lists of suggested plant species for each resistant quality. Lampranthus aureus speedy recovery, it is important to plant sprouters ovata (Kluitjies kraal) and racemosa (Sea Guarri), Aloe plicatilis zone within fynbos environments (with an addendum here. These plants have an underground ligno-tuber vygies. For shady areas, grow Gymnosporia buxifolia (Common for suitable species for the mixed vegetation area of the • Suitable bulbs could include or rootstock that re-sprouts if burnt to the ground and Plectranthus verticillatus, Spike-thorn), Grewia occiden- Garden Route, in the Southern Cape). Tulbaghia violacea, could include salignum, Chondropeta- P. neochilus (which can also Carpobrotus acinaciformis talis (Cross-berry), Searsia Agapanthus and Watsonia. If lum tectorum, Erica spp, oleoides, Brachyl- grow in the sun), and P. ciliatus (Rhus) crenata (Dune Crowber- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS a hedge is needed, use aena discolor, Salvia spp, Pelargonium cucullatum, (Drege). ry), Searsia (Rhus) lucida Colin Paterson-Jones Contributions from Firewise USA, Living with Wildfire. plants that re-sprout and do not , Felicia echinata, Olea europaea (Glossy Currant). SANBI Alice Notten, Portions reproduced from an article by Clare Bell, The have large quantities of dead subsp. africana (Wild olive), africana (Wild • Small shrubs can be planted (Plant these closely together to Garden Centre, Kirstenbosch. material accumulating in the peach), and Searsia lucida. alone with groundcovers create a thick hedge).

plant such as happens with round them. These could include Colin Paterson-Jones Anthony Hitchcock, Dave McDonald, Wendy Madsen and . The hedge (or fence) • Some plants also have corky Agathosma serpyllacea, Phylica • Trees: Ekebergia capensis Sideroxylon inerme Annelize Vlok are thanked for their help. s h o u l d b e 3 0 m f r o m t h e h o u s eAgapanthus . africanus bark that will protect them if a ericoides, Felicia spp., Carissa (Cape Ash), Kiggelaria Africa- fire is mild. These will start bud- macrocarpa, Cotyledon orbicula- na (Wild Peach), Buddleja saligna (False Olive), Photographs reproduced with kind permission of Colin • Good hedge plants include Searsia (Rhus) crenata, ding soon after a fire. They Colin Paterson-Jones ta, Scabiosa spp. and Athanasia Diospyros whyteana (Bladder-nut), Nuxia floribunda Paterson-Jones, Andrew Brown and SANBI. S. glauca and S. lucida, all of which will re-sprout include dentata. (Forest Elder), Pterocelastrus tricuspidatus (Candle- if burnt, as will Tarchonanthus camphoratus and conocarpodendron, Protea cucullatus Drosanthemum speciosum wood), Sideroxylon inerme (White Milkwood Tree), ‘Firescaping your Garden’ first produced in association Pterocelastrus tricuspidatus. Osteospermum nitida (Waboom), Mimetes • No climbers or trellises should be attached to the Tarchonanthus camphoratus (Wild Camphor Bush), with the Botanical Society of SA, 2001. moniliferum will burn more slowly because of its cucullatus and Aloe plicatilis. walls of the house in a high-risk fire area as these act Pittosporum viridiflorum (Cheesewood). succulent-like leaves. as ‘ladders’ for the fire. Edited: FireWise SA. • Forest trees have a natural • For the low-resistance zone around the house, resistance to fire and do not suitable indigenous species include: FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: burn easily, including Rapanaea Colin Paterson-Jones • In sunny and dry, well-drain- www.firewise.org melanophloeos (Cape Beach), ed areas plant Portulacaria Watsonia aureus www.workingonfire.org stellatifolium, Cunonia afra (Spekboom), Aloe

capensis (Rooiels), , Maurocenia frangularia, arborescens (Krantz Aloe), Pasquini Lorena www.firewisesa.org.za Halleria lucida (Tree Fuchsia) and Canthium Osyris compressa (Cape www.fynbosfire.org.za mundianum. Sumach), Osteospermum moniliferum (Bietou), Roep- FIRESCAPING • Bulbs also will re-sprout quickly after a fire and era (Zygophyllum) spp. prevent mudslides by ensuring that the soil is held (Twinleaf) and other indige- together. These would include Agapanthus, Watsonia, nous plants with thick or YOUR GARDEN Haemanthus coccineus, Cyrtanthus ventricosus and fleshy leaves. Portulacaria afra Kniphofia. • Groundcovers for sunny and sandy areas include

• If you intersperse some re-seeding plant species Tetragonia decumbens, Gazania spp. (Botterblom), amongst the mix of fynbos plants, they will ensure Dymondia spp., Falkia repens (oortjies). that the ‘moon landscape’ left after a fire will soon

come to life. These include the many different species • Grass species include Cynodon dactylon (Kaapse Brown Andrew of Protea, Erica, Ursinia, Leucadendron, Phylica, Heli- Kweekgras) and Stenotaphrum secundatum chrysum, Metalasia, Roella, Selago, Agathosma as well (Buffalo Grass). Tarchonanthus camphoratus Colin Paterson-Jones as Pelargonium cordifolium and Felicia aethiopica. Carissa bispinosa Lorena Pasquini Kniphofia uvaria - Kniphofia uvaria

Firescaping Your Garden DL BrochureFINAL.indd 1-6 9/2/13 9:47 AM THE FIREWISE APPROACH • Communal Survivable Space 4 - REDUCE FUEL IN THE ENTIRE SURVIVABLE SPACE FIRESCAPING YOUR GARDEN If creating an adequate Survivable Space for your Beyond the essential 10 metre zone, uncleared ground FIRESCAPING FireWise Communities is a concept originally home means encroaching into your neighbours’ space, fuels (such as excessive vegetation) can provide an 30 metres of garden Chimney cleaned developed in the U.S.A. (www.firewise.org), currently then it makes sense to work together and create open route for the rapid spread and increased intensity hose attached and screened being adapted and implemented in a joint Survivable Space. Each owner should take of fire. (www.firewisesa.org.za). The Firewise approach responsibility for their own area, but work according Woodpile, fuel tanks YOUR GARDEN to a jointly agreed hazard reduction plan. This is very Storage shed located emphasizes community responsibility in designing • Remove all dead branches and lower limbs of shrubs and other burnable effective and can be achieved without losing away from home Firescaping specifically refers to landscaping in ways a safe community as well as effective emergency and trees. Thin out vegetation, so that there is not materials 10 metres aesthetics or privacy. that will reduce the probability of fire catching and response, and individual responsibility for safer a continuous fuel bed for the fire to move forwards from structures • A Community Ignition Zone spreading through the firescaped area (e.g. a garden). home construction and design, landscaping and through. maintenance. A Community Ignition Zone usually includes the entire • Group shrubs and trees in small clumps or islands. WUI Zone and may include both private and public In this pamphlet are some points to consider in your Space out the clumps so that the spreads are 1.5 - Grass green and land. The work within the Community Ignition Zone planning. By making changes in the home ignition zone - the area 3 metres apart in flat areas, and crowns are up to mowed including and immediately surrounding the home - home- is planned and implemented to create Survivable 10 metres apart for big trees on a steep slope. Scattered trees within owners can substantially reduce the risk of their home Space for the entire community, however firescaping • Prevent fire moving from the ground into the trees 10m and maintaining the Survivable Space around by pruning lower branches and leaving a generous 10 metres of structures THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS becoming fuel for the inevitable fire. Examples of these Avoid outdoor individual properties remains both essential and space between the ground vegetation and the tree. changes are making sure there is adequate access to the burning. Recycle mulch critical. Try to anticipate the flame height when calculating the When people choose to build or buy a home in a home and an adequate water supply, and other strategies and compost whenever pruning height. 20m high-hazard fire area, they should do so knowing that included in the FireWise approach. possible their entire property, including their home, is potentially 3 - FIRESCAPING INSIDE THE MINIMUM • Avoid or remove trees species that have high levels of 30 metres fuel for a fire. The lifestyle associated with living close 1 - ASSESS THE VULNERABILITY OF YOUR PROPERTY SURVIVABLE SPACE resin or oils. Plant trees and shrubs that are fire- Vegetation mowed The area closest to the home is particularly important to nature is becoming a popular choice worldwide – so • Are there plantations, thick stands of brush, shrubs resistant or fire–adapted. 30 metres from any in terms of effective Survivable Space. Use a zoning much so that the term Wildland/Urban Interface Zone, and/or of invasive alien vegetation on, or close to Thin and prune structure system to firescape your garden within the essential Driveway accessible with address visible or WUI, has been coined. Fire is a natural part of many your property? These have high fuel loads and greatly 5 - CLEAR INVADING ALIENS ON AND NEAR coniferous trees 10 metre zone: plan your garden with a fire-resistant ecosystems, which means that it is not a case of “IF” increase the intensity of fires. YOUR PROPERTY buffer zone on the periphery, a medium-resistance there is a wildland fire, but “WHEN” there is a wildland • Is your property subject to strong, drying winds, such Cut down or herbicide invasive alien trees and shrubs, PRUNING YOUR GARDEN zone within that, and a low-resistance zone extending fire….! However, it is possible for a home to be situated in as the berg winds? Strong winds greatly affect the rate and remove them from the site to avoid piles of dead about 3 metres around the house. MINIMUM HORIZONTAL CLEARANCE a natural, fire-adapted environment and survive a wildfire of spread of fire. material lying around (because these are a fire hazard – SHRUBS they provide fuel for a fire!). without damage. • Is your property at the top of a slope? Fire naturally From edge of one to the edge of the next moves up a slope, drying everything out ahead of it. Different plants and bulbs will need to be planted within Therefore it burns more vigorously higher up a slope the three different zones. These plants will also differ 6 - REMEMBER: THERE IS NO SUCH THING Flat to mild slope (0% to 20% slope) Mild to moderate slope (20% to 40% slope) Moderate to steep slope (greater than 40% slope) than lower down. depending on the vegetation zone in which you live. AS A FIRE RESISTANT PLANT Two times (2x) the height of the shrub (Two Four times (4x) the height of the shrub (Two shrubs Six times (6x) the height of the shrub (Two shrubs shrubs 0.5m high should be spaced 1m apart) 0.5m high should be spaced 0.5m high should be • Is your home cut into and set back from the slope or All plants will eventually burn if a fire is hot enough. 3m In General, Though, Remember to be Lean, Clean and 2m apart) 2m spaced 3m apart) on the slope? Structures that are set back are at less However, one thing that can be done is to place plants 1m risk than those perched on a steep slope. Green: according to how long each kind is able to resist burning. 0.5m 0.5m • Within the entire area extending at least 10 metres Large fleshy succulents, such as Aloes, that are planted 0.5m 2 - CREATE A SURVIVABLE SPACE from the home (i.e. all three zones), the vegetation close to homes have been shown to have a fire retardant Creating “Survivable Space” means modifying your should be kept lean (i.e. small amounts of flammable effect, absorbing radiant heat from an approaching fire. vegetation) and regularly maintained (i.e. plants that TREES property’s layout, fuels and building materials to make it From edge of one tree canopy to the edge of the next less likely that your home will catch fire during a wildfire. are kept healthy). 7 - RE-VEGETATING A BURNT AREA The size of the Survivable Space is often expressed as a • Keep the area clean, don’t let dead vegetation or other Fire-adapted landscapes generally recover quickly after a Flat to mild slope (0% to 20% slope) Mild to moderate slope (20% to 40% slope) Moderate to steep slope (greater than distance, extending outwards from the home and all flammable debris accumulate. Remove dead branches fire, especially if there are bulbs and re-sprouters in the 3 metres 6 metres 40% slope) attachments, such as decks and outbuildings. The and excessive leaf litter. Firescaped mix. Pioneer plants that will grow quickly after 9 metres distance varies, depending upon the type of natural • Trees should be de-limbed well above the height of fire are Agapanthus, Psoralea pinnata, Euryops, Athanasia vegetation growing near the home and the steepness of ground vegetation. Group shrubs and trees in small dentata, Gazania, Felicia, vygies (Lampranthus, Malephora, the slope. The minimum Survivable Space should be clumps or islands, with plenty of open space between Drosanthemum, Delosperma and Carpobrotus) and Virgilia at least 10 metres around the home, in cases where clumps. Remove any branches overhanging the roof o r o b o i d e s . surrounding fuel loads are light (e.g. low grasses) and the and any vegetation or flammable material that can topography is flat. However, if the home sits on a 25% act as ladder fuel (e.g. leaf litter accumulating in MINIMUM VERTICAL CLEARANCE Note: a grouping of vegetation may be treated as slope and is surrounded by woodland or dense brush, gutters, fine-leaved shrubs, climbers, etc.). 3X HEIGHT OF SHRUB = MINIMUM VERTICAL CLEARANCE Example: a 1.5 metre shrub is growing near a tree. a single plant if the foliage of the grouping does you would need to reduce hazardous fuels outwards to at • Use bedding plants, succulents and bulbs. Avoid 3x height of shrub 3 x1.5 = 4.5 metres of clearance needed between not exceed 3 metres in width. For example, three least 60 metres from the structure. plants that are high in oils or resin. Separate islands to lowest branches the top of the shrub and the lowest tree branches. individual shrubs growing in a cluster with a total of vegetation with well-kept green lawn, paving, gravel of tree. or other non-flammable materials. foliage width of 2.5 metres can be “grouped” and Zane Erasmus considered as one plant.

Firescaping Your Garden DL BrochureFINAL.indd 7-12 9/2/13 9:47 AM