Defensible space can be ascetically pleasing
Did you know that defensible space doesn’t have to be boring and void of life. There are many options of plants that are fire and drought resistant, if you want options other than dirt or xero-scaping. The important thing about this option is the placement of the plants. You still want to stick to the rules that apply to good defensible space practices, like don’t plant the plants right next to your house, and use layers in your yard, like shorter plants nearest your house and the decorative tree's the farthest away. It can be colorful, pleasant and functional.
Some of my favorite options are Snapdragons, Bubblegum Mint, and Hardy Geranium's for the shorter plants. For shrubs you can use Flowering Quince, which the birds like, Hibiscus Syriacus for the bees, or Mock Orange, that has a very appealing small white flower that smells like, you guessed it, orange blossoms.
And for planting at least 10 feet from your home, there are the trees. Catalpa Bignonioides has a very cool tropical look and white flower clusters, Common Horsechestnutis a favorite for hummingbirds, but the roots can surface if planted in a lawn and watered on the lawns schedule, so infrequent watering is ideal. Crabapple trees are a good option as well. So take this knowledge and make your home a bustle of activity for the birds and bees, all while saving on water and help your home survive a fire.
Want more options? You can call New Age Forestry at 775-560-7744, or visit the always helpful and wonderful people at Living with Fire, see attached link.
Thank you for reading, and have a safe and wonderful summer.
