Rural properties have the most chance of exposure to fires simply by location and size of the property; however, urban properties can also be exposed to spotting embers.
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There is a growing movement to incorporate more endemic (natural to local area) native plants in our gardens as it’s good for attracting birds, lizards and other wildlife. Information can be sought from your local council, nursery or landscaper to get assistance in which ones could create an unnecessary risk.
The CFA have produced a guide for landscaping in fire prone areas. You may be able to track down a hard copy or have a look online on http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/fm_files/attachments/plan_and_prepare/landscaping/landscaping_for_bushfire.pdf or check the NSW Rural Fire Service or NSW Fire Rescue websites www.rfs.nsw.gov.au or www.fire.nsw.gov.au for information on preparing your property.
Many natives have oils in their foliage that can be hazardous if exposed to fires i.e. plants such as eucalyptus (gum trees), callistemon (bottlebrush), melaleuca and leptospermum (Tea trees) varieties some may also have paper bark, stringy or fibrous bark. If you are going to plant trees near buildings, smooth bark species are less risk.
Another trend over the past decade has been clusters of native grasses that can also build up a lot of dead material. They can be treated a bit like lawn grasses. Cut them back once or twice a year to remove dead and damaged blades encourages new fresher growth. If they look more dead than alive, give it a try cutting to approximately 100mm in height.
Do you need to prune trees and or shrubs around your buildings? – remove branches and foliage touching or overhanging the roof. Remove any dead wood that may be building up in the centre of the plant as they get older.
Have you cleaned your gutters from any leaves that drop or blow in from yours or neighbouring plants? This is good housekeeping as it can be an ignition point for embers. Think about what type of mulch you have near your house. Wood chip and straw are great for the garden but may be a problem in adverse conditions.
Another option could be pebbles close to the house or simply have a pebble access track between the house and any gardens. In rural areas, work towards having less vegetation in close proximity to the house and maintain the lawns.
Large trees should be situated well away from the house. Information can be found on the CFA website (www.cfa.vic.gov.au), NSW Rural Fire Service website (www.rfs.nsw.gov.au) or the NSW Fire Rescue website (www.fire.nsw.gov.au).
