Weeds and overgrown vegetation in your yard are not only unsightly and can be used by pests as a staging ground to invade your home, but they can create a fire hazard on your property.

Californians understand that summer’s hot and dry conditions increase the risk for wildfires and Clark, your neighborly pest control, termite and vegetation management expert, says creating defensible space is essential to improving your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire.

Clark Pest Control has a long history of protecting homes from destructive pests including termites and rodents, and we can help California homeowners with their vegetation management needs as well.

Defensible space is the bulwark between your home and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surround it. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and it protects your home from catching fire – either from direct flame contact or radiant heat.

Creating a Defensible Space

Vegetation Management

Vegetation management includes the removal of dead plants, shrubs and trees, combined with the application of herbicides to curb weed growth and eliminate the fuel for wildfires.

Plant and Tree Spacing

The spacing between grass, shrubs, and trees is crucial to reduce the spread of wildfires. The spacing needed is determined by the type and size of brush and trees, as well as the slope of the land. For example, a property on a steep slope with larger vegetation requires greater spacing between trees and shrubs than a level property that has small, sparse vegetation.

Vertical Spacing

Remove all tree branches at least 6 feet from the ground. Allow extra vertical space between shrubs and trees. Lack of vertical space can allow a fire to move from the ground to the brush to the treetops like a ladder.

Choose Fire-Resistant Plants and Materials

A fire-resistant landscape isn’t the same thing as a smartly designed and well-maintained yard. A smartly designed landscape will use fire-resistant plants that are strategically located to resist the spread of fire to your home. The added benefit of using fire resistant plants is that they are often drought tolerant, too. And you will find that a fire-resistant landscape can increase your property value and conserve water while beautifying your home.

• Create fire-resistant zones with stone walls, patios, decks and roadways.
• Use rock, mulch, flower beds and gardens as ground cover for bare spaces and as effective firebreaks.
• There are no “fire-proof” plants. Select high-moisture plants that grow close to the ground and have a low sap or resin content.
• Choose fire-retardant plant species that resist ignition such as rockrose, ice plant and aloe.
• Select fire-resistant shrubs such as hedging roses, bush honeysuckles, currant, cotoneaster, sumac and shrub apples.
• Plant hardwood, maple, poplar and cherry trees that are less flammable than pine, fir and other conifers.

Create A Defensible Space with Clark Pest Control

If you are looking to create a defensible space around your home, Clark Pest Control can help. Call or text the weed and vegetation management experts at Clark at 800/WE-NEED-YOU or send an e-mail at clarkcares@clarkpest.com for more information.

Until next time, the pest management professionals at Clark Pest Control thank you for help keeping unwanted pests out of your home and yard.

Note: Portions of this blog were adapted from the Cal Fire website.