By Dave Egbert, host of The Coastal Gardener TV series
The idea of a fire safe landscape does not have to run counter to that of the aesthetic garden. In fact, if you were to really think about the choices of plant material suggested by leading fire safe experts, the two concepts together can create one of the most colorful and diverse landscapes in your neighborhood.
Defensible space is the lure that attracts brave firefighters to your home, just like the red feeder attracts the hummingbird. The red fire truck is attracted to safe open areas to stage and defend your home against the flames and sparks.
You would be surprised to find that the plants most recommended for the areas closest to the house are actually the most popular garden plants today: flowering perennials.
If you can imagine a lush, colorful cottage garden filled with the buzz of bees and the flicker of butterflies then you have a good idea of the paradise of the fire safe garden. The garden would be a rich living tapestry of plants whose only job other than flowering would be to stay low, say less than 3 feet. Thus you would have non-woody plants with low fuel volume that give the firefighter a clear view and passage across the garden.
The ideal fire safe cottage garden would include a wide path welcoming visitors to your front door, perhaps with a paved patio on which guests could linger at evening, where fragrant thyme grew between golden Arizona flagstones. A low seat wall scattered with colorful weather resistant cushions takes the place of teak garden furniture and keeps the area close the house uncluttered. Beyond the low stone wall, garden beds are arranged in casual clusters among native boulders and a dry streambed.
In summer, masses of yellow coreopsis, blue hill penstemon, lilac and pink butterfly scabiosa and purple verbena catch the eye. Arching low over the perennials are English roses like golden ‘Graham Thomas’ or the peach pink ‘Abraham Darby’. The roses are pegged and carefully pruned each year to keep an open framework like a toss of blooming lace. Garden roses can fit into the role of the fire safe garden: they have low fuel volume and can be pruned low each year to reduce wood stems. For maintenance is the second requirement of the fire safe garden. If you can reduce the amount of dead wood on a plant, it is that much less likely to burn hot.
Nearby, tall stems of alstromeria, often seen in florist bouquets, are easy to establish in rich soil along with a skein of tall Verbena bonarensis growing like a lacy 5 feet tall screen topped with vibrant purple blooms. Other fine choices include arctotis, achillea, gaillardia, aster, daylily, and heuchera.
The wide flagstone path continues around the house not only to provide varied viewpoints of the floral tapestry around you but as safe access for emergency personnel. Near the kitchen door are beds replete with cutting flowers and vegetables mixed with fragrant herbs. Clusters of oregano, parsley, tarragon and an edging of golden lemon thyme surround another small patio. The broad leaves of zucchini contrast perfectly with purple basil and a carpet of edible strawberries. In a cluster of terra cotta pots are dwarf southern blueberries and half wine barrel with yellow fingerling potatoes. A wire trellis fringed with a juicy green seedless grape strung between modern rust toned poles defines this space, but does not create a fuse of flammable material connecting to the house.
Farther out from the patio are low groups of Spanish lavender, sparkling white Shasta daisy, lilac flowered mounds of native Verbena lilicina and ferny fragrant foliage of bronze fennel. For the kids and dogs, a circular lawn is composed of low water use native carex that mimics the rich green of the typical suburban lawn but without the work.
For dappled shade the tiered profile of the 'Forest Pansy' redbud stands at the lawn edge, it's small form and light texture adding height to the landscape without flammable bulk. This tree for all seasons displays masses of magenta blooms along each delicate twig in spring followed by heart-shaped burgundy leaves that change to rich fall color with the first cold night. Then the tracery of stems and mottled bark shines in the winter sunlight.
Farthest from the house walls are a blend of low natives that birds, butterflies, and people alike can enjoy. California Fuchsia contributes thousands of red trumpet-like blooms above soft billows of grey foliage from August to November while deep blue flowers of 'Centennial' ceanothus decorate a deep green mat of foliage tumbling between stones. Pink Evening Primrose spreads like a carpet of silky blooms washing around clumps of blue and white Pacific Coast Iris.
Dissecting the beds as they spread farther from the house are additional low stone walls that host bowls of succulents like ruffled leaf echeverias, blooming sedums and native dudleys. Succulents are ideal fire safe landscape candidates with their thick water retentive leaves and often-colorful waxy surfaces. The walls themselves help to reduce the spread of low flames and blowing sparks as permanent firebreaks.
One of the beauties of this garden is the complete lack of woody fuel volume. Each plant prefers a yearly pruning to renew its form, thus removing any dead material that can accumulate. The garden likes to be watered regularly but most of its members can withstand drought during extreme conditions. It reduces fuel volume, keeps taller shrubs and trees clear of the structures, eliminates flammable fences and structures that can create fuses linking the house to the fire, and provides clear, easy access for firefighters during the stressful period when they must arrive and quickly evaluate their ability to defend the home. The very structure of the garden could stop flames before they ever reach your walls.
The fire safe cottage garden has a colorful, welcoming theme that encourages you to wander and experience each cluster of blooms while making your home, your family and the brave men and women who serve your community, SAFE.
To learn more about the plants mentioned in this article, please visit my website, www.TheCoastalGardener.com or watch my national syndicated television show, "The Coastal Gardener is Dave Egbert", on your local cable or satellite channels.
Author profile:
Dave Egbert is a professional nurseryman and gardener who hosts the popular national syndicated television show, "Dave Egbert is The Coastal Gardener ". He is an avid plantsman who gardens in the rugged Big Sur landscape. Dave is honored to be a firefighter and first responder with the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade under the leadership of Chief Frank Pinney, Admin. Chief Martha Karstens, Asst. Chief James Barrow and Captain Steve Graham, assigned to engines 7831 and 7811. Dave brings over 20 years of garden experience to his viewers and readers.
The Coastal Gardener TV show was recently honored with two Telly awards for excellence in videography and entertainment value.