Firesafe Landscaping

[Nolena]

Now that we're able to garden and landscape, it's important to remember fire safety in our landscaping. Some plants are more flammable than others. We may wish to avoid landscaping with highly flammable plants, such as junipers. Junipers are especially dangerous in close proximity to a home.

From the San Bernardino County Mountain Area Fire Hazard Abatement Code:
"High-energy-release shrubs include, but are not limited to, Manzanita, Service Berry, Mountain Whitethorn, Sage, Ironwood, Juniper Shrubs, Spanish Broom and other species..."

Here's a link to the Fire Hazard Abatement Code:
http://www.wrightwoodfsc.com/documents/SBCounty.AbatmentHazardCode.pdf
Section 23.0304 addresses mountain areas.

[lagomorphmom]

 
We got rid of all of our junipers that trimmed the perimeter of the house, except for a few out on the street, soon after we moved in.

Not only are they volatile, they collect dust, pollen, dirt and trash - you should have seen what they found in it, bleech!

If you've got a big allergy problems, I wonder if they might be worth looking at as well, especially if there are near windows, I dunno. (Speaking of allergies, Leyland Cypress are like junipers-on-a-stick as far as collecting dust, pollen, dirt and pine needles.)

[WWMtnGal]

We got rid of our junipers too!  They had so many spider webs and bugs in them it was really gross!

[in my dreams]

Is it just me, or do others also think that on hot days, those  short juniper shrubs smell like cat spray? (I've investigated--its not spray, its the junipers to my nose. . .)

[RennMan]

 (Speaking of allergies, Leyland Cypress are like junipers-on-a-stick as far as collecting dust, pollen, dirt and pine needles.)

Is the Leyland Cypress a relative of the Arizona Cypress?  The Arizona cypresses we had in our yard were planted WAY too close together in our section of town (Lark & Cedar).  I believe they were used as property line boundries and subsequently were competing for light and water.  Now the growth forms are very tall and spindly.  Serious pollenators too

The wood isn't very good for firewood either; too much oil in it, and it burns hot and fast.  We had over 50 of these things removed from our yard via the MAST program several years ago.

Of course now that the shade is gone, the house heats up more quickly than it did before the trees were removed.  I want to plant some other shadetrees along the east and west sides of the property, and remove the few remaining Cypress.  Any good recommendations?  I was thinking Colorado blue spruce, or perhaps another good deciduous tree to allow for winter light.

Any suggestions welcomed!

[Nolena]

You might find some ideas in "A Landscape Guide for Mountain Homes."

http://www.wrightwoodfsc.com/documents/landscape.guide.mountain.homes.pdf

Plant lists and descriptions begin on page 20.

[angelwolf326]

We got rid of the junipers in the front a while back and got about 5 feet of yard!

Had a problem with rats in the backyard and when we dug up the junipers (big pain in the butt!) all the rats went away!!!!  YAY!!!!

I am looking for something to fill a planter, it is over 10 feet from the house.  Something that lasts year round and flowers in the summer, not over a foot high?

Any ideas?

[Nolena]

Yarrow? It's fire resistive, medicinal, and the flowers come in several colors. You can get it at the hardware store.
Drive by my house. It's most of the front yard.

[angelwolf326]

Perfect, I will pick some up next payday!!!  thanks Nolena!