Landscaping with firewise and low-flammability plants is essential for homeowners in Colorado's high-elevation communities to reduce wildfire risks. This guide provides practical steps to create a defensible space around your property, local sources for obtaining suitable plants and seed mixes, and resources to learn more about native flora.
1. Understanding Firewise Landscaping
Firewise landscaping involves selecting and maintaining plants that are less likely to ignite during a wildfire. Characteristics of fire-resistant plants include high moisture content, low resin or sap levels, and slow growth rates. In contrast, many native plants in Colorado, such as junipers, pines, firs, and spruces, are highly flammable due to their resin content.
2. Selecting Low-Flammability Plants
When choosing plants for your landscape, consider species that are less prone to burning. Some recommended options for Colorado's high-elevation areas include:
- Deciduous Trees: Aspen (Populus tremuloides) and maple (Acer spp.) trees are generally less flammable than coniferous species.
- Shrubs: Species like mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus spp.) and currant (Ribes spp.) have lower flammability ratings.
- Perennials and Groundcovers: Plants such as wild strawberry (Fragaria spp.) and certain native grasses can serve as effective groundcovers with low flammability.
For a comprehensive list of firewise plants suitable for Colorado, refer to the Colorado State University Extension's guide on FireWise Plant Materials.
3. Designing Your Landscape
Implementing a defensible space is crucial in fire-prone areas. This involves creating buffer zones around your home with carefully selected vegetation:
- Zone 1 (0-5 feet from structures): Use non-flammable materials like rock mulch and maintain well-irrigated, low-growing plants.
- Zone 2 (5-30 feet): Incorporate fire-resistant plants, ensuring adequate spacing between them to prevent fire spread.
- Zone 3 (30-100 feet): Manage existing vegetation by thinning dense stands and removing dead or diseased plants.
Regular maintenance, such as pruning and debris removal, enhances the effectiveness of these zones.
4. Local Sources for Firewise Plants and Seed Mixes
Several Colorado-based nurseries and seed companies specialize in native and fire-resistant plants suitable for high elevations:
- Western Native Seed (Coaldale, CO): Offers a variety of native wildflower, grass, shrub, and tree seeds, including mixes tailored for high-altitude regions. Jefferson County Open Space worked with them to developed custom seed mixes for the diverse areas in Jefferson County
westernnativeseed.com
- High Desert Seed & Gardens: Provides drought-tolerant seeds adapted to high elevation and desert bioregions, ideal for Colorado landscapes.
highdesertseed.com
- Durango Nursery and Supply (Durango, CO): Offers a High Elevation Mix suitable for areas with elevations of 8,000 feet and above.
durangonursery.com
- High Plains Environmental Center (Loveland, CO): Offers a variety of native plants and operates an online native plant sale from April through September.
suburbitat.org
- Mountain Grown Gardens (Alma, CO): Specializes in plants acclimated to high altitudes, ensuring better survival and growth in similar environments.
mountaingrowngardens.com
- Brady's West (Salida, CO): Provides an extensive selection of shrubs and grasses native to Colorado's elevations.
bradyswest.com
5. Learning About Native Plants
Understanding native plants enhances your ability to create a sustainable and fire-resistant landscape. Resources for further information include:
- Colorado Native Plant Society: Provides educational materials and workshops on native plant identification and landscaping.
- Colorado State University Extension: Offers publications and fact sheets on native plants and firewise landscaping practices.
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/firewise-plant-materials-6-305/
- Audubon Rockies: Features a list of native plant retailers and resources for gardeners in Colorado.
rockies.audubon.org
By carefully selecting low-flammability plants and designing your landscape with fire safety in mind, you can significantly reduce the wildfire risk to your property while preserving the natural beauty of Colorado's high-elevation environments.
