Prepare your garden for bushfire season

Checklist: Prepare your garden

We recommend incorporating  garden and vegetation management into your bushfire survival plan. Areas of unmanaged vegetation can drastically increase the impacts of a bushfire and will reduce the chances of people and buildings surviving the event.

• Maintain a clear understorey around trees and shrubs. This will restrict the opportunities for a surface fire to ignite the lower branches.
• Routine maintenance should be carried out to remove dead leaves, branches and loose bark from trees. Also remove dead twigs, leaves and needles from shrubs and other smaller plants.
• Prune excess foliage (especially dead or dry foliage) from trees, shrubs and other woody plants.
• Remove the lower branches of trees. This reduces the opportunities for a surface fire to burn up into the canopy. It is usually recommended to remove branches up to 1.5 metres above the ground, but, specific heights will depend on the age of the tree and its species.
• Keep all lawn and grasses short to reduce fuel load and minimise the chances of surface fire.
• Retain the moisture content of plants by watering them regularly.
• Be mindful of the influence of seasonal weather patterns and how the garden will perform in summer when bushfires are most prevalent. In general, the maintenance requirements (in terms of bushfire) will be greatest in summer, and especially during periods of high temperature and low rainfall or periods of water restrictions.
• Trees and other vegetation in the vicinity of powerlines must be managed.
• Combustible materials (including woodpiles, timber furniture, woodpiles, mulch, boxes, hanging baskets) should be stored downslope (if possible) and well away from buildings.
• Replacement plantings will need to be considered as older plants die or the needs of the occupants change. Take this as an opportunity to improve the bushfire resilience of the garden.
• Replace any combustible mulch with non-combustible alternatives, such as pebbles.

(Source: Bushfire Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes)

Checklist: Managing garden waste

Garden waste includes any dead plant material or organic plant matter. This includes lawn clippings, pruned leaves and branches, weeds, compost and whole plants that have been removed from the soil.

Garden waste, particularly lawn clippings and fine plant material (such as fallen leaves and bark), is a significant fire hazard. Inappropriately managed waste can ignite and spread fire and embers to buildings and other vegetation. Even when not burning, inappropriately managed garden waste is a significant hazard. Light waste is vulnerable to being spread by winds that accompany a bushfire. This wind-driven debris may then accumulate on rooftops or in and around other vulnerable elements of buildings. When ignited, this debris can threaten buildings and the safe escape of occupants.

• Do not store garden waste in exposed piles. If possible, dispose of waste using the greenwaste bins provided by your local council. If this is not an option, consider composting garden waste or disposing of it at an authorised recycling centre. In some cases, it may be necessary to burn garden waste, but, do not do this without the proper authorisation.
• Store garden waste in tubs or cover with a nonflammable material, such as hessian cloth or canvas. This will prevent the waste from being carried by wind and will offer some protection against spot fires.
• Keep all compost and piles of garden waste moist, especially during hot weather. Dry garden waste is a bushfire hazard.
• Store garden waste well away from buildings —never store compost or piles of garden waste near to doors, windows, vents or key access and exit routes.
• Routine maintenance should be carried out to remove garden waste from around the garden. Pay close attention to mulched garden beds, accessways, and the areas under trees and adjacent to fences.
• Routinely remove any organic material that might accumulate around buildings. Pay close attention to gutters, vents, weepholes, rooftops, window ledges and doorways.

(Source: Bushfire Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes)

Landscaping advice to improve the bushfire resilience of your home

Bushfire resistant landscaping can increase the chances of you and your home surviving a bushfire.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) website has detailed bushfire resilient landscaping advice including what to do, and what not to do, for:

• lawn and grasses - a well irrigated and maintained lawn can be an effective fire break
• groundcovers - groundcovers should be used sparingly in bushfire prone areas
• shrubs -  shrubs should be used carefully in bushfire prone areas
• ornamental plants - ornamental and food producing plants can enhance the bushfire resilience of your home
• trees - trees have something of a dual nature when it comes to bushfire
• screen plantings - screening plants can be placed in strategic locations to shield against wind, radiant heat and to catch embers and other debris
• mulches - mulches can be a significant fire hazard if used and managed incorrectly
• garden waste - garden waste can be a significant fire hazard if stored incorrectly
• fences and walls - fences and garden walls can be used to shield the home during bushfire
• garden edging - garden edging can trap embers and other debris during a bushfire
• open spaces - open spaces can enhance the bushfire resilience of your property
• landforms - Landforms and earthworks can be effective barriers against bushfire.

(Source:  CSIRO)