Many Colorado foothills residents are surprised to learn they can have a beautifully landscaped yard while maintaining a fire-resistant property. Creating firewise landscapes is essential for protecting Front Range homes during wildfire season, but it requires knowledge, planning, and careful plant selection.
A common misconception is that all native plants are fire-resistant. In reality, some native species may actually increase fire risk, and all plants can become flammable under certain conditions. But by choosing the right plants and implementing proper landscaping techniques, you can create a beautiful, eco-friendly yard that also serves as a protective barrier against wildfires.
Key Takeaways
- Implementing Firewise Landscaping Principles: Keeping your landscape “lean, clean, and green” helps prevent the rapid spread of wildfires by ensuring proper plant spacing, regular removal of debris, and choosing water-retentive plants.
- Choosing Fire-Resistant Plants: Opt for plants that have high moisture content, grow slowly, and require minimal pruning. Examples include lavender, bearded iris, and Rocky Mountain maple, which are well-suited for the Colorado foothills.
- Creating a Firebreak: Strategically placing fire-resistant plants and incorporating hardscaping elements like gravel paths can create effective firebreaks, reducing the risk of fire spreading to your home.
- Managing Existing Vegetation: Assess and manage high-risk plants such as junipers and ornamental grasses. Consider removing or relocating them to reduce fire hazards, and maintain proper spacing and pruning.
- Benefits of Firewise Landscaping: Firewise landscaping not only protects your property and enhances community safety but also offers aesthetic appeal, environmental conservation, and potential insurance benefits.
Lean, Clean, and Green: Firewise Landscaping Principles
One of the fundamental principles of firewise landscaping is keeping your landscape “lean, clean, and green.”
Lean
Space plants, shrubs, and trees apart to prevent rapid fire spread. Plant in small clusters rather than large, dense groups.
Clean
Regularly remove potential fuel sources such as loose twigs, branches, flowers, and pine needles. Sweep, rake, prune, and mow to maintain a clean landscape.
Green
Choose plants and trees that retain water and keep them well-irrigated. Remove dead plants promptly, as they are highly combustible.
The Importance of Firewise Landscaping in the Colorado Foothills
Implementing firewise landscaping practices in the Colorado foothills is critical for our local communities for several reasons:
- Property Protection: Fire-resistant plants and proper spacing can significantly reduce the risk of fire spreading to your home.
- Community Safety: When multiple properties adopt firewise practices, it creates a more resilient neighborhood against wildfires.
- Insurance Benefits: Some insurance companies offer discounts for homes with firewise landscaping.
- Environmental Conservation: Many fire-resistant plants are also drought-tolerant, promoting water conservation.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Firewise landscaping can be beautiful when done right, dispelling the myth that it must be barren or unattractive to be safe.
Drought- and Salt-Resistant Plants
Drought-resistant and salt-resistant plants are often also fire-resistant. Plants that can survive drought conditions often have a high moisture level and don’t work well as fuel for a wildfire (think of succulents, for instance).
Similarly, plants that are salt-tolerant often fare better in firewise landscapes. This is particularly relevant in the Colorado foothills, where drought conditions are common and salt is frequently used for ice melting in winter.
How to Choose Firewise Plants
When selecting plants for your firewise landscape in the Colorado foothills, look for those that:
- Don’t shed excessive branches or leaves
- Grow slowly and require minimal pruning
- Remain close to the ground
- Have high moisture content
- Feature open, loose branches without dense vegetation
Colorado blue columbine
Fire-Resistant Plants for the Colorado Foothills
Below is an expanded list of fire-resistant plants well-suited to the Colorado foothills and readily available at local garden centers.
Firewise Herbs & Perennials
- Native or woolly yarrow: Drought-tolerant and attracts pollinators.
- Monkshood: Provides striking blue flowers and thrives in partial shade.
- Columbine: Colorado’s state flower, offers nectar for hummingbirds.
- Sages: Aromatic, drought-resistant, and loved by bees.
- Whiplash daisy/trailing fleabane: Low-growing groundcover with delicate flowers.
- Blanket flower: Colorful, long-blooming, and attracts butterflies.
- Bearded iris: Drought-tolerant with showy flowers in various colors.
- Lavender: Fragrant, drought-resistant, and deer-resistant.
- Silver lupine: Nitrogen-fixing and supports native wildlife.
- Prairie coneflower: Attracts birds and butterflies, drought-tolerant.
- Broom groundsel: Fast-growing with yellow flowers, good for erosion control.
- Smooth goldenrod: Late-season bloomer, supports pollinators.
- Thyme: Aromatic groundcover, drought-tolerant.
Redtwig dogwood
Fire-Resistant Shrubs
- Little-leaf mountain mahogany: Evergreen, drought-tolerant, good for wildlife.
- Redtwig dogwood: Provides winter interest with bright red stems.
- Apache plume: Drought-tolerant with feathery seed heads.
- Cliff/rock spirea: Attracts butterflies, tolerates poor soil.
- Wax flower: Fragrant flowers, evergreen foliage.
- Creeping grape holly: Low-growing evergreen with blue berries.
- Western sand cherry: Produces edible fruit, attracts birds.
- Antelope bitterbrush: Provides food and cover for wildlife.
- Snowberry: White berries provide winter interest and bird food.
- Yucca: Drought-tolerant, architectural form.
Mountain ash
Large Shrubs & Trees
- Rocky Mountain maple: Provides fall color, tolerates shade.
- Thinleaf alder: Good for streamside planting, nitrogen-fixing.
- Serviceberry: Produces edible berries, attractive spring flowers.
- Hawthorn: Offers food and shelter for birds.
- Honeylocust: Provides dappled shade, drought-tolerant.
- Crabapple: Spring blossoms, fall fruit for wildlife.
- Flowering plum: Ornamental spring flowers, some varieties produce fruit.
- Western Mountain Ash: Attractive to birds, good fall color.
Firewise Trees: Deciduous vs. Coniferous
Deciduous trees are generally more firewise than conifers. Conifers contain more oils and resins, which are highly flammable, while deciduous trees’ leaves have higher water content. During winter, the loss of leaves and higher moisture content in deciduous trees make them less of a fire hazard (but remember to remove the leaves from the ground!).
However, this doesn’t mean you need to remove all your evergreen trees. Instead, follow these guidelines:
- Ensure proper spacing between trees to reduce fire spread. You may want to remove less desirable evergreens that are crowding trees you want to keep.
- Keep trees well-pruned, especially the lower branches.
- Plant conifers at least 30 feet from structures and each other.
- Regularly remove dead needles and use gravel mulch instead of flammable pine bark.
- Keep gutters clear of pine needles and other debris.
- If adding conifers, choose varieties with thick bark, long needles, or self-pruning characteristics, such as Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), which has thick bark and long needles, or Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens), known for its self-pruning lower branches.
Creating a Firebreak with Plants
While no plant is completely fireproof, strategically placed fire-resistant plants can help create a firebreak around your property. Consider these strategies:
- Use low-growing, high-moisture content plants near your home.
- Create a “fuel break” with hardscaping elements like gravel or stone paths.
- Plant fire-resistant trees and shrubs in small clusters, separated by areas of low vegetation.
- Incorporate drought-tolerant, fire-resistant native plants to support local ecosystems while maintaining a safer, firewise landscape.
Should I Remove Existing Plants That Aren’t Fire-Resistant?
Assessing your existing landscape is an important step in creating a firewise property. While it’s not always necessary to remove all non-fire-resistant plants, some pose a higher risk and should be considered for removal or relocation.
High-Risk Plants to Consider Removing
- Juniper and other resinous conifers: These contain flammable oils and should be kept at least 30 feet from structures.
- Ornamental grasses: When dry, these can ignite quickly and spread fire rapidly, though there are ways to reduce the risk of ornamental grasses on your property.
- Bamboo: Bamboo is fast-burning and can create flying embers.
- Eucalyptus: Contains highly flammable oils and tends to drop a lot of debris.
If you choose to keep some of these plants, ensure they are well-maintained, properly spaced, and kept away from structures. Regular pruning and removal of dead material can help reduce fire risk.
For plants you’re unsure about, consult with a local arborist or landscaping professional who specializes in firewise landscapes in the Colorado foothills. They can provide personalized advice based on your specific property and needs.
Firewise Landscapes for Beginners in Colorado
If you’re new to firewise landscaping, start with these steps:
- Create defensible space around your home.
- Remove dead vegetation and debris regularly.
- Choose fire-resistant plants appropriate for the Colorado foothills.
- Maintain proper spacing between plants and structures.
- Keep your landscape well-irrigated, especially during dry periods.
Firewise landscaping in the Colorado foothills is an ongoing process. Regular maintenance and updates to your landscape will help ensure your property remains as fire-resistant as possible.
Additional Firewise Landscaping Resources for Colorado Foothills Residents
To further assist you in creating a firewise landscape, here are some valuable resources:
- Complete list of firewise plants for Colorado
- Printable list of Colorado plants that are fire-resistant
- Firewise landscaping tips from CSU Extension Service
These resources can provide more detailed information on fire-resistant plants specific to the Colorado foothills and offer additional tips for creating and maintaining firewise landscapes.
Need Help?
If you’re unsure where to start with your firewise landscape, call your local tree care experts at LAM Tree Service. Our professional arborists have provided tree care and fire mitigation services to the foothills west of Denver since 1978, bringing unmatched experience to every job.
For more information on our fire mitigation services and how we can help you create a beautiful, firewise landscape in the Colorado foothills, please call us at 303-674-8733 or use our online form to request a property inspection today.
