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How to Plan your Bushfire Prone Landscape

Garden planning DIY

How to Plan your Bushfire Prone Landscape

And still have a beautiful garden …

How to plan your bushfire prone landscape? You can have a beautiful garden whilst reducing the risk to your bushfire prone property ...

So, maybe you’ve built or renovated your house to minimise the bushfire risk? If so, well done; that’s great. However, why stop there? Given that bushfires are part of our natural landscape, the most important design and construction stage to reduce your risk of bushfire attack is yet to be undertaken … your garden! If your home is your castle then your garden is your moat!

After last year’s bushfire season, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that bushfires are becoming more frequent and with a higher intensity – Causing a greater amount of destruction and impact on many Australians. As the next fire season rolls around again this can understandably bring on anxious feelings and bad memories.

If you are rebuilding after a fire it can be challenging to find the motivation to plan a new garden. However, research shows that gardens have an important role to play. Gardens provide healing, respite and give hope and optimism through new growth and rejuvenation.

This can be an opportunity to think about what worked in your old garden and what you would like to change. Nurseries, friends and family may be able to help you to regain some of your favourite plants lost to fire that held sentimental value to you.

The best news is that there is a lot of design tips I can share with you to get your landscape ready! But before you get your gardening tools out or head down to the plant nursery, we need consider the following factors:

Do your homework – think site assessment and research
Understanding how fire behaves
Create defendable space around your home
Garden Design
Hardscape Materials
Plant selection to improve your garden’s defence, and
Ongoing garden maintenance

Do your homework for your bushfire prone landscape

In landscape design; before you begin planning your design for your bushfire prone landscape, it is important to start with research and site assessment. In a fire prone area this is essential!

While there are no guarantees that your property will survive, in the same way as having healthy habits are for your body – this improves your odds.

Start with your council. Most councils provide extra useful information, for example Blue Mountains City Council has interactive mapping which will give you an idea of your property’s constraints such as bushfire threat
Check the 10/50 vegetation clearing rules – these rules change from time to time so it is important that your information is current. There is an online tool to check 10/50 eligibility https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare/1050-vegetation-clearing/tool#tool
It is also may be worth engaging an accredited bushfire consultant to assess your BAL rating (Bushfire Attack Level). BAL is a method for measuring the different levels of bushfire intensity that a dwelling may encounter in a bushfire. Fire Protection Association Australia have a search index of accredited professionals to help http://www.fpaa.com.au/provider-of-choice/why-use-a-provider-of-choice.aspx
Check out your local CFA, CFS, RFS websites for local community education engagements and information http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/news-and-media/getready

Understanding How Fire Behaves in the Landscape

By thinking about how fire behaves we can design to slow potential fire attack on our properties.

Topography or Slope

Are you close to bushland or grasslands, in a rural area or on a semi-suburban block? The steeper the hill, the faster the speed and the intensity of the fire. Flames and radiant heat dry out vegetation which then burns easily.

For instance a mowed lawn or paved areas, terraced areas using retaining walls may be useful in creating defendable spaces.

Weather conditions

Hot, dry and windy days create conditions that increase the possibility of fires starting and sustaining.

Vegetation = Fuel

When there is a lot of vegetation without spaces between this creates a continual path for fire to travel.

Therefore, these factors should be considered in your garden design to reduce your risk.

Consider the existing landscape fuel – this includes leaf litter, plants, mulch, fences, outdoor furniture, outdoor structures and how this fuel is likely to affect your dwelling and it’s defendability.

Create your Defendable Space around your Home

In your defendable space the idea is to modify the vegetation to prevent direct flame contact where possible.

Can you provide access for emergency services?

The size and nature of your defendable space requirements will depend on a number of factors, but there should be an inner and outer zone.

As each site will be different, creating your defendable space with a personalised and tailored consultation will improve your chances in a bushfire.

Ongoing Garden Maintenance for Bushfire Prone Landscapes

Good garden maintenance is essential in a bushfire prone landscape, so you need to plan your bushfire prone landscape with this aspect in mind.

If your garden is large, you don’t enjoy gardening or simply don’t have the time, it is important to plan your garden to be low maintenance. You need to work out how much mowing, pruning, weeding, mulching and raking are you prepared to do each week?

In addition to these jobs, less frequently but still on a regular basis you should check/clear your gutters, check your hoses, roof and walls are in good repair?

It’s important to honest with yourself on this as you don’t want to bite off more than you can chew!

Garden Design and Planning for Bushfire Prone Areas

Let’s get started!

Look around your property at the existing landscape what can stay? Its a good idea to clear away clutter that may be a fire hazard.
Access: Can emergency services access your property to defend it effectively?
Draw a plan of your site include everything that is there including trees that have to stay.
Add information provided by accredited Bushfire Consultant such as APZ, BAL zones
Plan a defendable space around your home
Break up fuel load into clumps rather than create a continuous path – avoid having trees line up to your home
Choose non-combustible hardscape materials ie metal outdoor furniture, gravel for paths and mulch
Make good plant choices
Position sheds and service areas away from your home
Use low groundcovers under trees to separate the fuel
If possible, place water features, tanks and pools near your home
Avoid placing trees too close to your home to prevent overhanging branches
Create windbreaks
Choose non-combustible mulch
Install drip irrigation

Choosing Hardscape Materials for Bushfire Prone Areas

With new products and materials coming onto the market all the time – it’s never been easier to make good hardscape choices. Here’s a few to consider:

Can you include water tanks, water features and/or a swimming pool in your design? If so, ensure you display a Static Water Supply sign (SWS) at the entrance of your property.
Outdoor furniture? Metal and stone furniture are a safer option than timber for instance.
Do you want an outdoor deck area? Do your research some timbers such as hardwoods are slower to combust than say pine. There are some great alternatives now such as those made from composite materials which have added bonuses of being lower maintenance, eco-friendly and longer lasting as well
Where possible consider other products for your outdoor hardscape spaces, such as polished concrete, tiles, pavers, stone, gravel and deco granite.
Retaining walls: try sandstone logs, gabion walls, rendered block walls, dry stone walls, block walls.

Plant Choices

All plants will burn eventually but some are slower to ignite and burn.

When you plan your bushfire prone landscape it is important to think about the following characteristics when choosing the best plants:

Plants with a high moisture content

Succulents,
Deciduous shrubs and trees,
Irrigated productive gardens,
Native rainforest species.

Plant habit

Plants with an open and loose branching habit with sparce foliage are great.
Plants with branches 2metres above the ground, under-pruning increases separation and prevents lower branches acting as ladder fuels
Smooth bark on trees
Choose plants with leaves that are easier to distinguish from a distance
Plants with wide, flat and thicker leaves

Avoid

Plants that retain dead material, if not possible practice routine pruning and removal of dead plant material
Plants with a high oil, wax or resin content, if not possible, limit the number and place away from your home, such as Eucalyptus, Lavender and Rosemary
where possible avoid loose, stringy, flaky and fibrous bark trees
Environmental weeds – check your council website for a list
Plants that are susceptible to pest and disease attack

Conclusion

Think about your site as it is now.

Ask yourself questions about what works and what doesn’t?

Do your homework – check out your local Council website – there is a wealth of information relative to your property ready to help you work out what your risks are and what your restrictions are – it’s a great place to start!
Also look at the RFS or CFA Vic websites (or relevant Firefighting Service pertaining to your state), again a wealth of useful information to get you started.
Understand how fire behaves – this is a key analysing tool when planning your garden to reduce the risk of bushfire impacting your property
Plan a defendable area around your home
Consider the amount of maintenance involved when planning your garden, for most people low maintenance design will be the best option as a well-maintained garden is considered helpful in slowing a fire and minimising risk during the bushfire season
Garden design: now that you are armed with the above information you are ready to make your best plan!
Choosing non-combustible/low combustion hardscape material choices can make a huge difference – time to make some great choices!
Good plant selection – unfortunately all plants burn eventually but the good news is that some plants are slower to ignite and burn than others.

So, don’t forgot to consider the factors mentioned above, that make some plants a better choice to include in your plan.

For further recommended reading, please visit the following informative sites.

The information on these sites has been applied and combined with my landscape design principles to help you maximise your garden design to minimise the risk. The following information sources have been chosen because they are a reliable, regularly updated and a trustworthy source of information :

Know when to ask for help

Asking for help doesn’t mean you need to outsource the whole project. Here at Your Landscape Journey we offer phone and virtual consultations that will provide you with direction and support.

We can help you to make a success of your project. With over 30 years’ experience, there’s little in the landscaping world that we haven’t seen or done. We know all the tricks of the trade. We can provide feedback on your ideas and help you to get exactly what you want.

Don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed.

We’re right here ready to act as your guide, mentor, sounding board or trusted advisor.

Tips …

Do your homework - check out your local Council website – there is a wealth of information

Also look at the RFS website (or relevant Firefighting Service pertaining to your state), again you will find a wealth of useful information to get you started

Consider the amount of maintenance involved when planning your garden, for most people low maintenance design will be the best option

Understand how fire behaves

Garden design: now that you are armed with the above information you are ready to make your best plan!

Know when to ask for help

Good plant selection

Choosing non-combustible/low combustion hardscape material choices can make a huge difference

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The Ultimate 8 Step Guide to Garden Renovation

Garden design DIY

The Ultimate 8 Step Guide to Garden Renovation

Your Landscaping Journey begins here …

Is your home crying out for landscaping or a garden renovation?
Are you sick of weeds and dirt but scared you can’t afford a landscaper?
Do you want to DIY your garden’s landscaping to save money?

The good news is you can do just that with the help of Your Landscape Journey.

Your Landscape Journey has developed a free, downloadable guide to planning your landscaping project. You can have a DIY garden that will be the envy of the neighbourhood.

And the best bit? This is just the first of a series of resources that we’ll be developing for homeowners just like you. Watch this space for webinars and more tools.

But if at any point you want to hit fast forward, all you need to do is book in a phone or video consultation with Your Landscape Journey.

Your landscaping journey begins here …

So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and undertake a landscaping project, but you’re not sure where to start. Whether your project is big or small, the principles for planning it are the same.

Get ready to say goodbye to bare dirt, weeds and haphazard planting arrangements and hello to the garden of your dreams.

In this guide, we take you through the steps you need to take to plan and successfully carry out your landscaping job.

Step 1: Setting the scene for your garden renovation

In order for you to design your ultimate garden renovation, you need decide what you want to use your garden for.

Will it be a showpiece or a play space? Will it be used as an area for pets or will it be an extension of your entertaining space?

The function will substantially influence your overall design.

Once you’ve determined the function of your garden space, you’re ready to move to the next step.

Step 2: Taking stock of your garden renovation

Do an inventory of what you already have in your garden.

Think about things that you like and can stay the way they are.

Consider items that can’t be removed but that perhaps you’d like to conceal.

Identify existing features that you’d like to accentuate.

Once you’ve done that, draw a mud map (which is just a fancy way of saying simple plan) of your site so you can see what you’re working with.

Include things like:

Built structures
Your home’s footprint
Sheds
Pools
Gazebos
Soil type
Orientation of the site (e.g. sunny and shady spots)

Step 3: It’s all about garden style

There are so many different styles of garden and the one you pick will have a huge influence on your overall design, plant choice and hard landscaping. What are you drawn to and does it work with your home? Is it feasible in your climate?

You could consider:

Tropical
Mediterranean
Native
English or Cottage
Formal
Japanese
Eco Friendly
Modern or Contemporary

The options are endless, and you’re only limited by your imagination. Look at lots of pictures. Check out the gardens in your neighbourhood. Think about what appeals to you that will also suit your location.

Step 4: Landscape Design – it’s elemental

There are lots of elements to a landscaping plan. Consider any hard elements that you want to include or add such as a pool, water feature, carport, entertaining area, or gazebo.

You can then consider soft elements such as plants and lawns.

You will need to pull these two aspects together so that they work in harmony with each other.

Step 5: Your garden’s got to feel right

Think about how you want to feel when you spend time in your garden.

Do you want a tranquil retreat replete with pond and Koi fish? This kind of garden would provide you with a quiet space to sit and reflect.

Perhaps you want to walk outside feel energised and ready for action. Then maybe an exercise area that includes outdoor exercise equipment is needed.

Or maybe you just want to feel connected to nature. If so, having fruit trees, vegie and herb gardens will allow you to grow what you eat – your garden could literally nourish your body. Remember it’s your ultimate garden renovation!

Step 6: Money, money, money

You’ll need to establish your budget. You can have the grandest plans in the world, but you’ll ultimately be disappointed if your they’re out of reach financially.

That said, there are many cost saving measures you can take to achieve your garden goals for less. Think about reducing the scale, reusing what you already have or using recycled or salvaged items.

Cost out all the elements of your design. Make sure you include council application fees and all associated professional costs.

Step 7: Getting the nod of approval

A lot of people jump headlong into landscaping projects and don’t consider council approval. Talk to your council about your plans and find out if you need to put in any applications or seek approval for any aspect of your design.

It might seem like a tedious step and no-one likes red-tape but it will stop you from being fined.

Council is there to ensure that things get done the right way so that your garden is safe. For instance, you want your retaining wall built to best practice and standards – the consequences if it fails can be tragic.

Step 8: Know when to ask for landscaping help

Asking for help doesn’t mean you need to outsource the whole project. Here at Your Landscape Journey we offer phone and virtual consultations that will provide you with direction and support.

Don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed.

We’re right here ready to act as your guide, mentor, sounding board or trusted advisor.

Garden Renovation Tips …

Setting the scene - determine the function of your garden space

Do an inventory of what you already have in your garden. Think about things that you like and can stay the way they are.

There are lots of elements to a landscaping plan. Consider any hard elements that you want to include or add ... consider soft elements such as plants and lawns ... how will you pull the these two aspects together so that they work in harmony?

How will you use your garden?

There are so many different styles of garden and the one you pick will have a huge influence on your overall design

You’ll need to establish your budget

Talk to your council about your plans

Know when to ask for help - We’re right here ready to act as your guide, mentor, sounding board or trusted advisor