Trees & Shrubs

Many naturally occurring plants in Idaho are highly flammable during the summer and can fuel a wildfire, causing it to spread rapidly. Removing flammable native plants and replacing them with low-growing, fire-resistive plants is one of the easiest and most effective ways to create defensible space.

Select landscape vegetation based on fire resistance and ease of maintenance, as well as visual enhancement of your property. In general, fire resistive plants:

	grow close to the ground
	have a low resin content
	grow without accumulating dead branches, needles or leaves
	are easily maintained and pruned
	are drought-tolerant in some cases
	are deciduous hardwoods that drop leaves in the winter

Good House 2 If fire-resistive plants are not available; vary the height of your landscape plants and give them adequate spacing. The taller your plants are, the wider apart they should be spaced. Contact your local fire department, county extension office, or local nursery to find out which fire resistive plants are adapted to the climate in your area.

Other FireWise Precautions

After you have created your defensible space around your home, there are other FireWise precautions that you should follow.

	Work with your neighbors to clear common areas between houses, and prune areas of heavy vegetation that are a threat to everyone.
	Avoid planting trees under or near electrical lines (they may grow into or contact the lines in high winds, thus causing a fire).
	If part of your property extends outside of the newly created defensible space and is heavily forested, thin trees to decrease the fire hazard and improve forest health.
	Remove dead, weak or diseased trees and trees with an obvious lean, leaving a healthy mixture of older and younger trees.