Title: Landscape Brush Clearing Santa Barbara, Ca
1Santa Barbara Brush Clearing Services
- Considered a necessary evil by many, clearing
brush is a service that is not only a crucial
part of general upkeep, it can also be a life and
property saving measure.
2Brush clearing in Santa Barbara
- Considered a necessary evil by many, clearing
brush is a service that is not only a crucial
part of general upkeep, it can also be a life and
property saving measure. Anyone in the Santa
Barbara region understands the importance of
maintaining a defensible zone around buildings in
preventing damage from wildfire. The first
thirty feet around a homes perimeter should be
free of all dead and dry landscape material
brush, especially, should be cleared to control
and divert fire spread.
3- Note, however, that Santa Ana winds are forceful
enough to blow dangerous embers far beyond the
distances dictated by defensible zone
guidelines. Therefore, while masticating dry and
dead plant material can be effective in
controlling fire spread at the ground
levelespecially if firefighting forces are at
the ready to prevent its reach between
zonesimpracticality and the impact on the
ecosystem should be considered as part of a more
robust and thorough defense plan. Full clearing
of vegetation leaves only bare soil upon which
seeds of invasive weed species can take root.
4- Recent studies have shown that chaparral, once
considered a prime culprit in the spread of
wildfire, burns far less frequently and easily
than the flashy fuels of errant weeds. Debate
continues regarding the handling of chaparral
throughout Southern Californias coastal regions,
but for the home or business owner, replacing
brush material with lush, fire-resistant native
material while following the guidelines for
defensible zones and wildfire prevention is best.
A landscape contractor can assist in eliminating
the quick igniting materials as well as planning
and installing a safer, attractive landscape that
is effective in slowing the spread of fire.
5Creating Fire Resistant Landscaping
- Wildfires are destructive, deadly, and difficult
to stop, but many experts agree that fire-smart
landscaping is your homes best line of defense.
Follow these landscape design and maintenance
tips to help keep your home safe.
6How to Create Fire Resistant Landscaping
- Use stone patios, walkways, retaining walls, and
other hardscape installations to create fire-safe
zonesStrategically place flower beds, gardens,
rock, and mulch as firebreaksopt for dense
mulches, such as composted woodchips, over
shredded barkInstall drip systems or micro
sprinklers to moisten mulched areas ahead of
anticipated wildfiresOn a flat slope, trees
should stand at least 10 feet apart, while bushes
should have at least 2x their height between
themFires can spread more easily along slopes,
so leave more space between trees and shrubs on
steeper slopesOnly build decks out of
ignition-resistant or non-combustible
materialsDont plant trees below electrical
linesMaintaining a Fire Resistant YardClear all
dead plants, weeds, leaves, and branches from
within 30 feet of your houseRegularly mow your
lawn to no more than 4 tallKeep your rain
gutters clear of debrisTrim any flammable
plants, especially ones near windows and
decksRemove any branches that hang over your
roof or near your chimneyMove wood piles more
than 30 feet from your houseTrim any tree
branches that are less than 6 feet from the
groundIf you have trees growing over bushes,
multiply the height of each bush by 3 then trim
the branches that grow under that thresholdKeep
a garden hose ready at each spigotMake sure that
your address can be easily seen by
firefightersInstall Fire Resistant
PlantsIncluding fire-resistant plants in your
landscape can help stop the spread of fire to
more vulnerable parts of your yard. Check with
your local nursery or landscaper to select native
species for your area.
7Fire Resistant Shrubs
- Hedging Roses
- Honeysuckle
- Currant
- Heather
- Raspberry
- Rose
- Sumac
- Shrub Apples
- Fire Resistant Trees
- Hardwood
- Maple
- Poplar
- Cherry
- Black Oak
- River Birch
- Crabapple
- Other Fire Resistant Plants Flowers
- Rockrose
- Ice Plant
8Highly Flammable Shrubs
Avoid Highly Flammable Plants No plant is
completely fireproof, but some are much more
flammable than others. Avoid highly flammable
plants in general, and be sure not to plant any
near flammable structures.
- Chamise/Greasewood
- Cypress Shrubs
- Evergreen Huckleberry
- French Broom
- Manzanita
- Rosemary
- Highly Flammable Trees
- Pine
- Fir
- Conifer
- Juniper
- Cypress Trees
- Eucalyptus
- Acacia
- Hemlock
- Spruce
- Highly Flammable Plants
- Algerian Ivy
- Bamboo
9We are ready to provide our landscaping services
to you NOW! Call us at (805) 453-9551