Fire and Landscaping

Wildfire risk is something that must be factored in when engaging in landscape work in Colorado, and there are particular considerations involved when working in areas that have recently burned. Review the resources below for some guidance on landscaping practices to reduce wildfire risk and restore soil health.

Risk Mitigation

Know Your Risk:

• Curbside + Home Assessment Program - Boulder Fire Department

• Colorado Wildfire Risk Atlas - CO State Forest Service

Preparedness:

• Wildfire Partners Program - Boulder County

• Wildland Fire Preparedness Guide - Boulder Fire Department

• Home Ignition Zone Guide - CO State Forest Service

• Technical Note on Fire Hazard Mitigation - National Institute of Standards and Technology

Plant Guides:

• Low Flammability Landscape Plants Guide - CSU Extension

• The Fire Resistance of Plants Master Database - Idaho FireWise

Restoration

Tree Care:

• Tree Planting Guide - Tree Trust

• Planting Trees Guide - CSU Extension

• Care of Recently Planted Trees - CSU Extension

• Wrapping Trees for Winter - CSU Extension

Soil Considerations:

• Managing Soil Tilth - Colorado Master Gardener CSU Extension

• Fertilizers and Soil Conditioners - CO Regulations

• Using Compost in the Home Garden - Colorado Master Gardener CSU Extension

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Soil, compost, and other materials can move and cause problems in high wind events or heavy rains. Time the delivery of materials for just before a project begins. Use sediment barriers (silt fencing, filter socks), think about where deliveries should be deposited, whether they should be covered with tarps, etc.

• Eliminate boundaries in texture between existing soil and fill soil. When a soil with a different texture is added on top of any existing soil, water infiltration will slow at the boundary. To avoid this, blend some of the new soil with some of the old soil over a depth of six inches.

• Be aware that the term “topsoil” has a specific legal meaning in Colorado: it is “the material at the surface of the earth which has been has been so modified and acted upon by physical, chemical, and biological agents that it will not support rooted plants necessary to achieve reclamation goals.” Go with a source that can give you analytics and/or as much information as possible.

• In Colorado, compost in unregulated. Materials sold as “compost” could be anything (plant materials, manure, biosolids, animal by-products, etc.) and could be at any stage of decomposition. Not all “composts” are good for the soil. Go with a source that gives you analytics.