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Your guide to beautiful, fire-resistant landscaping techniques
Tens of thousands of wildfires burn across the country every year, destroying millions of acres of land. If you live in fire country, take action. Use firescaping to defend your home against wildfires—while maintaining the beauty of your garden. This unique form of landscaping design keeps your property healthy, clean, and clear. Horticultural expert Douglas Kent shares secrets, tricks, and simple instructions in the new edition of this practical, hands-on guide, recommended by AAA Homeowners Insurance.
Find out which landscapes have a high fire risk and why. Get tips on landscaping and maintenance—such as effective watering and brush-clearing techniques—that reduce a property’s fire risk. Learn which plants and building materials are best for reducing damage. Discover how to make your home accessible to firefighters in the event of a wildfire. Homeowners, landscaping professionals, and community fire prevention officials will find Firescaping invaluable. If you live in an area at risk, this book can help to prepare you and give you peace of mind.
Douglas Kent began work on Firescaping in 1992. He lived 25 miles northwest of the Tunnel fire, which had devoured 25 lives and 2,900 homes in the Berkeley/Oakland hills. Frightened and inspired, Kent’s work started as a local gardening guide.
In 2005 Firescaping became a statewide guide and Kent’s true education began. Since then he has toured, worked with, and spoken to fire scared communities throughout California. He has been on the front lines of many fires and has interviewed enough people that have lost their homes to know that nobody should endure such a tragedy.
Kent has 27 years of soot-filled experience in Firescaping, but that is far from his only credentials. He started gardening in 1979 and has written 6 other books, worked on hundreds of landscape projects, helped lead 4 statewide gardening campaigns, has 2 Master degrees, and has taught at California Polytechnic University, Pomona, since 2008. Besides Firescaping, Kent also specializes in resource conservation and urban harvest.
Introduction
Chapter 1: Fire
- The Hot States
- Humans: The Fire Species
- Fire Management
Chapter 2: Knowing the Terrain
- The Three Types of Landscapes
- Protecting Your Community
Chapter 3: Determining the Risk of Fire
- What’s Your Risk Level?
- Environmental Risk Factors
- Characteristics of a Hazardous Community
Chapter 4: A Model for Home Protection
- Firescaping’s Zone Theory
- Characteristics of a Fire-Protected Property
Chapter 5: Designing for Fire and Safety
- General Design Principles
- Designs for Special Situations
- Landscape Features: Design and Construction Materials
Chapter 6: Removing Plants and Reclaiming Landscapes
- Plant Life Expectancy
- General Guidelines for Removal and Reclamation
- Removal Methods
Chapter 7: Plants and Fire Prevention
- Selecting Plants for Hills
- Recommended Plants by Zone
Chapter 8: The Role of Water in a Firescaped Garden
- Maintenance Water
- Emergency Water
Chapter 9: Maintaining a Firescaped Garden
- Maintenance Priorities
- Monthly Checklist
- Pruning
Chapter 10: Controlling Erosion After a Fire
- Erosion Test
- Fire First Aid
Further Information
What to Do During a Fire
Glossary
Helpful Websites
References and Selected Readings
Index
Plant Index