Landscaping in Florida with Fire in Mind

Martha C. Monroe, Raelene M. Crandall, Jennifer M. Fill, and Alan J. Long

Release Date: 7/31/2023

Reviewed At: 4/25/2023

DOI: 10.32473/edis-fr076-2023

Natural Resources

Abstract

Wildfire risk depends on the landscape surrounding communities and the vegetation immediately surrounding homes. To protect their homes, residents should consider both the materials used to construct their houses and the vegetation type and arrangement in the area around them. This publication presents information on how to landscape the vegetation, selecting plants with low flammability, pruning ladder fuels, and removing highly combustible materials to create a low-risk area of defensible space around their houses.

About this Publication

This document is FOR 71, one of a series of the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date January 2001. Revised September 2012, December 2015, and July 2023. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication. This publication was produced by the University of Florida with assistance from a grant from the Advisory Council on Environmental Education of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

About the Authors

Martha C. Monroe, professor; Raelene M. Crandall, associate professor; Jennifer M. Fill, research assistant scientist; and Alan J. Long, professor emeritus; School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, Florida 32611.

How to Cite

Monroe, M., Crandall, R., Fill, J., & Long, A. (2023). Landscaping in Florida with Fire in Mind. EDIS, 2023(4). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-fr076-2023