Brush removal is a critical factor in controlling wildfires

Ask anyone in the Santa Barbara are what a top priority in landscape maintenance is and many will mention the importance of clearing brush to maintain a fire safe area around their property.  Creating a defensible zone is a life and property saving measure that should be part of the general upkeep of the region’s landscapes.

What is a defensible zone?

In times of drought, fire is a major concern for those living in the Santa Barbara area.  The Santa Ana winds here are forceful enough to push dangerous embers far into neighborhood, thus posing a risk for residents of the region.  While masticating dry and dead plant material can be effective in controlling fire spread at the ground level—especially if firefighting forces are at the ready to prevent its reach between zones—homeowners are on the hook to enact their own defense plan.

Homes are safer from wildfire when they are enclosed within an envelope that is free of dead and dry landscape material such as trees, shrubs, and scrub that are past their lifespan or have suffered the effects of drought during the hotter months.  “Flashy fuels” such as errant weeds, invasive species, and brush that are more ignitable than lush, water-holding plants are a prime culprit in the spread of wildfire and should be eliminated around a home’s perimeter.  Local authorities recommend clearing at least thirty feet around a home’s perimeter to ensure safety from the spread of fire.

What does brush clearing entail?

Landscape professionals have the equipment and manpower needed to tackle the removal of thick brush, dried weeds and undergrowth, and large shrubs and trees that pose a threat in drought and wildfire conditions.  Plant overgrowth, old tree stumps, and lawns left unmowed are likewise hazards that should be removed.

Often this work can overwhelm a homeowner; the sheer volume of material that needs to be removed may not be contained in typical yard bags or even on-site Dumpsters.  Standard garden tools, too, can be inadequate for eliminating all traces of flammable vegetation and yard waste, leaving the home, quite literally, in the line of fire.

A team of landscape contractors, particularly in Santa Barbara, can use their expertise in brush removal and land clearing to eliminate the invasive species and spent vegetation that pose a threat to homes.  Clear cutting, tilling to bare earth, and stump grinding are just some of the methods used to properly establish a defensible zone around a property.  Follow-up care, too, is an important part of a brush clearing program as bare soil resulting from full clearing must be monitored before weed species can take root.

Some of the special services a landscape professional can provide over a homeowner’s abilities include:

• Identifying species: Beyond answering just the simple, “is this a weed?” question that the layperson might ask, a professional landscaper can determine which plants pose a wildfire hazard, which plants are dying, and which are invasive and therefore need to be eliminated.
• Handling heavy equipment: Most homeowners do not have a brush rake or a dozer on hand to take out large amounts of brush or roots in one fell swoop.  When needed, a landscape contractor will be able to provide this and other pieces of equipment to carry out these daunting tasks, leaving the land adequately cleared and the vegetation neatly stacked for haul-off and disposal.
• Stump removal: Nearly anyone with a chainsaw can take down a tree or overgrown shrub—regardless of whether or not they should.  But taking out the stump is another story entirely, which is what makes tree removal so much more difficult when it’s needed.  Without taking out the stump, the land is still susceptible to conveying wildfire, especially if new growth at the base of the old tree or shrub appears.  Stump grinders and diggers are part of a landscape crew’s array of equipment and therefore they are armed to handle this best.
• Re-grading: What to do with the holes after stumps and roots are taken out?  A landscape contractor will ensure that these depressions are properly filled and compacted, leaving a site that level and not likely to sink where the trees and shrubs once stood.
• Bonded and insured: The dangers of doing brush removal and land clearing one’s self are obvious.  Leave the work to a landscaping company who can execute the work safely and absorb the risks associated with doing so.
• Haul-off: When the work is done, a landscape crew will be able to take the refuse off-site for chipping, burning, and/or proper disposal.  The customer is left with a beautifully cleared property and trash cans that are not stuffed solid with dead plants and debris.

What are some other benefits of brush clearing?

If defending against wildfires is not enough—or perhaps a property isn’t in an area that is susceptible to fire—brush removal can still serve a number of needs:

• Aesthetics: Unsightly, dead or dying plant material can detract from the beauty of a home.  A landscape professional can help determine which plants need to be removed to restore the property’s look.  Eliminating these eyesores properly by fully cutting them, grinding out their stumps, and taking the material off site clears the way for new garden plants that are sure to enhance the home’s curb appeal.  Naturally, a better looking home means a higher value when it comes time to sell.
• Invasive species mitigation: Some plants are adept at taking over an entire landscape, depleting the soil of valuable moisture and nutrients, smothering neighboring plants, and growing beyond what the homeowner can control.  Clearing these species from a property eliminate the nuisances they cause, leaving desired landscape plants to thrive and flourish.
• Controlling other infestations: Thick vegetation can create conditions for unwanted insects and other pests to breed.  Trapped moisture, too, under dense leaves may lead to mold, fungi, and other growths that can become problematic.
• Clearing the way: For the homeowner finally ready to build that deck or patio, or establish some new garden beds, full removal of existing, overgrown vegetation is an important first step.  A landscape professional can clear shrubs, trees, and invasive weeds that will eliminate the possibility of regrowth after the improvement project is complete.

Whatever the reasons for wanting or needing to clear brush on one’s property, it is often best left to a contractor who specializes in brush removal services.  A landscape professional can safely eliminate quick igniting materials from a property as well as help plan and install a safer, attractive landscape that is effective in slowing the spread of fire.  Reach out to SB Evolution to learn more about how the company can help protect and beautify a Santa Barbara home.