Living near wildland can provide wildlife interaction and spectacular views. In the case of wildfire, wildland can provide fuel that may endanger your home. Finding the balance between urban and wildland can be challenging. The City of Sunset Valley is working toward becoming a community wildlife habitat. We encourage residents to develop a backyard oasis for animals. Balancing the habitat needs of animals with a need for firewise protection can seem like two competing concepts. However, firewise landscaping can be implemented that attracts wildlife but has plants with low flammability.

Guide to Choosing Firewise Landscaping

• Select plants that are drought tolerant, high in moisture content, easily pruned and maintained.
• Select trees such as oaks and maples that have open branching, which can help retard fire spread.
• Plant small trees and shrubs away from larger trees to avoid creating a ladder of vegetation that could lead a ground fire up into the tree crowns.
• Plant the right tree in the right place. Avoid planting potentially large trees and shrubs under utility lines.
• Avoid planting vegetation with high oil and resin content, such as pines, cedars and junipers. These types of plants burn quickly and can greatly increase the rate of fire spread.
• Restrict the use of flowerbeds and shrubbery against your house. Nonflammable mulches such as rock or crushed brick are preferred.

Resources

• Hill Country Plant Recommendations Low Flammability Plants for the Texas Hill Country
• Habitat Plants For Bastrop Habitat Plants for Bastrop
• Firewise Plant List Firewise Plants for Texas

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