Landscaping

You can use landscaping to increase the chances of you and your home surviving a bushfire. In most builds, the design of the house is considered first, and the landscape second; however, there are many benefits to addressing the landscaping first. When starting a new build, think strategically about where the house, and any other buildings, are located and how the landscape surrounding these buildings is designed. Siting and garden design provides a great opportunity to reduce the bushfire hazard to your property.

If your home has been sited and constructed already, there are still many things you can do to reduce your bushfire risk. This section will provide a comprehensive look at the most important landscaping principles that you should follow if you live in a bushfire prone area – whether you are planning a New build or are looking to Retrofit.

Consider how each of the design elements in the following sections work alongside one another. Landscaping should be thought of as a holistic process, where each element impacts on the elements around it. For example, in a bushfire, a patch of overgrown vegetation might spread fire to timber edging, which may spread fire to a timber deck resulting in direct flame-contact with the home. Any flaw or vulnerability in one design element has the potential to compromise the entire design. As the saying goes, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

In addition to the Bushfire Best Practice Guide, other useful information can be found on the Country Fire Authority’s website, Landscaping For bushfire

Landscaping can provide a great opportunity to improve the bushfire resilience of your home