Where you should definitely not put your garden
Fire-wise gardens keep the first five feet from a structure clear of vegetation. Image: Meadow Pro
Enter the no grow zone.
Houses catch on fire when the landscape has caught on fire. The sparks have to come from somewhere.
(There are other significant sources of home ignition too, such as when weathered wood touches your home, as in wooden fences).
One of the simplest things you can do to improve the fire defensibility of your house is to clear away anything that will throw embers right next to your house. In fire-wise landscaping, this is known as the No Grow Zone and it applies to anything within 5 feet of your home.
Generally speaking, homes are made of flammable materials and one of the most vulnerable spaces for a home to catch a spark that builds into a flame is at your siding. Specifically when a barrage of sparks lodges between your lowest piece of siding and your foundation.
(Window sashes, roof vents and gutters can also all be significant ignition points for blowing embers).
The No Grow Zone is rule 1 for a fire-wise landscape plan. To learn the rest of the rules, attend one of our free, expert-led workshops.
Free Fire-Wise Gardening Workshops in 2025
April 8, 2025, 5:30-7PM, Louisville Rec Center. RSVP here
April 22, 2023, 6-730PM, Lafayette Public Library. RSVP here
The workshop is geared toward DIY gardeners who want to take on a season-size project to increase the fire-defensibility of their landscape. All participants will leave with a fire-wise planting template and everyone who attends is eligible for a random drawing for five, 50-plant kits that follow the fire-wise template.
