YOUR RISK OF FIRE
Gardening to reduce
PLAN AND PLANT TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF PROPERTY LOSS DURING A BUSHFIREThere are many garden design strategies and plants that could help to protect your home during bush fire. Of course, sometimes nature will have her way regardless, but some plants are undeniably more flammable than others.
Garden design
WHEN DESIGNING A GARDEN IN A BUSHFIRE AREA, CONSIDER:1. DESIGN
Create a garden with a defendable space around your home as well as a bushfire buffer. The inner zone consists of shorter plants while the outer zone is a hedge or feature trees to act as a fire buffer.
2. PLANT CHOICEi. Use plants with high water content to
reduce and slow the spread of fire. ii. Use trees or hedges, where possible to
reduce wind speed, radiant heat and to filter embers.
Position: Full sunSize: 4m x 3mValue: Edible fruit in autumnWater: Drought-tolerantType: Evergreen
FEIJOAcode: WPIG
Position: Full sunSize: 10m x 4mValue: Ornamental foliageWater: Seasonal Type: Evergreen
HILL’S FIG
Position: Full sunSize: 10m x 8mValue: Edible nuts in autumnWater: SeasonalType: Evergreen
MACADAMIA
Position: Full sunSize: 10m x 7mValue: Edible foliageWater: Drought tolerantType: Evergreen
NARROW-LEAFED BAYPosition: Full sunSize: 2m x 2mValue: Edible fruit in winterWater: SeasonalType: Evergreen
SEVILLE ORANGE
code: WMAc
code: WBANcode: WcITSe
Position: Full sunSize: 3m x 3mValue: Edible fruit from springWater: Drought-tolerantType: Evergreen
AVOCADOcode: WAVLH
EvergreenHedges
Position: Full sun / Part shadeSize: 1m x 60cmValue: Flowers Apr-Jun/Edible leaves Water: SeasonalType: Evergreen
WHITE TEA PLANTcode: WTeA
Position: Full sunSize: 5m x 4mValue: Flowers Aug-SepWater: Drought tolerant Type: Evergreen
SWEET PITTOSPORUMcode: WPIT
Hedges are more than just windbreaks. If sited correctly, composed of low-flammable species and kept maintained, they can help to slow the progression of a fire, reduce ember attack and provide separation between the fire front and your garden and home.
code: WFIHI
Position: Full sunSize: 5m x 3mValue: Flowers Sep-NovWater: SeasonalType: Deciduous
ROSA MULTIFLORA ‘PINK’code: RMULP
Position: Full sunSize: 3m x 2mValue: Edible fruit in autumnWater: SeasonalType: Deciduous
APPLE
Position: Full sunSize: 4m x 4mValue: Edible nuts in autumnWater: SeasonalType: Deciduous
HAZELNUTPosition: Full sunSize: 5m x 4mValue: Fruit from Feb-May Water: Drought-tolerantType: Deciduous
POMEGRANATE
Position: Full sunSize: 3m x 3mValue: Edible fruit in SummerWater: SeasonalType: Deciduous
CHERRYPosition: Full sunSize: 12m x 5mValue: Ornamental berriesWater: Thirsty Type: Deciduous
CHINESE PISTACHIO
code: WHAeBcode: WPoWo
code: WAPPIcode: WcHLAcode: WPIS
Deciduous trees can offer protection from hot summer winds while in leaf, but open up the garden during winter, when warm winds help to keep frosts at bay. Fruit trees are ideal in this zone, acting as a firebreak as well as a productive orchard.
Position: Part shadeSize: 2m x 1.5mValue: Flowers Jan-AprWater: ThirstyType: Deciduous
HYDRANGEA PANICULATAcode: WHYP
Position: Full sunSize: 3m x 3mValue: Edible fruit from autumnWater: SeasonalType: Deciduous
PEARcode: WPeco
DeciduousHedges
Position: Full sunSize: 12m x 8mValue: Ornamental & ShadeWater: SeasonalType: Deciduous
SWAMP OAKcode: WoASW
Position: Full sunSize: 10m x 5mValue: Feature trunk Water: Drought tolerantType: Deciduous
BOAB
Position: Full sunSize: 20m x 15mValue: OrnamentalWater: Drought tolerantType: Deciduous
ALGERIAN OAK
Position: Full sunSize: 18m x 15mValue: Feature trunk & ShadeWater: Drought tolerantType: Evergreen
ARGENTINE OMBUPosition: Full sunSize: 12m x 8mValue: Ornamental & FlowersWater: Drought tolerantType: Semi-deciduous
QUEENSLAND BOTTLE TREE
code: WALo
code: S449code: WARocode: WBoT
Position: Full sunSize: 9m x 6mValue: Tolerant of all soilsWater: Drought tolerantType: Deciduous
WHITE CEDARcode: WWHc
Position: Full sun/Part-shadeSize: 12m x 6mValue: Flowers Sep - NovWater: Drought tolerantType: Evergreen
NATIVE FRANGIPANIcode: WNAF
Position: Full sunSize: 15m x 3mValue: Flowers & FoliageWater: SeasonalType: Deciduous
FLAME TREEcode: WFLT
Trees have many purposes within the garden, from creating cooling shade to providing colour, form and structure. When positioned between hedging and your home, they can help to trap embers, preventing their spread.
FeatureTrees
Position: Full sunSize: 40cm x 60cmValue: Flowers Dec-JanWater: Drought-tolerantType: Herbaceous perennial
WORMWOOD ‘VALERIE FINNIS’code: PWoV
Position: Full sun/Part-shadeSize: 1m x 1.5mValue: Foliage Water: Drought tolerantType: Evergreen
AGAVE ‘SILVER TRIM’Position: Full sunSize: 50cm x 50cmValue: Flowers Oct-FebWater: Drought tolerantType: Evergreen
ENGLISH LAVENDER ‘HIDCOTE’
Position: Full sunSize: 60cm x 50cmValue: Flowers Jan - AprWater: Drought tolerantType: Herbaceous perennial
SEDUM ‘AUTUMN JOY’Position: Full sun/Part-shadeSize: 20cm x 20cmValue: Flowers Feb - MayWater: Drought tolerantType: Evergreen
ALOE ‘FAIRY PINK’
code: PLAHcode: WAGS
code: PSeAUcode: PALFP
Position: Full sunSize: 80cm x 50cmValue: Flowers Oct-FebWater: Drought-tolerantType: Perennial
WHITE VALERIANcode: PVAW
Position: Full sunSize: 75cm x 60cmValue: Flowers in shade Water: Drought tolerantType: Evergreen
CLIVIA ‘CREAM’code: PcLMY
Position: Full sunSize: 1.5m x 80cmValue: Flowers May-SepWater: Drought tolerantType: Evergreen
EUPHORBIA WULFENIIcode: PeUW
The defendable space is the area adjacent to your home. This should be planted with low-growing plants, shrubs and ground covers, which will help to extinguish fire rather than acting as a ramp to your home.
DefendableSpace
BLUE CHALK STICKScode: PSeRe
Position: Full sunSize: 20cm x 30cmValue: Flowers Oct-Dec Water: Drought tolerantType: Evergreen
GAZANIA
ECHEVERIA ‘VIOLET QUEEN’Position: Full sunSize: 30cm x 70cmValue: Silver foliage Water: Drought tolerantType: Evergreen
COTYLEDON ORBICULATA SILVERPosition: Full sunSize: 50cm x 50cmValue: Edible foliageWater: Drought tolerantType: Evergreen
ROCK SAMPHIREcode: WecVQ
code: PGAZR
code: PcooR code: WRoS
KALANCHOE PUMILAcode: PKAP
JELLY BEAN PLANTcode: PSeRU
BABY SUN ROSEcode: PAPT
Position: Full sunSize: 10cm x 60cmValue: Blue foliageWater: Drought-tolerantType: Evergreen
Position: Full sunSize: 10cm x 30cmValue: Spreading foliageWater: Drought-tolerantType: Evergreen
Position: Full sunSize: 20cm x 35cmValue: Flowers Jul-NovWater: Drought-tolerantType: Evergreen
Position: Full sunSize: 20cm x 30cmValue: Living mulchWater: Drought-tolerantType: Evergreen
Position: Full sun/Part-shadeSize: 10cm x 1mValue: Living mulchWater: Drought-tolerantType: Evergreen
Mulch is critical to the success of Australian gardens, especially in areas of low water. Living mulches and ground covers help protect the soil and soil microbes from extremes of heat, as well as acting as a weed suppressing mat.
Living Mulch
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT diggers.com.auNote: Not all plants are available all year. Simply add to your wishlist and you will be sent a notification when they are back in stock.