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.