Panhandle Florida residents are able to enjoy a lifestyle with vast tracts of forested land having ample greenery, even in winter. Combined with the temperate climate (most of the year), the wildlands sustain an environment which is the envy of many Americans in more urban locales.
Those acres stay lush during years with normal to surplus rain and are in no danger of burning. Then there are the dry years.
When green foundation landscaping around the home becomes dense, brown undergrowth, the danger of a fire jumps dramatically. Even after a good growing year, when one might think the lawn is in a healthy state, winter’s arrival can herald problems with excessive dry plant materials in a confined area.
A little awareness of the environment and effort to sustain the plants can avert most of these issues.
Since it was planted too close to the building, this palm will need to be removed and replaced with another further out.
First, maintain the correct moisture level of the root zones during the dormant period. This is easy to check by placing a finger into the soil within the plant’s root zone.
Water the plants before 10:00 a.m. to assure the excess drains away before the day ends. Take precautions not to saturate the plants or irrigate them late in the day, as this promotes the growth of fungal diseases.
Next, maintain a three-to-four-foot buffer between foundation plants and the structure. This is easy to accomplish when installing new plants, but can be challenging if the landscape has been in place for a time.
Proper plant spacing and pruning will eliminate many problems in the home landscape.
Pruning is recommended to establish the open space. If the shrub is installed within a very short distance of the foundation, removal of the existing plant may be necessary.
The space between shrubs and buildings allows for airflow which reduces mildew growth on structure surfaces. Plants growing against a building can become a contributing factor to serious problems in a fire event.
Lastly, remove dead and dying plants from close proximity to structures. This removes potential wildfire fuel and improves the home landscape’s general health.
Dead plants and excessive thatch offer an ideal growing environment for fungal diseases during cool, wet nights. Landscape plants, and the resources invested in them, will suffer and likely create losses if the foundation shrubs are not managed correctly.
Home landscape preparation in the cooler weather can save a north Florida homeowner from headaches later on.
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