Carrying Out Construction Work

Posted on: 1 May 2019

Over the past decade, unpredictable weather patterns have been causing havoc in rural homes throughout the country. From Queensland to NSW, heat waves and tropical cyclones have spread bushfires and caused extensive property damage.

Many homeowners wonder how they can protect themselves from the risk of wildfires. While there are many safety strategies available, the trees and vegetation around your home also play an important role.

Follow these 5 tree management tips to protect your home against wildfires.  

1. Have tall trees pruned and pollarded often

If your home is surrounded by tall trees, they can become a risk during wildfires. You need to develop a plan for having the trees pruned and pollarded often. Pruning prevents large branches from falling and damaging your home. It also keeps the density of the tree under control, which limits the spread of flames into your property.

In addition to pruning, have the tree pollarded regularly. Pollarding means trimming the crown of a tree when it starts growing out of control.

2. Remove dead trees from your premises

A dead tree is also a risk during wildfires. This is because dead trees turn into logs that fuel the flames and increase damage to your property. Make sure you call a tree removal service to remove any dead trees from your premises. Timely tree removal will eliminate dead branches, tree trunks and diseased leaves from your property. Dried leaves also fuel the flames of wildfires.

3. Cushion large trees with moist vegetation

Another smart idea is to plant moist vegetation near the base of your trees. Shrubs with soft and flexible branches are less prone to catching fire, making them excellent absorbers when a wildfire occurs. If your yard has soft and moist vegetation, it will slow down the spread of incoming flames.

4. Be wary of tree stumps

Tree stumps can become a hazard during wildfires. Not only are they harder to see amidst thick smoke, but they can also fuel the spread of flames due to their dry and sturdy nature. Hollow tree stumps can also become incubating areas for sustained flames. Make sure you have any unused tree stumps removed, or fill hollow stumps with an inflammable material such as concrete.

5. Carry out frequent crown lifts

If your trees have many low-lying branches, they can also become a wildfire hazard. A crown lift refers to pruning these low branches so that your home and surrounding property become less prone to damage if a fire were to occur. Make sure you pollard the top of the tree while also trimming the lower branches.