Page 25 - Landscape SA 102

ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE

Rambling aloes (Aloe arborescens) and other succulents Delosperma cooperi and Dymondia margaretae

Mimetes cucullatus Aptenia cordifolia

FIRESCAPING

It is advocated that property owners on the Wildland Urban Interface should plan, in
conjunction with their landscapers, to use ‘firewise’ principles in their gardens so as to minimise
the impact of wildfires. Norah de Wet of Peninsula Landscapes in Cape Town points out that
appropriate plants that are less flammable... evergreen with fleshy leaves containing water and
not resins, and not producing woody debris, should be chosen; bearing in mind the need to aim
for longevity of the garden. Three zones of planting are suggested.

he first consideration in site clearing is its dual function as a security barrier, colour. It is preferable that these plants
to eradicate listed alien invasive species are appropriate. Plants which do not should be in beds separated from one
Tsuch as pines, Port Jackson and gums: accumulate dry woody matter can be used, another. Bulbs also resprout after they’ve
because of their propensity to burn hot and possibly interspersed with afro-montane been burnt. Plants in this area should
fast and often to explode, sometimes into forest tree species such as Cunonia not just be chosen for firewise properties
fireballs, causing the fire to shoot into the capensis (Rooiels) and Halleria lucida (Tree and aesthetics but also for their ability to
next patch of vegetation. This clear-felling is fuschia) found on the forest edge. increase biodiversity.
required by law and strictly enforced on the
edge of a nature reserve. Wooden structures, Suggested by NCC’s Ferreira is that a The buffer zone around the house
such as fences, pergolas and decking must swimming pool should be positioned should be at least three metres wide and
be avoided on any part of the site. in this zone with a small pump which comprise hard landscaping such as paving
can be attached to a hosepipe. He has and gravel or pebble mulches with lawns
The perimeter zone on the boundary experienced the drop in water pressure or low growing groundcovers, such as
of the property, which should have a during a fire when everyone in the Dymondia margaretae (Silver Carpet).
firebreak between that and the natural neighbourhood is trying to damp down Aptenia cordifolia (Heart Leaf) is succulent
fynbos vegetation, can be planted with roofs with hosepipes. A swimming pool and scrambles over stone retaining walls,
a choice of rambling aloes such as Aloe of water will be far more effective in for example. The vegetation must not be
arborescens (Krantz Aloe) and fleshy- protecting infrastructure from the flames. up against the walls of the house.
leaved groundcovers such as Carpobrotus
species (Sour Figs) or other Vygie (Mesem) The second or garden zone should The South African Landscapers Institute
species which absorb the impact of have plants with low flammability (SALI) website has a list of 40 ‘firewise’
the fire. Hedging and screening plants, or fynbos plants that are resprouters and plants for the fynbos biome. LSA
leathery leaved and evergreen, such as will produce shoots from their rootstock
Osteospremum moniliferum (Bietou) or after a fire, such as Mimetes cucullatus
Carissa macrocarpa (Num-num), with (Common Pagoda) which gives year round Photographs by Carol Knoll

Landscape SA • Issue 102 2021 23