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Firewise Landscaping for Farms

Landscaping near buildings can either carry fire to them or help keep it away. Firewise-style thinking focuses on reducing fuel and ember catchers close to structures.

What does Firewise landscaping mean?

It means choosing and arranging plants and materials so that fire has less to burn near your buildings and embers have fewer places to land and start new fires. NFPA runs a program called Firewise USA that offers guidance and recognition for communities.

Your state forestry agency and extension office may also have local guides, since plant choices and risks differ by region.

Think about how you use each area. A spot where children play or workers take breaks may need different choices from one nobody visits. Small changes near buildings, such as clearing leaves and moving a woodpile, often matter more than big projects farther out.

• Reduce fuel near buildings
• Reduce places for embers to land
• Use local guidance

How should I think about zones around buildings?

Many programs describe zones that become more open the closer they are to a structure. The details, including distances, come from official sources and differ by region. Get the current guidance from NFPA, your state forestry agency or your fire department.

The idea is that the area right next to a building should have the least fuel, and the area farther away can have more plants if they are spaced and maintained.

Irrigation, where available and permitted, can keep plants healthier, but water use is regulated in many places and during drought, so check local rules.

• Closest area has the least fuel
• Space plants farther out
• Use official distances

Which plants and materials are better?

Plants differ in how readily they burn, and so do mulches, fences and decks. Guides from extension and forestry agencies list plant choices for your region. No plant is fireproof, and a dry, neglected plant of any kind can burn.

Keep plants healthy, watered as appropriate and free of dead material. Avoid piling debris, firewood or bark mulch against buildings.

Ask your nursery or extension office to confirm that a plant is suited to your climate before buying, and avoid invasive species.

• Healthy, trimmed plants
• Avoid debris near walls
• Check local plant lists

What about trees and grass?

Trees near buildings can drop embers and debris. Dead branches and low limbs can carry fire into the crown. Ask a forester or arborist what to trim and how.

Keep grass mowed and clear of dry clippings. Mowing during dry, windy weather can start fires, so choose your time and follow local guidance.

Choose fences, gates and trellises with care near buildings, since attached wooden structures can carry fire to walls.

• Trim dead limbs
• Mow grass regularly
• Avoid mowing in extreme conditions

What other items near buildings can burn?

Woodpiles, propane tanks, fuel containers, hay, lawn furniture, doormats and stored items can all catch fire. Move them away from buildings and keep them out of reach of drifting embers.

Fences and gates attached to buildings can bring fire to them, so ask your forestry agency or fire department about options.

Keep trash bins, compost and brush piles at a distance from structures, and dispose of yard waste by a method your county allows.

• Move woodpiles away
• Keep fuel containers away
• Check attached fences

How do I make this a routine?

Landscaping changes with the seasons. Plan cleaning and trimming in spring and fall, and clear leaves and needles from roofs and gutters regularly. Keep records of what you did.

Break big projects into small ones to stay on schedule.

Keep a short list of plants you have chosen and where each one is planted, which helps when you trim or replace them. Update the list each year and share it if a fire department or forestry visit asks.

• Spring and fall cleanup
• Clear roofs and gutters
• Keep records

Where can I get help?

State forestry agencies, extension offices, fire departments and NFPA's Firewise program offer guides and sometimes visits. Some areas have cost-share programs. Ask them what is available and confirm details through the official source.

If a fire is approaching, do not stay to defend property. Call 911 and follow evacuation orders.

Ask neighbors what they have planted near shared boundaries. Fire does not respect fences, so a coordinated approach protects everyone. Gravel, stone and other noncombustible ground covers may work well next to buildings, but check which suit your area with a local expert before you buy.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.