Just as deer-resistant doesn’t mean plants are deer-proof, fire-resistant does not mean plants are fireproof.

We have to recognize that there have been worrisome predictions for an active fire season. I think it’s our responsibility, as members of the community, to look around our property and correct or improve areas that need attention.

My family has banned me from step stools higher than two steps. Also, no tall step ladders and the chain saw has to stay in the garage.

Keeping their edicts in mind, I am devising a plan of action for summer visitors. Depending on age, from youngest to oldest, they will be assigned a task. I’m thinking of setting a five-tree minimum per person. Branches that come down have to be picked up, so there will be plenty of work for all. I should have prefaced this by saying I have 2 acres, and there are plenty of junipers to be limbed up. I have been feeling very guilty when I look out at so many dead lower limbs.

I remember when we built our house in Tumalo in 1978. I coveted a shake roof — the real stuff. Our builder put his foot down and said absolutely not. He also lived across the road and probably had visions of fire with embers flying his way. Forest fires were totally foreign to us as a common summertime problem. He had been here far longer than us, so I did respect his thoughts and reasons — after I pouted a bit.

Knowing the area’s fire history should be a major consideration when planning a fire-wise landscape. In addition to using fire-resistant building materials as much as possible, the simple process of selecting and planting fire-resistant plants will help protect your home.

What is a fire-resistant plant? Fire-resistant plants are those that do not readily ignite from a flame or other ignition source, according to “Fire-Resistant Plants for Home Landscapes,” authored by OSU Extension horticulture faculty member Amy Jo Detweiler and Stephen Fitzgerald, a forestry faculty member.

Fire-resistant plants can be damaged or killed by the fire, but their foliage has not contributed to the fire fuel. Factors that contribute to a plant’s resistance include:

• Moist and supple leaves

• Plants tend not to accumulate dry, dead material within the plant

• Sap does not have a strong odor and resin materials are low.

An irrigated, maintained lawn also serves as a fuel break.

Juniper shrubs, spreading or upright, are a classic example of highly flammable ornamentals and could be considered the Oregon equivalent of the highly flammable California eucalyptus.

General characteristics of highly flammable include:

• Fine, dry or dead material, such as needles, twigs or leaves within the plant

• Leaves, twigs and stems contain volatile waxes, terpenes or oils

• Leaves have a strong odor when crushed; sap is gummy, resinous and has a strong odor

• May have loose or papery bark

Bark mulch, if used up against the house, should be kept moist to prevent ignition. Consider using gravel or decorative rock as a safer mulch next to the house.

If you live in an area that does not have adequate fire protection service, you might want to rethink some areas of your landscape.

According to “Fire-Resistant Plants for Home Landscapes,” and surprising to me is that ponderosa pine and Western larch are among the most fire-resistant conifers due to their thick bark and the high moisture content of the leaves. An additional tip for conifers and other large trees that are next to the house is that they should be pruned to a height of 15 to 20 feet above the ground, or to just above the lower roof line, to help prevent fire from reaching the house or tree crowns.

Considered a small tree or large shrub, the Amur maple grows well in our USDA zones 2-5. The red fall color is a plus. The height of 15 to 20 feet with a spread of 15 to 20 feet makes it a good choice for a small area.

A large shade tree not to be overlooked is Green ash “Patmore” with a rounded growth habit and yellow fall color. It’s very cold-hardy and needs full sun and low water once established.

There are numerous deciduous shrubs that will provide several seasons of enjoyment from flower bloom to fall color. The hardy shrub roses are low-maintenance. Depending on the variety, they can either bloom through much of the season or just once during the season. Many develop the attractive rose hips that are appreciated during the winter months.

Spiraea x bumalda varieties “Froebelii,” “Goldflame”and “Limemound” grow in our USDA zones 3-5. The shrub has a clump-forming growth that produce flowers in late summer. The shrub requires full sun to part shade, moderate water, attracts butterflies and is deer-resistant.

The publication is full of information on groundcovers, perennials, broadleaf evergreen and deciduous shrubs, and deciduous and conifer trees to help plan a more fire resistant landscape. Keep in mind that the USDA hardiness zones for Central Oregon are in the range of zone 2 to zone 5. With all the winter kill of shrubs, this might be the right time to forget the past and try something new.

The publication is available online at http://bit.ly/1LCEho2 or at the OSU Deschutes County Extension Office, 3893 SW Airport Way, Redmond.

— Reporter: douville@bendbroadband.com