42 www . sasmallholder . co . za
FIRE WATCH
Fire retardant ... Ice plant From page 41
According to Brian van Wilgen , professor in the Centre for Invasion Biology at Stellenbosch University , there is some good news concerning wattles . The introduction of biological control to reduce the seed output of Australian wattles is having some effect . The introduction of a suite of seed-feeding weevils and gallforming flies and wasps ( which prevent seed production by inducing the formation of galls instead of seed pods ), has significantly reduced the seed output of many Australian wattle species . In the meantime though if you have any species of wattle mentioned above now is the time to cut them down . If you decide to cut down trees , be sure to remove whatever you have cut from the site so that there are no piles of dead material lying around . Then you are faced with the question of what to plant as replacement . Fire-retardant trees can offer protection from fire in three ways . Firstly , by acting as a shield against the immense radiant heat generated by an approaching fire , so that the house is protected from the intense temperatures that can shatter windows and melt materials . Secondly a large canopied tree or a strategically placed hedge act to trap the burning material carried in the intense fire winds . This reduces the amount of flaming matter that can reach and ignite the building itself . Finally the stored moisture in the leaves acts as all water does ~ it suppresses the fire ' s energy . Many times even a single tree has saved a house or shed . Plants with broad fleshy leaves and / or a high salt content burn much less readily than those with fine hard leaves . Bear these points in mind when looking at the trees around your boundary and the trees that surround your garden . The number of tall trees grown should be in scale to the property . Always plant with their mature height and width in mind . Wellmaintained evergreen shrubs and trees planted on boundaries can reduce fire intensity and wind speed , and deflect and filter embers . If trees are spaced so that their canopies aren ' t touching , this will help reduce fire spreading from tree to tree . Trees with smooth trunks are less flammable . Remove branches that could cause power line short circuits and check electrical installations regularly . Pay special attention to fuel load management in downslope areas and construct firebreaks adjacent to the property . Slash long grass and undergrowth and remove dead and dry branches from trees . Cut back or remove trees that are overhanging or touching a building .
Fire retardant ... tree fuscia
Continued on page 43