Smart winter yardwork: Create a wildfire defensible space
As cooler weather settles in and deciduous trees go dormant, winter offers the perfect opportunity to prune and prepare your landscape for the next wildfire season. A few simple steps now can help protect your home and make your yard more resilient to wildfire.
Wildfire Is a Reality in Yavapai County
Whether you live in the pines, piñon-juniper woodlands, grasslands, or in a neighborhood subdivision, we all share responsibility for reducing wildfire risk. Yavapai County follows Firewise USA® recommendations—guidelines designed to create landscapes that are both fire-resilient and attractive. Those guidelines are defined by defensible space zones.
Defensible space is the buffer between your home and the potential path of wildfire. It can include plants, patios, driveways, fencing, and walkways. Defensible space does not mean a barren gravel yard—it means having the right plants in the right places to slow fire spread.
The Three Defensible Space Zones Explained
Immediate Zone (0–5 feet)
Starts at your home’s foundation. Avoid dry grass, stacked firewood, and highly flammable plants such as juniper. Use rock or other non-combustible hardscape, or low-growing, irrigated groundcovers, succulents, or perennials.
Intermediate Zone (5–30 feet)
If your property is on a slope, extend this zone farther downslope. Choose shrubs and trees with low resin content and space small trees so that edges are about 10 feet apart. Trim grasses and perennials after the growing season to reduce fuel buildup.
Extended Zone (30 feet to property line)
This area can include larger trees and shrubs. Prune branches on large trees 6 to 10 feet above the ground, remove dead wood, and maintain spacing to prevent fire from spreading between plants.
Get a Free Property Assessment
Local fire departments and fire districts offer free, defensible space assessments. Take advantage of this service to identify priorities and develop an action plan tailored to your property’s topography and vegetation. Recommendations are based on the Firewise USA® zone system and local conditions.
“The cost to fight a wildfire is about 23 times the cost of preventive Firewise mitigation.” Yavapai Firewise
Find Local Firewise Resources
The Master Gardener Firewise Committee developed an online resource hub to help Yavapai County residents plan fire-safe landscapes. The site includes:
- Common Questions about wildfire preparedness
- Fire-resistant and fire-prone plant list for local species
- Community resources, including grants and neighborhood speakers
- Lists of landscapers trained in defensible space practices
- Link to Yavapai Firewise, the county’s lead program in wildfire risk reduction
Visit the Cooperative Extension Wildfire Information Website at extension.arizona.edu/Yavapai-wildfire
Another Low-Moisture Year
Drought continues to stress both native and landscape plants across Yavapai County. Even fire-resistant plants become more flammable when dry or dying. Plants need moisture—even during winter months. Without rain or snow, supplemental watering is recommended once a month.
Apply the same amount of water per irrigation as in the growing season, but less frequently. Focus on high-value trees and shrubs or native specimens near your home. Healthy, hydrated plants are more resistant to both drought and fire.
Need Help?
Master Gardener Help Desks can provide irrigation, Firewise guidance, and plant selection tips.
Prescott Office
840 Rodeo Dr, Bldg. C
928-445-6590 Ext 2
prescottmg@gmail.com
Camp Verde Office
2830 N. Commonwealth Dr, Ste 103
928-554-8992
verdevalleymg@gmail.com
Office Hours, both locations: Mon–Thu, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1–4 p.m.
Mary Barnes is the Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Coordinator for Yavapai County Cooperative Extension, manages the Master Gardener Program and the Master Gardener Help Desks in Camp Verde and Prescott.