Although Colorado Springs has enjoyed slightly higher than average levels of precipitation in recent months, it only takes a few days of dry weather before the High Fire Danger warnings start to appear. Recent years have taught us that this danger is very real.

The climate and landscapes that make Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas so uniquely beautiful are particularly susceptible to wildfires. In fact, some trees, like the Ponderosa Pine and Gambel Oak, actually need fire to keep their ecosystems healthy. But while these trees have thick bark and extensive root systems to help them survive wildfires, other vegetation is not so uniquely adapted.

While we cannot control the weather or the topography around Colorado Springs, one thing we can affect is the vegetation. Since so many of our Colorado Springs residents now live on hillsides and mesas covered with pine, oak, pinyon-juniper, and dry prairie grasses, yearly fire mitigation activity has become a very necessary part of life.

Fire mitigation works by creating defensible zones around your home. The goal is to minimize the chance of fire quickly spreading to your home.

Some general rules for vegetation management are:

• Remove dead, diseased and weakened trees
• Remove all juniper trees and shrubs next to and near your home
• Prune lower tree branches on conifers up to 10 feet, but no more than 1/3 the tree’s height
• Clear pine branches 5 to 8 feet away from the house and roof
• Remove pine needles, leaves and debris from the ground
• Keep grass and weeds mowed to a maximum height of 4 inches
• Plant fire-resistant species near your home
• Incorporate landscape designs that help create natural fire breaks between fuels

Now is the time to begin preparing for the warm, dry, windy months ahead. Why not give Mountain High Tree in Colorado Springs a call at 719.444.8800? Our team of experts will be happy to work with you on your fire mitigation needs.