Eight ways to fireproof your garden in a heatwave

Telegraph

3 hours ago

While we all love a British heatwave, our gardens can suffer without rain and, in especially high temperatures, can even become a fire hazard. Dry conditions coupled with long days of heat create the ideal circumstances for a blaze to start. Fire and rescue services in the UK reported an increase in incidents of 1 per cent at the end of September 2024, compared with the same time the year before. The Met Office predicts an increase in wildfires worldwide of 50 per cent by 2100. While there's no doubt that garden fires are becoming more of a concern in the UK, there are things you can do to minimise the risks and fireproof your garden.
Choose plants wisely
Most of us don't choose our plants with potential fires in mind, but there are some things worth considering, especially when a drought is approaching. 'Plants that can hold on to moisture, such as succulents, are less flammable than those with thin or dry leaves,' says Graham Smith, a gardening expert from gardening suppliers LBS Horticulture. 'These plants burn slower, and will not spread fire to other areas of your garden as quickly. You can still use plants that are highly flammable, but ensure that you are planting them a few feet away from your home to prevent the spread of fire as much as possible.'
Give plants some space
It's also important properly to space your plants apart from each other in your garden, so that if a fire does break out, it won't spread quickly from one plant to another. This is especially important if you have shrubs and trees. 'Avoid plants that grow densely,' says Andrew White, a gardening expert at Rhino Greenhouses, 'as once they begin to burn, you'll find the whole plant will quickly become engulfed and it could fuel a fire that could quickly become out of control.'
Keep your lawn short and moist
For most of the year in the UK, we don't need to worry about watering our established lawns, but in especially hot and dry weather, grass will need a helping hand. Don't be tempted to overwater; it's necessary to water your lawn only once or twice a week when there's no rain on the horizon, and it's better to give your lawn a good soaking infrequently than to water constantly. But far more important for fireproofing is to keep your grass short.
'Lawns can spread fire fast if they are not being maintained correctly,' says Smith. 'Tall or dry grass will catch fire quickly, and turn a small fire into a larger one. Keep your lawn short, and consider watering your grass during warm, dry weather, as a higher moisture content in the soil and grass blades can slow the spread of fire.'
Place your barbecue in a safe spot
Disposable barbecues cause havoc every year in hot weather and most outdoor leisure areas have visible warnings against using them because of the fire risk they pose. In your own back garden, using your barbecue is relatively safe, but where you decide to place it can be an important factor when it comes to the risk of a fire breaking out. Ensure your barbecue is placed on a flat surface, not on decking, and far away from sheds, trees and other plants. The type of barbecue you choose also has a bearing on your risk of fire breaking out. 'Hot and dry weather increases the risk of fires in your garden, and when pairing this with a coal barbecue, the risk of a fire breaking out in your garden increases massively,' says White. 'Where possible, use a gas one, or cook inside on particularly hot and dry days. This helps to minimise the risk of things in your garden catching fire.'
If you do use a coal barbecue, make sure it's properly extinguished once you have finished cooking. Close the lid and all the vents on the bottom of the grill to cut off the oxygen supply to the coals.
Use firepits safely
The rise in popularity of firepits in our gardens over the past few years has largely been a positive one. Who doesn't love sitting around a fire, toasting marshmallows and stargazing? But it's important to use firepits safely. 'If you have a firepit in your garden, it should be surrounded by a non-flammable area made from gravel or concrete,' says Smith. 'Ensure that you have a garden hose nearby that can be used to extinguish flames quickly if needed. You should also avoid using wood or wicker furniture near a firepit, and opt for furniture made from non-flammable materials such as wrought iron or aluminium. If these furnishings have soft elements such as cushions or seat covers, these should be kept indoors if fire is a concern.'
There are also some rules around using firepits that you need to follow. Don't burn household waste that can cause pollution, such as plastic, and watch where the smoke from your firepit is drifting: it can be a nuisance to neighbours and in some cases can be a hazard to traffic.
Control your compost heap
It's a rare occurrence, but in high temperatures a compost heap can spontaneously combust. Most fires in compost heaps start because the heap has a lot of dry leaves or even pieces of wood that have lain unmoved for some time. Compost heaps have damp innards that store heat, so it's important to manage them well. 'Compost piles can pose a fire risk, especially during hot weather,' says landscaper Simon Wilkinson, who is DSEAR-qualified (dangerous substances and explosive atmospheres regulations). 'Compost generates heat as it decomposes and it can catch fire, so keep it away from your home, shed and any other wooden structures, and turn it over regularly to prevent it from getting too hot.'
Choose the right kind of mulch
The same can be said for garden mulch. While it serves a good purpose and can keep weeds at bay, it can be flammable, and large piles of mulch can combust in the same way that compost can.
'Mulching is often used to retain soil moisture,' says Smith, 'but the moisture-retaining properties of the mulch can potentially have the opposite effect if you use a material such as woodchips or straw. Try to use alternative materials instead, such as gravel.'
Consider your furniture and surfaces
Glass tables on your patio look nice, but consider carefully any glass you have in your garden. 'Glass tables, bottles and drinking cups can act like magnifying glasses, concentrating sunlight. This can easily start a fire if the conditions are right,' says Wilkinson. 'One way to give yourself peace of mind is to use fireproof paint on your fencing, sheds and pergolas, which can massively reduce the ability of a fire to spread if one did break out.'
The easiest way to reduce your risk of a garden fire is by minimising its spread, and your garden provides you with many opportunities to combine safety with style. 'Hardscaping can be used to landscape a garden,' says Smith, 'but it can also function as a firebreak. Gravel paths, paved patios and stone walls can slow or prevent the spread of fire without needing to compromise on the overall aesthetics of your garden.'