In our scrub oak tree facts we included the most commonly asked questions about gambel oak in Colorado. How do you identify scrub oak? Scrub oak has rounded leaves with deep lobes and no bristle tip. The lobes can start about halfway up from the base. The sinuses are small and shallow and the bud scales tend to overlap each other. The leaves will also have a slender steam. Scrub oaks grow an acorn and not a fringe on an acorn cap. They grow best with low moisture and full access to the sun. How big will scrub oak grow? The trees stay more like shrubs than trees. With the right type of environment and gambel oak landscaping, it’s possible for
(719) 400-9104
office@coloradomastication.com
Every summer wildfires in Colorado is a serious threat. Colorado is one of the most common states that suffers, but you can also hear about them in California, on the west coast of Canada, and many other parts of the world. Wildfires have caused damage to wildlife habitats, ecosystems, and homes. This is a growing problem. Between 1985 and 2000, 400 homes were destroyed a year by wildfires on average. That’s grown considerably, with an average of 1,354 homes destroyed between 2001 and 2011. This is only going to continue to grow as more wildfires spread. Colorado Has Perfect Conditions for Wildfires These fires spread extremely quickly and can reach 100,000 acres or more. They don’t just damage the forests,
Defensible space creation on your Colorado property has become a vital part of taking care of your home. With wildfires happening every year, you want to make sure your home is protected from harm with fire mitigation. That means creating a defensible space. Of course, you want that space to look good at the same time What Is a Defensible Space for Colorado Home? This type of space is just what it sounds like. You create an area that removes the fuel that makes fires spread quickly. Whether manmade or natural, you have this gap between home and fuel, slowing down the spread of the fire and protecting your family. A defensible space is also good for the firefighters. They
Call today for scrub oak pruning estimate and soon you will have well pruned scrub oak to enjoy. (719)400-9104. Generally speaking, in order to properly maintain scrub oaks, you can prune out dead, diseased, damaged, or nuisance branches and make them into nice stands in order to reduce fire hazard. This way, your home would still be safe and sound and the tree(s) in the surrounding area can continue to grow naturally. So unless your house happens to be located on a steep hill and you need to get rid of a scrub oak (or two), you do not have to completely cut down all the scrub oak. You can choose to properly prune scrub oak and have beautifully landscaped
Cheatgrass is one of the most common reasons for wildfire spreading. It’s getting to the time of year where you’re likely thinking about the wildfires in Colorado. You’ll want to understand more about the causes and the dangerous items in your garden. So what Is Cheatgrass? Native in Eurasia, cheatgrass is often called downy brome because of its look and fear. It’s an invasive and aggressive weed that is common around the Rocky Mountains and along the eastern front. Usually on disturbed sites and along roadsides, the weed is now on the noxious weed C list in Colorado. One of the big problems is lack of biological predators, so it quickly takes over land and will fight and win for
Colorado officials have confirmed that the state is looking at the worst wildfire season in five years. The 2012 and 2013 season devastated lands after blazes ravaged woodland across the whole state. Fears about the current weather forecast are rampant. The dry winter has already left mountain areas almost barren. This doesn’t set the ground ready for what is likely to be a hot and dry summer. While it may be too early to tell for definite, this is the perfect time to get ahead and plan for potential wildfires spreading like crazy. The U.S. Drought Monitor confirmed that snowpack levels are much lower than the average, with 87/62% of the state suffering from dry to extreme drought conditions. Only
Did you know that if you perform certain wildfire mitigation measures on your property, you could be eligible to claim a subtraction from your Colorado income tax? This subtraction is equal to 50% or 100% of all qualifying costs needed for mitigation, up to $2,500 per year.Can You Qualify? As long as you meet specific qualifications and perform the wildfire mitigation measures around your property, you may be eligible for the wildfire mitigation tax subtraction. You must be the owner of record for any private land that the mitigation process is carried out, including through fee simple interest, easement, right of way, and lease. This ownership can be sole or joint. You cannot claim for the mitigation on public land,
A defensible space is something your rural home needs to protect from fire. Firewise landscaping helps to plan for all the possibilities and create a beautiful defensible space. A range of plant materials are used to create a space that adds value to your home, while keeping the family safe. Firewise Landscaping and Deciduous Species of Plants Firewise landscaping will use mostly deciduous species of plants. These are low amounts of sap and resin, meaning they don’t have the same fuel that other plants tend to have. This doesn’t mean you can’t have others, but deciduous look good and beautiful in the summer. You will need to collect the leaves that fall during the winter. The dead leaves will become
A forest home can be peaceful and calming, but there is always the fear of a wildfire. With some precautions and planned out defensible spaces, you can minimize the risk of a wildfire affecting your home. Before you build your forest home or you get settled in a prebuilt one, make sure you take these safety precautions. Forest Home Wildfire Safety Tip: Understand the Limitations Getting the fire departments out to the rural areas isn’t easy. The majority of the departments are run by volunteers, so aren’t around all the time. The water supplies are also minimal, which can mean putting fires out is much harder. Then there’s the roads that are steep and narrow, which make it difficult for
Fire Mitigation Landscaping Fire mitigation landscaping has becoming more relevant as more people are building their homes in natural brushlands and forests. It’s essential that the forestry areas are removed safely with care taking for fire mitigation. Drought conditions and changing extremities in the weather are causing a bigger fire risk than in previous decades. Fire mitigation landscaping doesn’t stop homes from being built. It just encourages the creation of defensible space, creating breaks from the fire and allowing firefighters room to do their jobs safely. Fire Mitigation Landscaping Creates Defensible Space Without Affecting the Beauty The important thing about defensible space is that the area will still look good. The property value is increased when the space is created