New program advises B.C. homeowners how the right plants and trees can help protect property from wildfire

As British Columbians head outside to tend to their spring gardens, a new program is being launched to teach homeowners how the right yard work can better protect their propertyfrom wildfire.

The FireSmart B.C. Landscaping Guide recommends fire-resilient species to plant, how to care for them and the best spots to plant certain trees and shrubs to minimize the damage to structures if a fire were to occur.

"It's moving away from having cedars and junipers right up against your home," said FireSmart education officer Amanda Reynolds.

"And it's about making better decisions and/or smarter decisions to help protect your home."

Art Knapp Garden Centre locations in Prince George and Kamloops are helping launch the program by tagging plants that are fire resilient.

Prince George centre owner Jos Van Hagesays he's impressed by the new guide.

"It tells you how to plant, where to plant, what to plant and how to clean it up. And it gives you a whole list of all trees and shrubs for our zone," he told CBC's Andrew Kurjata.

An important part of preventing fire from spreading in the yard, Van Hage said, is being mindful when it comes to tidying up the yard in the fall and the spring.

"You don't have to clean everything up here in the fall," he said.

Perennials and shrubbery, he said, can provide protection from frost.

Ornamental grasses, however, should be tended to because they die off overwinter and become a fire hazard when they dryout in the spring, Van Hage said.

For now, the plant-tagging program is launching only in Prince George and Kamloops, but guides will be available in nurseries and garden centres throughout the province and can be downloaded on the FireSmart B.C. website.

Reynolds said they'd eventually like to be tagging fire-resilient plants in all garden centres in B.C.

"Protecting your home is the best way that everyone in B.C. can help not only themselves, but all the first responders that are involved in the wildfire season," she said.

"Wildfire is inevitable. But we can do our part to protect our homes."