Published on: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Image: Firewise garden
As the weather warms up, it’s a good time to prepare your garden for bushfire season. Dry leaves, dead plants and overgrown shrubs can add to the fuel around your property.
Start with a spring clean
Windblown embers can travel kilometres ahead of a bushfire and ignite dry material before flames arrive. In extreme conditions, they have travelled more than 30 kilometres.
Start by clearing leaves and debris from gutters and roof surfaces. Remove dead plant material, prune overgrown shrubs and move firewood away from your house. Keep paths and accessways clear, too.
Instead of leaving everything until summer, set aside a little time each week to keep up with fallen leaves and new growth.
Make firewise choices in your garden
All plants can burn, but some are more flammable than others. When choosing plants, consider how much moisture they retain, their oil or resin content and whether they collect dry leaves or dead material.
Native plants and succulents can be part of a firewise garden, but their suitability depends on the species and how they’re planted and maintained. For advice on garden design, maintenance and choosing plants suited to your property and local conditions, read the Bushfire Centre of Excellence’s Firewise Gardening in Western Australia guide or call the City of Swan on (08) 9267 9022.
You can also reduce vegetation around your home by separating garden beds with paths or gravel areas.
Near the house, consider using pebbles or pea gravel, instead of combustible mulch.
These choices help you maintain an attractive garden while keeping bushfire risk in mind.
Get practical advice at a free workshop
Want to learn more about creating a firewise garden? Our Thinking Green: Greener Gardens, Safer Homes workshop will help you put these ideas into practice.
Join Debbie Screen, a keen gardener and City of Swan Community Fire and Emergency Management Officer, at South Ballajura Community Centre on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 10–11.30am.
The workshop is free, but you must book in advance. Reserve your place at the Greener Gardens, Safer Homes workshop.
You don't have to prepare your garden for summer all at once. A little regular maintenance and thoughtful plant selection can help you create an inviting outdoor space while reducing bushfire hazards around your home.
Start with a spring clean
Windblown embers can travel kilometres ahead of a bushfire and ignite dry material before flames arrive. In extreme conditions, they have travelled more than 30 kilometres.
Start by clearing leaves and debris from gutters and roof surfaces. Remove dead plant material, prune overgrown shrubs and move firewood away from your house. Keep paths and accessways clear, too.
Instead of leaving everything until summer, set aside a little time each week to keep up with fallen leaves and new growth.
Make firewise choices in your garden
All plants can burn, but some are more flammable than others. When choosing plants, consider how much moisture they retain, their oil or resin content and whether they collect dry leaves or dead material.
Native plants and succulents can be part of a firewise garden, but their suitability depends on the species and how they’re planted and maintained. For advice on garden design, maintenance and choosing plants suited to your property and local conditions, read the Bushfire Centre of Excellence’s Firewise Gardening in Western Australia guide or call the City of Swan on (08) 9267 9022.
You can also reduce vegetation around your home by separating garden beds with paths or gravel areas.
Near the house, consider using pebbles or pea gravel, instead of combustible mulch.
These choices help you maintain an attractive garden while keeping bushfire risk in mind.
Get practical advice at a free workshop
Want to learn more about creating a firewise garden? Our Thinking Green: Greener Gardens, Safer Homes workshop will help you put these ideas into practice.
Join Debbie Screen, a keen gardener and City of Swan Community Fire and Emergency Management Officer, at South Ballajura Community Centre on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 10–11.30am.
The workshop is free, but you must book in advance. Reserve your place at the Greener Gardens, Safer Homes workshop.
You don't have to prepare your garden for summer all at once. A little regular maintenance and thoughtful plant selection can help you create an inviting outdoor space while reducing bushfire hazards around your home.