Each time we witness an extreme wildfire, we start to fear the trees. In the Hill Country, most people start looking at their mountain cedars with fear. Then they start cutting them down. But is this really the best solution?
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Wildfires will continue to burn, but our homes don't need to. Reports from the winter of 2025 California wildfires were finding homes without dense vegetation against their homes were not catching fire. But thinning out the forests isn't always the solution. |
Forest thinning is especially true for the short trees that grow on Edwards Plateau of Texas. Short trees means ground fires under our trees are more likely to torch our trees, especially where a continuous cover of grass has been allowed to encroach. It's better to focus on retaining or establishing a continuous tree canopy cover surrounded by a vegetated edge consisting of mostly low to mid flammability plants (such as Texas Red Oak, Prickly Pear, Texas Redbud, and Elbowbush). This edge will act as a wind/fire brake. Bushy mountain cedars can be part of that edge if they are remaining juicy and green through the summer. Why? Because juicy green mountain cedar foliage does not burn easily.
How more grazers and browsers can help. coming soon!
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Besides removing dense vegetation that's against your home, there are many other actions you can take to "harden" your home. But if your home is the only one hardened and your whole community burns, then chances increase your home will too. The better solution is to harden your entire community--get everyone on board.
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