Summer has arrived - make sure you and your garden are prepared!

Melbourne’s summers are long, hot and often windy, and for outer-suburban areas like Eltham, Research, Warrandyte, Kangaroo Ground and St Andrews, these conditions can quickly increase bushfire risk. While no garden can ever be completely fireproof, thoughtful design and seasonal maintenance can make your home significantly more resilient.

Below are some practical, achievable steps to get your garden ready for a safer summer.

1. Choose Fire-wise Mulches and Groundcovers

Mulch plays a major role in both plant health and fire behaviour.

Mineral mulches are the safest option near buildings

Non-combustible materials such as:

• Tuscan Aggregate
• 14mm Honey Granite Screenings 
• Granitic Sand or Crushed Rock

…act as excellent firebreaks when used within 1–3 metres of structures. They don’t burn, don’t create airborne embers, and help slow the spread of surface fires.

Dense organic mulches can be safe when kept moist

If you prefer organic mulch, choose fine, composted options such as Eucey Mulch. When hydrated, fungi and beneficial microbes bind it together into a denser, more fire-resistant layer.

Avoid: loose, stringy mulches and pine bark, which can ignite more easily and carry flame.

2. Keep Gardens Hydrated With Sub-Mulch Drip Irrigation

A hydrated garden is a more fire-resistant garden. Sub-mulch drip irrigation helps by:

• keeping roots cool
• reducing plant stress
• preventing timber mulch from drying out
• delivering water efficiently with minimal evaporation

If you don’t have dripline installed, summer is the perfect time to retrofit a simple loop into garden beds.

3. Design Your Garden With Fire Behaviour in Mind

Good layout is one of the most powerful fire-mitigation tools a homeowner has.

Create an Asset Protection Zone (APZ)

The first 0–10 metres around your home should be kept low-fuel and well maintained. Within this zone:

• use mineral mulch
• avoid dense shrubs up against windows or weatherboards
• prune plants regularly
• choose lower, open-structured plantings

Separate plants horizontally and vertically

Fire spreads when plants touch. Improve safety by:

• spacing shrubs apart
• lifting tree canopies to at least 2 metres above ground level
• removing “ladder fuels” (vegetation that connects the ground to the canopy)

• designing layered, non-continuous planting

Use hardscape elements as fire breaks

You can incorporate:

• gravels and toppings pathways
• paved areas
• stone steppers
• steel edging
• steel or stone garden rings
• veggie bed frames (non-timber!), raised planters, or corten edging

These materials not only look beautiful but break up the landscape into safer compartments.

4. Choose Plants Carefully (Use the CFA Plant Selection Key)

Plant selection can influence how a fire behaves — but remember:

The CFA’s Plant Selection Key is an excellent interactive guide to help Victorians choose safer species based on structure, water content, and growth habit.

You can also download the CFA’s Landscaping for Bushfire: Garden Design & Plant Selection (PDF, 4.1MB), which provides easy-to-follow design diagrams and plant examples.

Local example:

You can see many of these principles demonstrated beautifully near the Wonguim Wilam Adventure Playground on Yarra Street, Warrandyte.

5. Summer Maintenance Checklist

A fire-wise garden is maintained year-round, but summer is the key time for fuel reduction.

Weekly tasks

• Remove leaf litter from around the house
• Sweep decks, pathways and verandahs
• Keep mulch damp (especially timber mulch)
• Check gutters visually for debris

Fortnightly tasks

• Mow lawns and keep growth low
• Trim shrubs and separate touching plants
• Refresh mineral mulch around structures
• Test irrigation lines and fix leaks

Monthly tasks

• Clear gutters, downpipes and drains thoroughly
• Prune tree canopies and remove dead branches
• Reduce fuel around driveways, access points and fence lines

These actions don’t just improve fire safety — they also help your garden stay healthy in the heat.

6. Prepare for Summer Storms

Victorian summers often swing between extreme heat and sudden downpours.
Reduce the risk of flooding by keeping:

• gutters
• downpipes
• spoon drains
• driveway channels
• surface drains

…clear and free-flowing so rainfall can move away from your house efficiently.

8. Your Weekend Fire-wise Action Plan

Here’s a simple, achievable plan you can complete over one or two afternoons:

1. Clear gutters, drains and leaf litter
2. Top up mineral mulch within 1–3 metres of buildings
3. Install or check sub-mulch drip irrigation
4. Prune shrubs and lift tree canopies
5. Walk your block and remove “ladder fuels”
6. Prepare or update your household bushfire survival plan
7. Bookmark the VicEmergency website or download the app

You’ll be surprised how much safer (and tidier!) your garden feels after this.

9. FAQs — Quick Answers for Homeowners

Which mulch is the most fire-resistant?
Mineral mulches such Tuscan Toppings, Honey Granite screenings, crushed rocks and granitic Sand.

Are eucalyptus trees unsafe?
Not automatically - spacing, pruning and species selection matter more than simply “native vs exotic.”

How far should vegetation be from my house?
Ideally, keep the first 1–3 metres low-fuel with mineral mulch and well-spaced plants. Prune tree branches well away from your house.

Should I water my garden before a fire danger day?
Yes! Well-hydrated plants are less likely to ignite.

Need Products to Implement These Fire-wise Principles?

At ID Garden Centre Eltham, we stock:

• 14mm Tuscan Aggregate
• 14mm Honey Granite screenings
• Crushed rock & granitic sand
• Dense organic mulches like Eucey Mulch
• Drip irrigation fittings, driplines & connectors
• Edging, rings, path toppings, and stone products

Visit us in-store or shop online to get your garden ready for a safer summer - and speak with our team if you’d like tailored advice for your specific property or location.