5 Tips to protect your home and family this summer.

Few Australians will ever forget the tragedy of the bushfires of the summer of 2019/2020. For those of us fortunate enough to live in South East Queensland, we saw significant damage but nowhere near the scale of destruction that took place further south. South East Queensland is certainly not immune to wide-scale bushfires, and even on the subtropical Gold Coast, you must take the time to prepare for bushfire season.

As homeowners, it is key that you take some time now to look objectively at your home and your property, especially if you are on acreage, located close to bushland or National Park or are adjacent to a leafy area. Much of the western side of the M1 on the Gold Coast has been developed with wildlife corridors to enable the movement of native animals. Whilst these corridors are important for our native fauna, they can be a spreading point for bushfires. This means that it is essential for even suburban homes to make sure they are doing their part to reduce the likelihood of bushfires on the Gold Coast.

  1. Have a fire evacuation plan for yourself, your family and your pets

Even if you think that bushfire is unlikely in your area, the summer of 2019/2020 showed us that all of Australia needs to be prepared. There are plenty of fantastic resources available to help you and your family plan to stay safe during a bushfire; the Queensland Rural Fire Service and local SES are great places to start your planning.

  1. Get all trees on your property inspected by qualified arborists.

A qualified and experienced arborist can inspect your property and help you determine what actions you need to take to ensure your safety and the protection of your property. A qualified arborist is a tree removal and tree lopping professional that has been certified and licensed by the Queensland Government to provide tree removal and tree lopping services. An arborist will be able to help you decide what trees need to be trimmed, whether branches need to be removed or even if a whole tree needs to be transplanted or removed entirely. 

  1. Prune shrubs and smaller trees

If you have shrubs and small trees closet to your home, make sure that you keep them pruned so that, should they catch fire, then the chance of the fire spreading to your home is minimal. Keep in mind that drought-affected trees will be more prone to burning and you may need to take action on these shrubs or small trees and remove them.

  1. Clean your gutters

Full gutters are tinderboxes for bushfires. Flying embers reach the gutters and create a fire that can quickly engulf a home. Your gutters may need to be cleaned several times over the summer months to reduce this risk.

  1. Keep your grass short.

Grass fires are a common way that bushfires spread in communities, and grass that is not kept short over the summer can be dangerous. Remember, in the summer heat, grass can grow very quickly, so make sure that you assess your lawn weekly to see if you need to mow them. If you need help keeping on top of your lawn maintenance, get a professional to assist you in maintaining your grass over the summer months.

Bushfires are unfortunately a part of life here in Australia, but with good management and prevention, you can minimise the risk of damage to people and properties this bushfire season.

The Kings Landscaping team are the experts in tree removal and tree lopping in Logan, Beenleigh and on the Gold Coast. We offer free quotes to assess your property in readiness for the bushfire season. With more than 50 years of experience in the region, we understand how to minimise the risk of damage to your property from bushfire. Kings are your number one choice for professional advice when it comes to landscaping. Call 07 5530 2177 to book a Summer Bushfire Readiness Assessment today.