Is cheatgrass part of defensible space?

What the guide says

Living With Fire names cheatgrass in two places for sagebrush country: it is on the list of flammable plants to remove in Zone 0, and in Zone 1 the guide says to clear all cheatgrass within 30 feet of the home.

We do not spray herbicides. Pesticide applications for hire need a Nevada Department of Agriculture license, and that is not one of our services.

The catch: disturbed ground

The guide is blunt about the trade-off. Cheatgrass thrives in disturbed areas, and if a large amount of the native shrubs is removed, cheatgrass will likely take over. The opening of the guide says the same: removing all vegetation can lead to more invasive weeds and grasses.

That is why a lot is thinned and spaced rather than scraped. A stripped lot can look safe in June and be a field of dry cheatgrass by July.

What we do about it

Brush mowing and mastication are the machine tools for open ground: the mower cuts and mulches growth across open land and the masticating head grinds brush and small trees in place. Hand crews handle the ground near structures. The arborist chooses at the visit, and this comparison explains the options.

Ask the arborist what is left on the ground after the work and what the fire district expects there. Describe the lot when you call 775.232.8243, or use the free estimate form and add photos.

Because cheatgrass is an annual that dries out each summer, the job comes back every year until other plants fill the ground. Ask the arborist what to leave in place so the ground is not left bare, and plan a yearly walk-through of the first 30 feet.