Property Management Guide
If you are new to the neighborhood or interested in how to better manage your property to improve fire safety and enhance ecological function, you've come to the right place - Scroll down for tips!
We recommend becoming familiar with FireWise to learn how to create a defensible space to protect your home. While FireWise focuses on protecting your home, these steps also help support local ecological health!
6 - 10 feet
6 - 18 feet
Remove ladder fuels and create space between trees. Ladder fuels are flammable, low-lying materials that enable fire to climb into tree canopies, increasing the likelihood of larger wildfires. Ladder fuels include low-hanging branches, shrubs, grasses, logs, etc.
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Prune tree branches 6 to 10 feet above the ground, but no more than one-third of the tree’s total height. Maintain a spacing of 6 to 18 feet between trees to help prevent the rapid spread of fire.
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These practices also enhance forest health by allowing more sunlight to reach the forest floor, promoting the growth of wildflowers and other native vegetation.
Removing ladder fuels, including immature trees growing beneath mature trees, helps control spruce budworm populations. During summer, spruce budworm larvae emerge from the treetops and gradually descend, a process known as “ballooning,” while feeding on new conifer growth. This can stunt growth or even cause tree mortality.
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If the larvae reach the ground, they are unable to climb back up trees. By eliminating ladder fuels, you remove their "safety net", naturally reducing populations without chemicals that can harm beneficial insects.
​Property owners may burn slash - fine woody debris such as branches and pine needles - between October 1 and April 30 with a minimum of 2 inches of snow on the ground. A slash burn must be called into the Fire District and approved. An annual burn permit is required for all burning (Ordinance No. 2021-04).
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Additional Resources for Jefferson-Como District
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Check Burn Bans: 719-836-4160
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Report Burning: 833-935-1189
Residents in Indian Mountain may also dispose slash at the Burn Pit or Chipper Days in the summer. Residents in nearby communities should contact IMPOA to inquire about burn pit use.
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Coalition for the Upper South Platte offers chipping services throughout South Park.
Avoid burning rotten, decomposing, moldy, or insect-infested wood. As wood decomposes, it releases nitrogen and other essential nutrients back into the soil, supporting forest health and new vegetative growth. Additionally, beneficial insects inhabit decaying wood. Many of these insects prey upon spruce budworm and consume organic material, cycling nutrients faster.
Mountain bluebirds thrive in grassland and forest edge habitats - where woodlands meet grasslands. If you live in these habitats, install a bluebird nest box to support local bluebird populations. These birds help control insect populations and play a vital role in seed dispersal, promoting the growth of native vegetation. Learn more about mountain bluebirds and nest boxes.
South Park serves as a vital breeding habitat for broad-tailed hummingbirds and an essential stopover site for rufous hummingbirds as they migrate south from Alaska and Canada. These remarkable birds are not only excellent pollinators but also provide hours of entertainment with their aerial acrobatics.
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Place feeders on your property using a 3:1 sugar-to-water ratio, ensuring feeders are out of reach of bears by hanging them from a second-story or higher. Additionally, taking steps to mitigate wildfire risk—such as removing ladder fuels—promotes wildflower growth, providing natural food sources for hummingbirds.
Like many bird species, bats play a crucial role in local ecosystems as pest controllers, pollinators, and seed dispersers. However, bat populations in Colorado are facing a major threat due to the spread of white-nose syndrome (WNS).​
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Bats are drawn to wetter areas where insect are abundant. While anyone can take steps to support bats, property owners within 1/4 mile of wetlands or water bodies are especially encouraged to:
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Keep some snags - standing dead trees - in place. Bats use snags to rest in warmer months.
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Place a 2-4 chamber, dark-colored bat box on your property to provide more rest stops.
Unlike more urban areas, South Park is fortunate to have few noxious weed infestations. However, to protect native vegetation, it is essential to remove noxious weeds, which are often found along roadsides, driveways, and areas where recent earthwork has disturbed the soil or introduced invasive seeds.
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Common noxious weeds in South Park include cheatgrass, Canada thistle, plumeless thistle, scentless chamomile, diffuse knapweed, yellow toadflax, and common mullein. Removing these invasive species helps native plants thrive, preserving the region’s biodiversity. Learn more about Colorado's noxious weeds.​
Invasive Common Mullein
Native Monument Plant
Implementing these steps will not only enhance the beauty and value of your property but also contribute to the overall ecological health of our community. By supporting a balanced ecosystem, you help sustain thriving populations of megafauna such as elk, bears, bobcats, and moose.​
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Have more questions? Feel free to contact us!