Another heatwave is coming — protect your garden from wildfires

An expert has shared his top tips on protecting your garden from wildfires (Picture: Shutterstock / InesBazdar) Firefighters in Hampshire have been working for three days to contain a wildfire in the New Forest. While the blaze is now under control, the Met Office Fire Severity Index (FSI) in the UK suggests there is still a risk of more to come. The FSI evaluates how severe a fire would become if it were to ignite under current weather conditions. And according to the tool, large parts of England are currently at a Level 4 (‘very high’), moving towards Level 5 (‘exceptional’) in the coming days. There are currently also reports of blazes in Nottingham and in parts of Wales. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. This week, the National Fire Chiefs council said they’d responded to 966 wildfires already this year — that’s compared to the 1,017 they attended during the entirety of 2025. Ready to start your homebuying journey? You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from: – Award winning service from the UK’s leading mortgage broker – Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week – Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won’t charge you a fee for their advice. Find out how much you could borrow online Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. The New Forest are facing devastating wildfires (Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire) Naturally, many Brits are worried about wildfires spreading to (or even starting in) their own back yards — literally. With that in mind, Metro spoke with Richard Barker, a horticultural expert at LBS Horticulture, who shared his advice on how to protect your garden from wildfires. Cut your grass Richard tells Metro that it’s important to remove anything that could be ‘fuel’ for a wildfire, and that includes an unkempt lawn. He says: ‘Keep your grass cut short, ideally below 7cm, and cut back trees and shrubs that are close to your home. ‘Tree branches should be cut so that the lowest growth is six to 10ft off the ground, as this prevents ground fires from reaching trees.’ Keep your garden watered to prevent it becoming dry and flammable, but check if your home is under a hosepipe ban (Picture: Shutterstock / Alter-ego) Keep the rest of your garden tidy too. ‘Flammable debris, such as dead leaves or grass clippings, should be cleared away and disposed of responsibly,’ Richard adds. Keep your garden watered In this heat, our gardens will need more water than usual anyway, but that’s particularly important when considering a wildfire risk. ‘Keeping your garden watered during dry spells will also help to make it less combustible,’ says Richard. In an area with a hosepipe ban? ‘Use water from water butts or wastewater from your home to water your garden,’ says Richard. ‘But avoid using this grey water on edible crops.’ Create a fire break A firebreak is essentially a gap in vegetation or other material that might easily set on fire. Richard says: ‘If you are able to, you can create a fire break around your home by clearing two to three metres around all sides of your home and garden.’ This might simply be raking away dried leaves or twigs, or could even be paving, stones or gravel paths into your garden. Compost can be flammable, especially if it is dry (Picture: Penpak S./Getty Images) Be mindful of your compost heap Compost heaps contain a lot of flammable material. Now, we’re not saying you should stop recycling your food waste and garden cuttings — but there are ways to keep your heap fire-safe. Keep the heap moist so it is not too dry,’ says Richard, ‘and regularly turning the pile will help heat to dissipate.’ Plus, think about where you’re putting it. ‘They should be kept away from buildings or other structures,’ he adds. If you use mulch in your garden, that’s a similar story. While temperatures are high, consider switching your mulch materials. ‘Bark chippings, are very flammable. These should be replaced with non-flammable or less flammable alternatives, like gravel or rocks.’ says Richard. Remove reflective items Reflective items can result in fires; it’s best to keep them covered (Picture: Nickbeer/Getty Images/ iStockphoto) A mirror bordered with ivy, or cute glass wind chimes might look beautiful in your garden, but they’re also a fire hazard. ‘Any mirrors, glass ornaments or reflective materials should be kept out of direct sunlight, as they can concentrate heat and ignite dry areas of your garden,’ says Richard. Even better, put them away for now. ‘If possible, keep these stored away or covered until the risk of fires has ended,’ he adds. BBQ safetly Tucking into a burnt sausage off a BBQ in the garden is what an English summer is all about, but it’ll come as no surprise that they’re a pretty major fire risk. ‘if you’re barbecuing in your garden, this should be placed on a flat, stable surface away from fencing, sheds and trees,’ says Richard. ‘It should not be placed on the grass.’ You should also never leave your BBQ unattended when lit. Audit your shed Garden tools also need to be treated with care and stored inside to prevent a fire risk. ‘If your power tools run on petrol, this should be stored in an approved container that is kept away from ignition sources, and should never be stored inside of your home,’ says Richard. ‘If you have any rags that have been used to apply linseed oil to furniture or decking, these should be submerged in water inside a metal container with a lid. Make sure to put your lawn mower back into the shed (Picture Cappi Thompson/ Getty Images) ‘This is because the rags can create heat as they dry and may spontaneously combust. ‘Do not group oily rags in a pile, and do not discard them into a bin if they have been used to apply oil.’ Dispose of cigarettes properly Again, cigarettes are obviously a fire risk, and even more so in this weather, so it’s important to ditch your cig butts safely. ‘They should not be dropped onto the ground as they could potentially set fire to dead leaves or other dry debris,’ he says. Deals of the Day Parents can save up to 30% on Kickers school shoes ahead of the new term The back-to-school hack that's helping parents avoid queues and sold-out sizes Could your hair be wavy rather than straight? This brand thinks so Could your star sign improve your skincare routine? This new beauty launch thinks so Best skincare for menopausal skin? This dermatologist-created treatment is tailored to you Instead, stub out your cigarette on a non-flammable surface, like an ashtray, and throw it in the bin once fully extinguished and cold. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: Best portable BBQs for summer 2026 – top compact grills for camping, beaches and picnics Arrow MORE: M25 closed in both directions after major fire sparks risk of secondary explosion Arrow MORE: The UK’s fifth heatwave is coming — these are the best portable air conditioners in stock The Key Sign up for must-read property stories, DIY hacks and tips for buying a home.