Conservation // 2 min Read

Burning 101

Written by Palmetto Bluff

The Palmetto Bluff Conservancy is dedicated to preserving the wildlife and environment of Palmetto Bluff. As a conservancy versus a preservation, the team’s goal is to make the habitat here at Palmetto Bluff the best it can be instead of just letting Mother Nature run her course. Because of this, the Conservancy team can be found in the woods during the winter and early spring months completing prescribed burns. These burns are strategically placed for a number of reasons and help enrich our beloved natural environment. Prescribed burning is the best wildlife and forestry management tool at our disposal.

  1. It is a cost-effective way to reduce the hardwood regeneration that blocks the sunlight from the forest floor. Once we burn these areas, sunlight is better able to reach the ground and promotes new growth which is beneficial to all our wildlife.
  2. Prescribed burning encourages the development of the age classes of a healthy forest stand. A thriving forest should be made up of at least three different age classes or have an overstory, a midstory and an understory. All of these levels are made up of different species of trees and shrubs and each level benefits different species of wildlife.
  3. When a burn is conducted, “edge effect” is maximized within the forest stand. Edge is where two or more plant communities come together. All of our wildlife from the smallest shrew to the white-tailed deer is attracted to edge. For feeding, nesting, or cover, all of our animals are utilizing these areas more frequently than areas without edge effect.
  4. Burning fertilizes older trees through the ash produced. The older trees in a stand with regular burning are healthier than those in forests that are not burned.
  5. Some trees, shrubs and other plants rely on fire for seed dispersal, germination or the reduction of competitors. For example, pond pines rely on fire to open up their cones to allow for seed dispersion. Longleaf pines depend on fire to control their competition. Longleaf is very slow growing and without fire, would be out competed by faster growing trees.
  6. Prescribed burning also lowers the fuel load in our wild areas which in turn reduce the threat of wild fires from lightning strikes or careless humans.

So the next time you smell smoke or see the Conservancy team covered in soot, remember that prescribed burning is helping our ecosystem stay healthy as well as protecting our homes from the threat of wildfires.%GALLERY%

Club Life
Five Reasons for the Season: Why We Love Fall in the Lowcountry

The golden glow of the marshes, the crisp air, and the sense of calm after a busy summer season all make this time of year unforgettable. Whether you’re enjoying the Bluff or exploring the wider coastal region, here are five reasons why fall is when the Lowcou...

Oct 2025
palmetto bluff sales agent

Real Estate
Behind the Bluff with Sales Executive: David Johnson

David’s Journey to Palmetto Bluff Born and raised in Lewisburg, West Virginia, David Johnson’s career path began with a moment of chance. While studying Finance and Economics at Marshall University, he walked into the Greenbrier Sporting Club’s real estate of...

Sep 2025
palmetto bluff club

Club Life
An Inside Look at The Palmetto Bluff Club

Palmetto Bluff Club: Finding Your Perfect Fit Tucked into the heart of the Lowcountry, Palmetto Bluff is a place where life unfolds at its finest pace—unhurried, connected, and deeply rooted in community. Membership here goes beyond access to world-class amen...

Sep 2025
fall home decor 2025

Architecture & Design
How to Decorate Your Coastal Home For Fall

4 Ways to Incorporate Coastal Fall Decor into Your Home in 2025If you are planning to decorate your home for fall, you might feel limited to warm colors and chilly weather. But if you live on the coast, you can easily incorporate coastal fall décor into your h...

Sep 2025

Conservation
Watching Birds, Supporting Science: FeederWatch at Palmetto Bluff

Here in the Lowcountry, the Conservancy brings FeederWatch to life with guided sessions at the Conservancy’s bird feeders. Education and Outreach Manager Aaron Palmieri leads these gatherings, teaching attendees how to identify wintering species, choose the ri...

Sep 2025

Culture
Chef Beth’s Lowcountry 7 Layer Dip with Pimento Cheese

Chef Beth Cosgrove shares her favorite game day dip—with a Southern twist.​ Ingredients 2 cups cooked sea island red peas, crushed with a fork 1 recipe of pimento cheese dip (recipe below), room temperature 2 cups crème fraiche 1 cup fire-roast...

Sep 2025

Real Estate
The Benefits Of Buying A Newly-Built Home In Palmetto Bluff

At Palmetto Bluff, newly built homes are more than residences—they are carefully crafted retreats offering the best of Lowcountry living. Palmetto Bluff Real Estate Co. Agent, Amanda Cutrer, shares the benefits of buying “new” in the Bluff. Builder Support ...

Sep 2025

Conservation
Lowcountry Canvas

Visionary land planner Mark Permar reflects on Palmetto Bluff's rich history and its enduring connection to the land. With Anson on the horizon, the legacy of designing with nature lives on.How did you first get involved with Palmetto Bluff?  I believe it was ...

Sep 2025

Architecture & Design
Palmetto Bluff Homes with Guest Homes and Casitas

Explore Available Listings with Room For the Whole Family At Palmetto Bluff, life moves at the pace of the tides; slow enough to savor, yet rich with moments worth sharing. And when it comes to welcoming the people you love most, the right home makes all the ...

Aug 2025
2025 bluffton real estate

Real Estate
Real Estate Sales Report: Palmetto Bluff’s 2025 Midyear Update

Real Estate in Bluffton, SC: Trends, Updates, and Insights The first half of 2025 has been nothing short of remarkable for Palmetto Bluff Real Estate Company, with sales volume, transaction count, and market share setting a strong pace for the year ahead. As ...

Aug 2025

CURIOUS ABOUT LIFE AT THE BLUFF?

Sign up for our newsletter

LIVE
Community Villages
Experience
Palmetto Bluff Club
On The Water
The Arts Initiative
Events
Conserve
About Us