Most people think of vegetation management as a production issue. In the fall, it is also a fire-risk issue. Dry, dead-standing growth under and around energized equipment is fuel, and mowing height, equipment clearance, and timing decide how much of it a site carries. Here is what a fire-aware vegetation plan looks like.

Mowing a solar farm on repeat all season is the most expensive way to manage vegetation — and the most common. Integrated vegetation management pairs strategic herbicide application with mowing to break the cycle, reduce the number of cuts a site needs, and lower the total cost of keeping the array clear. Here's how it works, and why fall is the time to think about it.