After seeing the total devastation brought by wildfires up north and along the coast last year, the rest of us in northern California wonder if our homes are vulnerable, too. Wildfire is so unpredictable. Even as one home or vineyard was wiped out, the next was not. We can all take steps to make our property more defensible, by landscaping with fire-resistant plants and trees.
Fire-resistant doesn’t mean fire-proof, of course. But certain types of trees, shrubs, and smaller plants naturally retain moisture, so they won’t burn as readily. Strategic use of these plants can help fend off or slow a fire. And here’s the best part: fire-wise trees and other plants can also give your landscape a distinctive and utterly gorgeous look – the kind every home owner dreams of.
“Your gardening goals don’t have to change in high-risk fire areas,” notes Sunset, “just the means by which you plan to reach them.”
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