Test PB Collection: FTE

  Winter is a great time to prune plants for fire safety. All plants can burn, but removing or trimming branches now can reduce potential fuels and create space between plants and plant groupings to slow or interrupt the path of fire to your home during wildfire season.Before you begin,…

 In December, we discussed strategies for assessing and planning Zone 0, 0-5 feet from your home, where the best practice is to remove any combustible materials.For Zones 1 and 2, focus on plant size and spacing to reduce fire pathways to your home.Zone 1 – 5 to 30 feet from homeObjective: Reduce heat…

 Mulch is any material spread over soil to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and prevent erosion. For fire safety, inorganic mulches such as rock are a non-combustible option that can be used anywhere in your landscape. Organic mulch is composed of plant materials and is combustible, but also provides…

 Creating a fire-smart landscape is about making informed choices that protect your home while maintaining beauty. While all plants can burn, thoughtful selection and strategic placement can reduce fire risk. When choosing plants for your fire-smart landscape, prioritize:Plants with higher…

 As spring transitions into the dryer months of summer, now is the time to check and refine your irrigation system to keep your plants appropriately hydrated. Having healthy and hydrated plants is an important component of a Fire-smart Landscape. Healthy and hydrated plants:Are more difficult to…

 Maintaining healthy plants through the summer is a fire-smart strategy.  Well-hydrated plants have been found to be more resistant to embers and ignitions.  Use these important fire-smart & water-wise landscaping strategies:Help your soil maintain moisture by using compost and appropriate…

 As we get deeper into fire season, now is a good time to assess your landscape for immediate fire risk and take action. When evaluating fire risk, think lean, clean, and green, and start at the house and work out. With these principles in mind, we’ll focus on Zone 0, the first 5 feet surrounding…

Onions, Allium cepa. There are two types of onions: strong-flavored that store well and mild and sweet that don’t last long in storage. There are yellow, white, and red varieties in both categories. Divided into long day, intermediate day, and short day varieties, determined by latitude. Intermediate and…

 After cleaning Zone 0 (0-5 feet from home) of any combustible materials (see August’s Fire-Smart tips), this month we’ll focus on applying the Fire-Smart Landscaping principles of “think lean, clean, and green”, and “start at the house and work out” to Zone 1 (5-30 feet from home). A Clean Zone…

 There are no fire-resistant plants since all plants can burn. But there are aspects to consider when selecting plants to include in your fire-smart landscape. Plant spacing, size, and maintenance are important considerations.Consider:Plants that have a higher moisture content, lower resin or sap…