Creating a Garden with Firescaping Principles – The Grass Is Always Greener Designs

California is having more wildfires every year, so it is a great idea to take a few steps when creating a garden to take note of how you can help keep your home safe. The best way to firescape your home is to harden your home using fire-resistant materials, create defensible space around your home, and choose fire-resistant plants. 
Make sure your roof is fire-resistant, install ember resistant vents, noncombustible gutter covers, and metal drip edge that protect from embers. When installing gates, fences, and patio covers investigate the ones that are most resistant to fire.
Create that ember free zone, current fire discussion is 5’-10’ from your house. You can create a beautiful “apron” around your house with hardscape materials. Some easy access groundcover, or low plants is also acceptable as long as they are well watered and allow easy access to your roof.  
For the rest of your garden be sure to choose fire-resistant plants. California natives are excellent to use, because they require less water to keep them well hydrated, which is key. A well hydrated plant will not go up like a candle.  
There are great resources online for plants and fire prevention. Here are two great links from Las Pilitas https://www.laspilitas.com/fire.htm and https://www.laspilitas.com/easy/deerfire.htm and another from Theodore Payne which including a couple of great videos https://theodorepayne.org/wildfire-in-southern-california/
Now would be a great time to clear vegetation, leaves, and debris from around your home, especially within 30 feet of the structure. Trim or remove trees and shrubs so they don’t touch your roof (or provide a ladder to it) or exterior walls. Maintenance is key.
With a little bit of thought and research, you can have a beautiful, relaxing garden that helps protect your home as well as bring joy to you.
Julie Molinare is a Certified Landscape Designer living in the Santa Clarita for over 15 years. Julie taught the Introduction to Landscape Design Class @ CSUN Tseng College of Extended Learning and is Owner/Designer of The Grass Is Always Greener Designs. Give her a call at 661-917-3521 or go to her website at www.thegrassisalwaysgreener.net.