08/28/2026
SEPTEMBER 2026
Maintaining a Fire-Smart Zone
This month our focus is Zone 1, the defensible space zone 5-30 feet from your home), and applying the Fire-Smart Landscaping principles of “think lean,
think clean, and green”, and “start at the house and work out”.
A Clean Zone 1
Be sure to keep leaf litter to a minimum in Zone 1.Remove any dead vegetation, dead flowers, and dry grasses from the landscape to reduce potential fuel. Prune trees and shrubs to remove dead branches, control size, and create space within the canopy. Remove low-hanging branches from trees to create space between lower vegetation and reduce the risk of creating ladder fuels.
Garden Message
A Lean & Green Zone 1
Regularly inspect plants for drought stress and water appropriately to keep plants healthy. Plants will need less water as we enter cooler weather in the fall months. A hydrated and well maintained garden near the home reduces wildfire intensity and the risk of fire transferring to your home.
Prune trees and shrubs to reduce canopies' density and maintain
appropriate space between plants to slow the spread of fire from plant to plant.
This maintenance is essential, as September and October mark the peak of wildfire season, when summer-dried vegetation and strong, drying Diablo winds converge before the arrival of winter rains.
It’s important to remember that ongoing maintenance to reduce your risk from wildfire is critical during fire season.
