Fire-Smart Landscaping:  When it comes to conserving water, follow these important fire-smart landscape strategies.

• Remove dead plants and debris.

• Keep a vigilant eye on plants that may be suffering from drought.  If too damaged from drought, a plant may not recover and will need to be removed.

• Within 5 feet of the perimeter of structures on your property, move wood mulch or foundation plants to other locations on the property.

• Keep your irrigation system in good condition to optimize water distribution to plants.  

• Hand watering before 9 am when it’s cool is an option when irrigation is not optimized and water is restricted.  

• Limit replacement plantings to climate appropriate plants such as California native species, and plants native to Mediterranean summer dry climates.

• Do not wet down your property on Red Flag Warning days. Water as normal.

• Clearly mark all emergency (and other) water sources.

• Create easy firefighter access to your closest emergency water source and provide extra hoses.

For more information on fire-smart landscaping, visit UC Marin Master Gardener to learn more.