Fall Season Offers Optimal Conditions for Water-Wise and Fire-Wise Landscape Planting in California
The Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) in California is highlighting fall as the ideal season for planting water-wise and fire-wise landscapes. Cooler temperatures, shorter daylight hours, and seasonal rainfall during autumn create favorable conditions for new plants to establish themselves, reducing heat stress and the need for excessive outdoor watering. When selecting plants, SMWD advises choosing varieties that are well-suited to the local climate and growing conditions, emphasizing the importance of considering a plant's mature size to ensure adequate growth space. Fire safety is also a critical component of landscape planning, with recommendations to avoid planting trees, woody shrubs, or hedges within five feet of a home or patio. Utilizing low-water-use drip irrigation is suggested to minimize overspray near home foundations and stucco. Additionally, pruning at the end of summer involves trimming trees at least five feet from homes and ten feet from chimneys, removing dead or diseased branches, ...
