Fire-Wise Gardening 101: Protecting Your Home and Garden in Santa Cruz County
After the CZU fires, Santa Cruz County homeowners are rethinking landscaping. Learn how to create defensible space with fire-resistant plants that are beautiful and water-wise.
What NOT to Plant Near Your Home: Fire-Hazard Plants to Avoid
Some of the most common landscaping plants in Santa Cruz County are also the most dangerous in fire season. Juniper, eucalyptus, cypress, and pampas grass create fire pathways to your home. Learn which plants to avoid or remove from your defensible space, especially in high-risk areas like Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond, Brookdale, and Felton. Knowing what NOT to plant is just as important as choosing fire-resistant alternatives.
Fire-Wise Herb Gardens: Low-Growing, High-Moisture Plants
Herbs are essential for any food garden, but not all herbs are fire-safe. Learn which herbs work well in defensible space, which popular herbs to keep away from structures, and how to design an herb garden that's both productive and fire-wise.
Fire-Resistant Fruit Trees for Santa Cruz Gardens
Growing fruit trees in fire-prone areas of Santa Cruz County requires thoughtful selection. Learn which fruit trees offer fire resistance, where to plant them within defensible space zones, and how to maintain them for both safety and productivity.