Join UCCE’s Natural Resources Advisor, Sabrina Drill for a free fire-safe landscaping workshop. The workshops will be held this month in various locations throughout our county.

From the workshop flyer:

"Come find out how to make your landscape beautiful and fire-safe while being a good neighbor to wildlands. Get tips and techniques on planting, maintenance, and building materials to help you and your home survive the next fire.

Learn about defensible space, vegetation management, and invasive plants from experts at U.C. Cooperative Extension and your local fire authority!"

For additional information, including dates and locations please click here . While the workshops are free, registration is required. Register early to save a spot!

Arundo (Arundo donax) is an invasive plant present in our local waterways.  It can grow at a rate of four inches per day, making it one of the fastest-growing land plants in the world, and can reach heights of 30 feet tall.  It reproduces and spreads when sections of the stem or root break off and float downstream.

Originally introduced by European immigrants as material for making musical instruments, it was also used for roofing materials in California in the early 1800’s. Later it was used for erosion control. Using arundo for erosion control turned out to be a bad choice as it is extremely damaging to our native ecosystems.

Arundo requires a significant amount of water to grow, reducing available water for native plants, fish, wildlife and people. In addition, clumps of arundo and the soil around their roots can break off, causing streambank erosion.  Furthermore, these clumps may create channel obstructions that lead to flooding.

In addition to displacing native plants and destroying native fish and wildlife habitat, arundo is highly flammable and can quickly carry fire along waterways. After a fire, arundo quickly grows back from its roots.  With other nearby plants burned by fire, arundo can spread even more quickly, leaving no room for native plants to recover.

To help reduce the spread of this plant and the destruction it causes, take the following actions:

• Learn more about arundo, including how to identify it
• Report sightings to local conservation groups
• Join local eradication efforts or help to start one
• If you own land with an arundo infestation, request help and provide access for control efforts.

Arundo is highly flammable.

Arundo can grow at a rate of four inches per day.

UC ANR’s Stephen Quarles and others have recently released an important publication for Californians. Home Survival in Wildfire-Prone Areas: Building Materials and Design Considerations can be downloaded for free.

The description sums up the publication perfectly:

It's like the three little pigs showed us: the way you build your house can make the difference between a cozy home and a heap of rubble when disaster strikes. Learn about design methods and building materials that will help your home survive a wildfire.

This resource discusses the following:

• Ignition of homes in wildfire-prone areas
• Roof covering and rood edge
• Eaves and overhangs
• Windows
• Decks
• Exterior siding
• Fire-retardant treatments and coatings

The University of California has a great publication titled, Invasive Plants and Wildfires in Southern California.

This resource discusses the impact of non-native plants in the landscape before and after wildfire.  Changes in recommendations regarding reducing wildfire risk and recovery after a fire are also covered. By working together we can reduce the risks and negative impacts of wildfire.

Also included is a link to San Diego Cooperative Extension’s Wildfire Zone . This education and outreach program was created to increase awareness of wildfire risks and hazards.