The brushy hillsides and grassy fields of our community present the potential for a major wildfire. The mix of wildland fuels and homes creates a tremendous fire problem. Fires do not happen only in Southern California and the Oakland Hills; they can and will happen here.

We know that you have spent a lot of time, effort and money in your landscaping and we at Wegman’s want to be active in keeping our community safe. In the next few editions of the newsletter we will feature articles that give you tools and information to help protect your homes and property from wildfires.

Firescaping revolves around three ideas: Clean landscapes, healthy plants and ample space between clusters of plants. Three major factors affect the fire danger level. These factors are the fuels, the topography and the weather.

Fuels include grasses, heavy brush and trees. The danger that these fuels present is directly proportionate to the moisture level in the fuels. With the recent hot weather the moisture content in fuels is extremely low.

The topography factor: the steeper the grade, the greater the danger. Fire will move quickly uphill and may ignite houses on ridges and hills.

The weather factor is the only factor over which we have no control. Long, dry heat waves like we have been experiencing will dry out and preheat fuel. High winds will increase the speed at which fire moves and the intensity with which it burns.

A small fire can become a catastrophic event in a matter of minutes, but there are precautions that can be taken to minimize the effects of a wildland fire. Wise landscaping is something homeowners can do to help protect their homes.

A mature landscape is more flammable than a juvenile one. Young and rapidly growing plants and landscapes have growth and limbs that are moist, supple, and low in fuels. A garden that was planted 50 years ago may require removal of some, if not most, of its plants.

Fire retardant and fire resistant varieties of plants are available. A fire-retardant plant is reluctant to bust into flames. These plants are typically fleshy, moist, and broad-leafed; trees and shrubs are deciduous. They are used close to a house to protect it from flying embers and intense heat. Because of their nature, fire retardant plants may need more water, fertilizing, and maintenance. Species in this group would include Festuca, Geranium, Gazania, Vitis, Syringa, Acer and Liquidambar.

The next zone of plants around a home should be fire-resistant. These plants may be able to slow or even stop a fire, and tend to resist the effects of the fire better than other plants. If they catch on fire, they do not hold it long, because they do not possess a lot of fuel. Fire-resistant plants also may resprout or germinate after a fire, which are ideal qualities on slopes. Fire resistant plants tend to be lower maintenance and require less water. Some of the species in this group include Ceanothus, Gaultheria, Encelia, Mahonia, Romneya, Gelsemium and Quercus.

The ongoing process of removal and replanting helps create healthy, fire retarding gardens, but it is just a part of firescaping. Design ideas, building materials, watering methods, pruning techniques and erosion controls are important too.

Next week: Plant Flammability, Life Expectancy of Plants and Signs of Unhealthy Plants.

Prevent the limbs of your heavily laden fruit trees from breaking like this, with our patent pending Prop-a-Crop™. Until now, the savvy grower only had the choice of propping up their fruit-filled trees with a non-adjustable, bark-scarring and tree-damaging piece of wood. The Prop-a-Crop™ was designed to easily adjust to the desired height with a push of a button. The curved plastic "U-shaped" limb support minimizes any bark-scarring or tree damage when holding the limb at the set height.

Bird Netting

• Prevents hungry birds from eating fruit, vegetables and berries
• Protects your harvest without harm to birds
• Reusable season after season

Keep your harvest safe without harming birds. Ross Garden Netting has protective mesh covering keeps birds away from fruits, berries, vegetables and newly seeded gardens and lawns while its small openings prevent birds from becoming tangled. The netting is a durable UV-treated mesh that is easy to use and will last for years. Netting is available in various helpful sizes for Trellis, Garden, or Trees.

Basket Fruit Picker
This handy tool will allow you to pick those juicy fruits off your tree without climbing a ladder! The fruit picker has a metal basket with plastic coating, and "fingers" which allow you to pick the fruit off its branch. The fruit then rolls into the bottom of the basket where a cushion breaks its fall. The basket itself is 1 foot long. The basket comes with an 8 foot, two piece wooden pole.

The chaste tree is a beautiful little deciduous tree or large shrub with a showy summertime flower display. The leaves are 3-4 in (7.6-10 cm) in diameter and palmately compound with 5 to 7 fingerlike leaflets. Also called sage tree, the foliage is likewise aromatic and is typically grey-green to dark green above and lighter on the undersides. When in bloom, due to the similarity of the flowers, the chaste tree is sometimes mistaken for butterfly bush (Buddleia). The chaste tree is a sprawling plant that grows 10-20 ft (3-6 m) and about as wide. Branched flower clusters are produced on new wood in late spring and early summer in a great flush that makes the tree look like a hazy purple cloud. It continues to bloom sporadically until early fall. Not only is the tree strikingly beautiful when in full bloom, but it is also fragrant and attracts pollinating bees and hummingbirds make hungry visits. Flowers are followed by a fleshy fruit that contains four seeds that are sometimes used as seasoning, similar to black pepper (monk's pepper is another of this species' common names). Flower color ranges from violet to blue to deep purple.

Easy to grow in almost any soil that has good drainage! The chaste tree can take care of itself, but can be pushed to faster growth with light applications of fertilizer in spring and early summer and by mulching around the plant. Sun to shade. Moderate to moist, well drained soil.

The RESCUE!® Disposable Yellowjacket Trap catches all major species of yellowjackets common to North America.

How it works

The trap consists of a two-layer durable plastic bag with a scientifically designed molded plastic entry structure that prevents escape. A powerful water-soluble attractant is included; you simply add water or diluted apple juice to the trap and hang it outside. Yellowjackets are lured by the attractant scent and fly into the bag through the yellow entry structure. Once the trap is full, the yellow top cap closes shut and the entire trap can be placed in the garbage.

Unique features and benefits
• Attractant included
• Catches multiple species
• Perfect for taking on the go for picnics or camping trips
• Attractancy lasts for weeks, with no rebaiting necessary

Mosquito Trap

Mosquitoes are known to transmit diseases such as Equine Encephalitis, West Nile Virus and others. When they bite an animal or bird infected with a disease, they go to lay eggs and come back to bite again. It is this second bite that transmits diseases. The Oak Stump Mosquito Trap attracts, catches and kills mosquitoes when they try to lay eggs, thus preventing that second "fatal" bite.

The Oak Stump trap uses a mosquito egg pheromone which Mosquitoes use to mark special egg-laying places. This "locator" biochemical draws mosquitoes into the trap, but they cannot find the exit and will eventually tire and drown in the liquid.

Traps are re-useable, non-toxic, and safe for the environment. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

Name: Andy Broderson

Position at Wegman's: Nursery Assistant

Hobbies: Hiking, playing the guitar, my garden, orchid collecting

Favorite Food: Pizza and fresh fruit

Favorite Plant or flower: Sequoia sempervirens and Cattleya orchids

Favorite garden center product: Gardener's Gold Potting Soil