New Firewise Landscaping Guide and Free Insurance Savings for your Home

Goodbye June gloom and hello Southern California summer! My article New Firewise Landscaping Guide and Free Insurance Savings for your Home is a chance for you as a homeowner or future buyer to have a three-fold windfall with the opportunity to firescape your current or new home, reduce your future or current insurance premium, as well as increase the asset of your home with the increased curb appeal. Scroll down to learn the difference between drought-tolerant landscaping, desert landscaping, and firewise landscaping / firescaping, and see the benefits of California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s regulation, which is the first in the nation requiring insurance companies to provide discounts to consumers under the Safer from Wildfires framework. Further in the article I share with you updates to the AB-38 Defensible Space, tips and local resources to get your home-looking Southern AB-38 Defensible Space summer-ready. Scroll down for more of New Firewise Landscaping Guide and Free Insurance Savings for your Home; knowledge of the defensible space inspection, AB-38 fire disclosure, AB-38 defensible space, and California firewise landscaping.

Drought-tolerant landscaping, desert landscaping, and firewise landscaping are three different approaches to designing landscapes that are adapted to specific environmental conditions and challenges. Scroll down for more New Firewise Landscaping Guide and Free Insurance Savings for your Home plus the breakdown of the differences between drought-tolerant, dessert, and firewise landscapes.

For a List of Insurers Currently Offering Discounts For California Firewise Landscaping Call David Clark (310) 231-6544

New Firewise Landscaping Guide and Free Insurance Savings for your Home: Drought-Tolerant Landscaping, Desert Landscaping, and Firewise Landscaping

Drought-tolerant landscaping focuses on creating outdoor spaces that can thrive with minimal water usage. This approach is particularly relevant in regions prone to water scarcity or where water conservation is a priority. Drought-tolerant landscapes often feature plants and vegetation that have adapted to arid conditions and require less watering. These landscapes typically incorporate efficient irrigation systems, soil amendments, mulching techniques, and proper plant selection to reduce water requirements. The goal is to create a visually appealing and sustainable landscape that conserves water resources, and may help with a future defensible space inspection.

Drought Tolerant Plants For The Los Angeles Area:

Silver Bush Lupine
Sugar Bush
Toyon
White Sagebrush
Woolly Blue Curls

Desert landscaping is a specific type of drought-tolerant landscaping that is specifically designed for arid and desert regions. It involves using plants, materials, and design elements that are native or adapted to desert environments. Desert landscapes often feature succulents, cacti, and other plants that are highly tolerant of low water availability and extreme temperatures. The design principles of desert landscaping aim to create a natural, harmonious look that complements the surrounding desert ecosystem. Additionally, desert landscaping typically incorporates techniques to mitigate erosion and maximize water retention in the soil. Properly focusing on landscaping and the spatial arrangement of plants around the perimeter of your home helps for a future defensible space inspection.

Firewise landscaping or firescaping refers to designing outdoor spaces with fire safety in mind, particularly in areas prone to wildfires. The goal is to create a defensible space around a property, reducing the risk of fire damage enhancing the ability of firefighters to protect homes, and be in compliance with the AB-38 fire disclosure. Firewise landscaping involves careful selection and placement of vegetation, with an emphasis on minimizing the presence of flammable plants and materials near buildings. It also includes creating firebreaks, using fire-resistant plants, maintaining proper spacing between trees and shrubs, and employing other fire-prevention strategies. Firewise landscaping aims to create a landscape that is both aesthetically pleasing and resistant to the spread of fire. This is the key to meeting the mandatory requirements for AB-38 defensible space, and AB-38 fire disclosure that will pop up on your NHD report if you are one of 500,000 Los Angeles homeowners located in a fire hazard severity zone.

In summary, this new firewise landscaping guide and free insurance savings for your home can both protect your home and reduce multiple costs. While all three types of landscaping share a focus on resource efficiency and sustainability, they differ in their specific objectives and environmental considerations. Drought-tolerant landscaping focuses on reducing water usage, desert landscaping caters to arid and desert regions, and firewise or firescaping landscaping aims to minimize the risk of wildfire damage. Scroll down for more California firescaping tips and insurance savings, and ways to prepare for a AB-38 fire disclosure.

Firescaping is a term used to describe landscaping practices and strategies designed to reduce the risk of wildfires and protect homes and properties in fire-prone areas. California, being a state with a history of devastating wildfires, has emphasized the importance of firescaping techniques. California firewise landscaping or firescaping typically involves a combination of various measures to create an AB-38 defensible space, around a property, which is an area where vegetation and other combustible materials are strategically managed to decrease the likelihood of a fire spreading. This will also enable you to have an AB-38 fire disclosure compliance.

On and after July 1, 2021, when you sell property that is located in a high or very high fire hazard severity zone you’ll need documentation with an AB-38 defensible space inspection that complies with Section 4291 of the Public Resources Code or local vegetation management ordinances (check with your local fire department). This new seller disclosure will pop up on your Natural Hazard Disclosure (NHD) report as an AB-38 fire disclosure.

Here are some key elements of California firewise landscaping:

Plant selection: Using fire-resistant plants that are less likely to ignite and produce minimal amounts of flammable debris is important. Native plants that are adapted to the local climate and naturally fire-resistant species are commonly recommended.

Defensible space: Creating defensible space involves clearing flammable vegetation and materials around structures. This typically includes removing dead plants, dry leaves, and overgrown vegetation from within a certain distance of buildings. This will get you ready for a defensible space inspection so that you will have a positive AB-38 fire disclosure.

Plant spacing and arrangement: Proper spacing between plants is crucial to prevent the rapid spread of fires. Trees and shrubs should be placed a safe distance apart and away from structures to reduce the risk of fire jumping from one plant to another.

Irrigation and maintenance: Regular irrigation and maintenance of plants are necessary to ensure they remain healthy and less prone to ignition. Dry, overgrown plants are more susceptible to fire.

Mulching: Using non-flammable materials such as rock, gravel, or mulch made from fire-resistant materials can be applied around plants and structures. This helps create a firebreak and reduces the risk of embers igniting.

Hardening structures: Incorporating fire-resistant materials in the construction and design of buildings can enhance their resistance to wildfires. This includes using non-combustible roofing materials, sealing gaps and vents, and using fire-resistant siding.

Access and clearance: Maintaining proper access for emergency vehicles and ensuring adequate clearance around roads and driveways is crucial for firefighting efforts. These are some of the key tip to California firewise landscaping, and AB-38 defensible space inspection, and AB-38 fire disclosure compliance.

It’s important to note that firescaping for AB-38 defensible space, and AB-38 fire disclosure compliance cannot guarantee complete protection from wildfires, but it can significantly reduce the risk and increase the chances of successfully defending a property. It’s always advisable to consult with local fire departments, landscaping professionals, or fire experts who are familiar with the specific conditions and requirements of your area. I have the local knowledge and a team of trusted California firewise landscaping vendors and experts ready to serve you.

Simple California Firescaping Tips & Valuable Insurance Savings: Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s Regulation Safer from Wildfires Framework

Commissioner Lara’s regulation is the first in the nation requiring insurance companies to provide discounts to consumers under the Safer from Wildfires framework created by the California Department of Insurance in partnership with state emergency preparedness agencies. The regulation is now state law and enshrined in the California Code of Regulations.

Safer from wildfires is a ground-up approach to wildfire resilience with three layers of protection for the structure, the immediate surroundings, and the community. Following these achievable steps can help you save money on your insurance. Safer from Wildfires was created by an interagency partnership between Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and the emergency response and readiness agencies in Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration.

Learn the 10 steps to being safe from wildfires

Class-A fire rated roof – Most roofs qualify including asphalt shingles, concrete, brick, or masonry tiles, and metal shingles or sheets. Wood shake shingles are not Class A fire-resistant rated. The Office of the State Fire Marshal maintains a list of tested and approved materials at its website.

5 foot ember resistant zone, including fencing – Removing greenery and replacing wood chips with stone or decomposed granite 5 feet around your home prevents fire from getting a foot in the door. Replacing wood fencing connecting to your home with metal is critical because it can act like a candle wick leading fire straight to your home.

Ember- and fire-resistant vents – Installing 1/16 to 1/8 inch noncombustible, corrosion-resistant metal mesh screens over exterior vents can keep wind-blown embers out of your house.

Non-combustible 6 inches at the bottom of exterior walls – Having a minimum of 6 vertical inches measured from the ground up and from any attached horizontal surface like a deck can stop embers from accumulating and igniting your walls. Noncombustible materials include brick, stone, fiber-cement siding or concrete.

Enclosed eaves – Installing soffits under your eaves can prevent heat and embers from getting trapped and igniting. When enclosing eaves, non-combustible or ignition resistant materials are recommended.

Upgraded windows – Multi-paned windows are more resistant to breaking during a wildfire, which helps keep flames from entering. Multi-paned glass or added shutters all qualify.

Cleared vegetation, weeds and debris from under decks – Noncombustible materials like concrete, gravel, or bare soil are permitted.

Removal of combustible sheds and other outbuildings to at least a distance of 30 feet – These include sheds, gazebos, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), open covered structures with a solid roof, dog houses and playhouses.

Defensible space inspection compliance – following state and local laws requiring defensible space including trimming trees and removal of brush and debris from yard. See CAL FIRE’s website and your local city or county for details.

Being safer together – Safer from Wildfires recognizes two community-wide programs, Firewise USA and Fire Risk Reduction Communities.

For a List of Insurers Currently Offering Discounts For California Firewise Landscaping Call David Clark (310) 231-6544

New Firewise Landscaping Guide and Free Insurance Savings for your Home: Local Resources to Get Your Home Defensible Space Inspection Ready

FormLA® Landscaping

FormLA® Landscaping believes authentic beauty can save LA. So we are bringing it! During our 25 years in business, our team has added nearly 2 million square feet of authentic, native habitat to Los Angeles, ranging from Tujunga to Playa Del Rey, western Malibu to the San Marina foothills.

As a result of removing more than 250,000 square feet of thirsty turf grass, each year we save LA:

Well over 10 million gallons of water
More than 2400 lbs of toxic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides that would otherwise pollute our watershed and air
Air pollution equivalent to taking tens of Ford F-150 Raptors off the road
From extreme heat as trees establish and reduce surrounding temperatures by as much 20 degrees
Approximately $700,000 a year in lawn care expenses

We take pride in creating beauty reflective of LA’s creativity, authenticity and diversity, and in the knowledge this beauty supports LA’s long term resilience.

Philosophy

We believe you and Los Angeles deserve our best. Whether we are creating a smart LEED® landscape design, impeccably crafting hardscapes with sustainable materials and practices, or ensuring your landscape thrives, our work is infused with the knowledge that our work can save the world… or at least LA!

In providing beautiful, architecturally significant landscapes, we are:

Supporting the health of all who use the space,
Enhancing LA’s independence from external water sources,
Facilitating neighborhood cohesion and safety,
Lessening our communal tax burden, and
Protecting our oceans, wild lands and water sources.

History

Owners Kirk and Cassy Aoyagi founded FormLA in 1997 as C&K Landscape Design, Inc. After 12 years creating noteworthy landscapes throughout Los Angeles County, we adopted the name FormLA Landscaping to better reflect our growing team, commitment to sustainability, and the depth of our expertise.

FormLA® Landscaping is listed among Los Angeles Business Journal’s most influential family-owned businesses, and we are the first and only California Air Quality Board Zero-Emission Landscaper serving all of LA County.

Services

FormLA Landscaping’s comprehensive, full service approach to design, building and maintenance creates optimally beautiful, sustainable landscapes (and client relationships) that thrive over the long-term.

Design+Build

Our unified design+build services bring our clients dreams to life, on time and on budget. The close collaboration between our LEED and SITEs savvy designers and the professional horticulturists and craftsmen on our build team ensures efficient, effective translation of each unique design.

+Maintenance

Landscapes are not living rooms, and maintenance is critical to ensuring a landscape reaches its full potential. When completing a project, our design+build team ensures the horticultural care experts and systems technicians on our maintenance team understand your dreams and preferences, as well as your designers plan for your outdoor spaces. Sustainable maintenance services are also available for gardens not designed or installed by FormLA Landscaping.

Los Angeles Real Estate Expert David Clark

I am a Californian born here in Los Angeles. As a top graduate of the AACSB internationally accredited California State University of Los Angeles School of Business and Economics, I have accelerated my career as a residential real estate advisor by combining my passion for California history, writing, architectural preservation, and extensive sales background. My marketing and negotiation skills, combined with community outreach have helped me build a solid reputation with our clients.

I am a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) working closely in the communities that we serve with our mature clients. When I am not listing or selling some of California’s finest homes, I turn my focus to early 20th-century California collectibles. My e-commerce business Golden State Decor on Etsy celebrates the rich history of the Golden State with one-of-a-kind procured items while contributing directly to the California Conservation Corps Foundation.