Taking care of your trees

Blue gum eucalyptus has a bad reputation for being a “fire-prone” tree. It has flammable oils and shredding bark that may fly off and ignite other fires. Other species, such as greasewood, chamise and knobcone pine, are known to ignite easily and burn intensely. In contrast to these, there are lists of “fire-safe” plants. The UC Agriculture and Natural Resources suggests that these lists may give property owners a false sense of security. All plants will burn. All trees you have in your garden need to be maintained regularly.

• Remove vegetation around the base of the tree.

• Remove small-diameter lower limbs up to at least one-third of the tree’s height.

• Remove limbs within 10 feet of the ground.

• Remove all dead wood, peeling bark and twiggy growth regularly.

— katie martin, UC Marin Master Gardeners