11-08-2025
- General
- Wall Street Journal
Why Shrubs and Hedges Around Your Home's Foundation Are Quietly Wrecking It—and What to Do
When my Northern California town adopted Ordinance #1309 in 2019—strongly urging homeowners to clear shrubs, hedges and even herbs from the 5-foot zone around their houses to help prevent wildfires—I took it personally.
My lavender and I had been together for years. We'd survived droughts, gophers and a remodel. Now we were social pariahs.
