You Go the Extra-Mile

Here’s How to Find Your “Just Right” Zone 0

Your answers to our Zone 0 Personality Quiz show that you tend to go the extra mile. We appreciate that! If you’ve been “one of ours” for awhile, you may already have a 97% native plant landscape? Maybe a bioswale or two?

As you research Zone 0, you may be tempted to add a little extra ember resistant space for good measure. Yet, when it comes to fire defense, 5-feet is the good measure. Beyond that, foliage can be helpful, even necessary to your defense.

A deep, concrete Zone 0 wrapped with a lush, leafy, fragrant Zone 1.

The Extra Mile Lifestyle

There are places and preferences where a little extra hardscape is a good fit. For example, the owners of this historic mid-century architectural gem love to entertain. Their wide patio provides wonderful party space! The extra depth means furnishings can be kept a safe distance from the home, yet easily accessible for use. The extra sweeping? Not a problem.

Here, the extra ember resistance is a rational lifestyle choice. The area is quite private. The extra space protects historic wooden supports, deep eves, and expansive windows. It doesn’t add enough weight to compromise the nearby slope, and the established tree canopy and lush, leafy Zone 1 keep the patio from heating the home.

This 5-foot Zone 0 still goes the extra mile, providing complete ember resistance exactly where it’s most needed.

For those who need more privacy, have less tree canopy, or have a more vulnerable and proximate slope, it would make sense to limit the Zone 0 to the required 5 feet. This just right-sized Zone 0 – and its’ homeowners – still goes the extra mile!

Tips for Extra Milers

When it comes to the landscape, going the extra mile means thinking big picture. It’s important to think full climate cycle, as, in LA, going the extra mile to handle one problem can actually exacerbate others. Too much hard space creates extreme heat in summer, flooding in rainy-season, and more day-to-day maintenance.

Go Slow

To ensure you love your landscape choices long term, we’d like to see you start small and go slow. Save your trees – keep your trees trimmed. Do not take them out. Replace any attached wood or plastic structures with metal alternatives. Next, create just 5-feet of ember resistance to see how much easier it makes home maintenance – and home hardening.

Think Home First

When it comes to home hardening, your extra mile nature can go wild! You can’t have too Class-A a roof, too many fire rated vents, or too much window protection. Every layer of defense helps. Knock yourself out!

A little nervous that’s not enough for your peace of mind? Check out our advice for Peace Prizers or Check Our Math.

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