Words District of Central Saanich
As spring arrives on the Peninsula, many of us are eager to get gardening. This year, Central Saanich is inviting residents to dig in while thinking ahead to warmer, drier summers and a higher wildfire risk.
Wildfires spread in surprising ways! Rather than flames, it’s often wind blown embers that can travel huge distances and ignite. Our gardening choices are more important than many of us realize.
This April, a free workshop led by horticulturalist Bethany Couture brings together practical preparedness and beautiful garden design. Ryan Vantreight, Central Saanich FireSmart Coordinator, will share insights into wildfire behaviour to reduce risk without giving up vibrant outdoor spaces.
Bethany and Ryan’s top five FireSmart gardening tips:
1. Spring clean strategically. Remove what wildfires love most: dry fuel. Learn where clearing dead leaves, dried stems and accumulated needles makes a big difference and where selective tidying supports soil health and biodiversity.
2. Break up fuel ladders. Dense, layered vegetation can help wildfire climb from the ground into shrubs, tree canopies and house eaves. April is a great time to prune lower branches, thin crowded beds and create horizontal and vertical spacing in your garden.
3. Create a non combustible zone. Think of the first 1.5 metres around your home like a castle’s protective moat. Replace flammable bark mulch with gravel or stone, clean out debris under decks and stairs, and reconsider plant choices close to buildings to reduce the chance of ember ignition.
4. Plant with resilience in mind. Learn which FireSmart plants suit the Peninsula’s changing conditions (think: broadleaf plants that hold moisture). Highly flammable conifers, including juniper and cedar, are best replaced with deciduous varieties planted at least 1.5 metres away from buildings.
Hot tip: Look for FireSmart plant tags at local garden centres or visit www.firesmartbc.ca/landscaping-hub.
5. Get water wise. A resilient garden is a well-hydrated garden. From installing drip irrigation to applying compost based mulches away from buildings, FireSmart water and soil conservation can keep your garden green without wasting water.
FireSmart gardening doesn’t mean giving up beauty or biodiversity – it simply means growing a garden that helps protect your home.
Dig deeper at the free Wildfire Resilient Gardening workshop on Sunday, April 19, from 12 to 3:30 p.m. at Patio Gardens, 6536 West Saanich Road. All gardening experience levels welcome! Learn something new and get inspired for the growing season ahead. To register, Central Saanich residents can call 250-544-4238 (M-F, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or visit www.CSaanich.ca/apr19workshop.
For North Saanich residents: on Saturday, April 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at North Saanich Canadian Tire (10300 McDonald Park Road), the District of North Saanich will relaunch the FireSmart Landscaping Program with a barbecue, chips and cold drinks by donation, raising funds for Jumpstart. Residents can sign up for a free and confidential home assessment and find out if they are eligible for up to a $1,000 rebate.
