There was a persimmon and an elderberry too, nestled close to his hillside home in Berkeley, California, and they all had to go. View image in fullscreen Berkeley resident Michel Thouati has recreated his home garden to reduce fire risks. Pushback against culling cherished plantsIt’s generally agreed that wood fences and trellises providing pathways for fire between homes should be removed. From affordability and aesthetics to government overreach and lost shade, the concerns about culling landscaping are wide-ranging and voiced loudly. Thouati reiterated the research that Zone 0 is most protective when applied at scale.

Source: The Guardian March 17, 2026 21:00 UTC