With the arrival of extreme heat and soaring temperatures, Armstrong Garden Centers reminds Californians that wildfires can spark and rage out of control in the blink of an eye, so preparedness is the key to safety. Consumers can protect their yards, homes and loved ones with proper precautions.

Armstrong Garden Centers provides these firescaping tips to help homeowners safeguard their homes by creating and maintaining a fire-resistant landscape:

• Know your plants and research their fire retardant abilities.

• Replace flammable trees and shrubs with fire-resistant varieties.

• Remove any dead, diseased or dying trees or shrubs.

• Create a wide “firebreak” around your home by removing brush and dried grass from the perimeter of your property.

• Dense brush means more fire fuel. Keep shrubs and trees thinned out, remove skirts from palms.

• Keep irrigation systems in working order and check coverage.

• Eliminate overhanging branches that could restrict fire trucks.

• Keep turf in good condition.

• Feed plants and shrubs with organic fertilizers.

• Keep roofs and gutters free of dead leaves and other debris.

For more information on firescaping, please visit www.armstronggarden.com.