The greater Los Angeles area was ravaged at the end of 2024 from multiple wildfires. One of them, the Franklin Fire, burned through more than 4,000 acres in Malibu, which included some of the campus of Pepperdine University.

However, the university was largely spared due to its buildings built with fire-resistant materials and its fire-resistant landscaping. The campus has made sure to include native plants and consistently have 200 feet of brush around every building cleared. The hillsides surrounding the campus didn’t fare as well. BrightView, who has been providing enhancement work for the university for the last seven years, was called in when rain threatened the devastated landscape.

“Many hillsides within their campus were scorched, and the landscape in most of those areas was destroyed with little wild vegetation beginning to grow back,” said Derek Green, Enhancement Manager for BrightView’s Conejo Valley branch.

Though the wildfire prevention worked, the blaze burned right before the rainy season in southern California, creating fears of erosion.

“Our main focus was the areas where the surficial soil had already moved and areas where the slump of the surficial soil caused broken concrete swales above,” Green said. “We had completed work in many areas due to the campus being located on one big hillside.”

The first step was to remove all the dead vegetation from the area and flatten it both by hand and with equipment. This area was then laid with sheeting and straw wattle, which was secured with sandbags and wood stakes strategically placed to direct the flow of any stormwater. Some areas were given extra care with hydroseeding to better stabilize the landscape and promote new plant growth.

It took BrightView’s team working every day for two months with up to 25 team members at a time to complete the work. Green, whose team is usually just eight people, teamed up with as many as 18 colleagues from BrightView’s local Development team to help meet the expedited deadline.

“The work we did helped reduce a major threat to the university after the rains and heavy wind they had, and everything we installed held up very well,” Green said. “The collaboration between our Maintenance and Development teams helped build an everlasting relationship between us. Words cannot describe how proud I am of them all and am honored to be on a team with such hardworking and intelligent people. They are family to me and I feel like we can accomplish anything as long as we are working together.”

It’s time to brush up on weed abatement guidelines. And all puns aside, it’s a serious matter. Having a clear perimeter around your property could make a critical difference in the event of a fire. Let’s discuss the best way to keep your property safe.

What is Weed Abatement?

Simply put, weed abatement is the act of removing any vegetation from the perimeter of your property that could serve as fuel for a fire. Despite the name, it's not just about removing weeds, but rather, anything that could pose a hazard, including grass and vines. Since fires can happen anytime — not just during fire season — it’s best to maintain a defensible space all year-round.

What is Considered Defensible Space?

Think of defensible space as three concentric circles, extending outward from your property. Each circle provides a level of defense to slow or stop the spread of fire, with the innermost circle — the one closet to your home or building — subject to the most stringent measures.

Below, we’ll outline general best practices for each of these three zones.

Zone 0 (5-foot radius from structures): This what experts call your ember-resistant zone. The focus here is removing anything that could spread fire to the adjacent structure.

• Remove mulch, grass, or trees. Instead, replace with hardscape, such as concrete, gravel, or pavers.
• Remove dead vegetation from your roof or gutters.
• Trees with limbs that extend into this zone should be pruned to allow at least 10 feet of clearance.

Zone 1 (30 feet out): Greenery within this zone is OK, but with the following guidelines:

• Remove dead vegetation from your yard. 
• Remove any vegetation near or under decks, balconies, and stairs.
• Prune trees to maintain at least 10 feet of space between them.
• Keep 10 feet of clear space to bare soil around outbuildings and liquid propane gas tanks. No flammable vegetation should exist within an additional 10 feet beyond this.

Zone 2 (30 – 100 feet out): The goal in this zone is to minimize fuel sources.

• Keep annual grass at a height of 4 inches or shorter. 
• Maintain adequate horizontal and vertical spacing for shrubs, trees, and grasses. We recommend referencing this guidance from Cal Fire. 
• Remove fallen leaves, needles, or branches in excess of 3 feet. 
• Wood piles are allowed in this zone with a minimum of 10 feet clearance from surroundings, down to the soil.
• The same guidance for liquid propane gas tanks and outbuildings in Zone 1 applies here.

Depending on the wildfire risk where you are, your local officials may have additional guidance. Be sure to check with your fire authority for the latest or get in touch with your local BrightView team for additional help.

What Else Can You Do to Reduce Your Fire Risk?

First, and most importantly, make weed and hazard abatement part of your landscape regimen year-round. A good landscape partner can assess what’s required to bring your property up to speed with the latest recommendations and seamlessly handle those needs for you.

For additional protection, consider incorporating fire-resistant landscaping. A number of plants, such as French Lavender, Society Garlic, and Coreopsis, possess greater fire resistance thanks to a higher moisture content or less sap or resin. As an added bonus, many are also drought tolerant.

Staying on top of your weed abatement and the latest best practices can be difficult. Having the right landscape partner makes it easy. Connect with your local BrightView team, and gain peace of mind your fire mitigation strategies are in good hands.  

The drought isn’t easing up but the struggle to find answers should be. Check out our 2022 Drought Survival Guide for sound advice & decision-making guidance to not only save water, but also save your landscape. Before wells run dry, let’s get the ideas flowing!

You can’t talk about drought without talking about water conservation! Hear from industry leaders and local BrightView experts as they reveal key strategies to conserve water while maintaining a beautiful landscape.

In this webinar we cover:

• The 2022 drought season outlook
• How to navigate new state and local water regulations
• Tips and tricks to save water on your property
• Irrigation improvements to help reduce water usage
• Protecting your landscape's most valuable asset — trees

Could you do more with less? When it comes to water management, it’s possible. Follow these 10 tips to lower your usage without feeling the pinch.

1. 

   BE THE EARLY BIRD

   Water early in the morning, just before dawn, to reduce evaporation due to sun and wind.

2. TUNE-UP REGULARLY

   Leaks in your irrigation system or inefficient watering can run up your water bill. Regular inspection by an irrigation professional enables timely repairs and sprinkler head adjustments to avoid waste.

3. SAY "NO WAY" TO SPRAY (except for lawns)

   Drip irrigation and soaker hoses are a better choice for planting beds. Save the spray heads for lawns, where it’s a more efficient choice.

4. KNOW "WEATHER" TO IRRIGATE

   Install rain shut-off devices and ground moisture sensors so you’re only watering when absolutely necessary.

5. LOW IS NOT THE WAY TO MOW

   By keeping your grass at a slightly longer length, you’ll increase ground shade and water retention in the soil.

6. SWEEP IT UP

   Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.

7. 

   TAKE OUT THE TURF

   Replace lawns in unused areas with native, drought tolerant plants, xeriscaping, hardscape, or fruit & vegetable gardens.

8. MAKE YOUR (LANDSCAPE) BEDS THE RIGHT WAY

   By adding compost and dressing your beds with a 2–3-inch layer of mulch, you’ll improve water retention, soil health, and reduce weeds.

9. MAKE A SMART SEASONAL SWAP

   Instead of water-guzzling seasonal flowers, fill beds with drought-tolerant flowering shrubs instead.

10. BE A SUPER SAVER WITH REBATES

    Save money on turf conversions, irrigation upgrades and more with rebates from your local water authority. Your landscape partner can help you explore the latest offerings!

Irrigation can sometimes feel out-of-sight, out-of-mind; after all, the lion’s share of your system is underground. But for our irrigation specialists, water management is something they live and breathe, even in the winter months. They know their jobs are crucial to addressing the Southwest’s persistent drought, a task that requires year-round attention. See how Regional Irrigation Manager James Carr and his teams tackle it head-on.

Wintertime is the Right Time to Improve Irrigation

It’s the first week of the new year, and while most of us are still in a post-holiday lull, James is in California. Given the mild temperatures, few people are thinking about droughts, but for James and our Orange County irrigation technicians and client service teams, it’s very much top of mind. They’re in the midst of a deep dive field training on Preventative Maintenance Irrigation Inspections, fine-tuning how to catch problems before they require costly repairs. 

Though it may seem counterintuitive, winter is the best time to improve irrigation systems. No one wants their irrigation system offline for repairs in the heat of summer. That’s why the teams are hitting the ground running. Not long after, James is off to Las Vegas, then San Diego to run the same training with teams there. James calls it “keeping the pedal to the metal.” There’s no off-season in irrigation.

It Takes a Village

Over the years, irrigation has become higher tech and advancements in water management have created the need for specialists. Yet while the drought problem is universal, the knowledge of how to address it is not. Sharing information is critical. 

That brings James to the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association, where he teaches an irrigation training for 50 individuals. They’ve come from landscape companies throughout Arizona.

“All have the goal of raising the bar for our industry and achieving better water management skills,” he said.

James isn’t just leading the class, he’s leading change. He’s a certified board member for the Irrigation Association Certification Board. He also serves as Co-Director of Education and sits on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association (ALCA). What he’ll teach in his class he’s successfully put into practice himself. In 2021, he accepted an Outstanding Landscape Contractor of the Year award from the ALCA. 

Starting on the Right Foot

With summer approaching, James keeps “the pedal to the metal.” To prepare for spring, he lead a series of intense, 3-day trainings throughout the southwest region with a focus on spring start-ups. Spring start-up refers to the process of de-winterizing an irrigation system. Since irrigation represents a significant investment for many clients, it’s important the system is maintained properly to ensure its longevity. Breaks and leaks aren’t just costly for the client if not caught soon enough, they can also exacerbate drought conditions. 

In this section of the training, irrigation specialists are huddled over their phones, studying intently the content on their screens. While it might look like they’ve found something more interesting than their training, they’re actually wrapped-up in researching the ET-- evapotranspiration-- rates for their area. Evapotranspiration refers to how quickly water moves from the earth’s surface into the atmosphere. They use this information to build irrigation schedules for their clients. James, meanwhile, is excited for those clients. 

“They’re in good hands!” he said proudly, before enthusing about the magic of smart controllers. “If you don’t understand the magic behind them, you’ll never fully appreciate the efficient tool that they are!” Thanks to James and his team, it’s safe to say a lot more people appreciate that magic. And while they may not actually be magicians who can singlehandedly make drought conditions disappear, they’re doing a lot behind the scenes to make them smaller. 

The trees in your landscape are one of your most valuable assets—aesthetically, environmentally and economically. With one 25-year-old Oak valued at about $25,000, it makes sense to take care of your trees. Unfortunately, the continuing drought makes it tough. Inadequate rainfall causes high salt content in the soil, diminished tree root function and a lack of deep root water. As heat increases and water becomes scarce, foliage gets scorched, branches become brittle and trees fall prey to pests and disease. There is something you can do. Follow the tips below and save your trees from drought’s adverse effects.

Make a Plan

There are a number of things BrightView can do to maintain the quality of your landscape.

1. Identify high-value trees in your landscape.
2. Make them a priority in your preservation plan.
3. Designate diseased or weak trees* for removal.
   *Those that either don’t fit your landscape design or negatively impact visibility of your property.

Water Deeply, Effectively and Efficiently

In times of drought, you need to rethink how you irrigate trees. Take these steps:

Temporary Drip Line

Place a temporary drip line around the outer tree perimeter (especially good for larger trees in turf areas or parking lots).

Deep Water Injection

Perform deep water injection with hydraulically-pressurized water at root depth.

• Inject with recycled water on trees that can tolerate reclaimed water.
• Inject with potable water on more sensitive trees such as Redwoods.

Water Bags

Use water bags (AKA Treegator Bags) on smaller trees or newly established trees not in proximity to irrigation systems. 

Reduce Water Loss with Mulch

Mulching minimizes evapotranspiration and helps retain water around tree root zones. If you haven’t already done so, mulch your tree wells and remove any water-intensive plants or ground cover from tree root zones. Consider these mulch options:

• Recycled Mulch from Your Pruning Byproducts
  Cost efficient, high water content and nutritional value. Best for non-focal areas.
• Processed Mulch
  Great esthetic value but cost is higher.
• Sheet Mulch
  (layered compost, cardboard)
  Good esthetic value for the cost. Highest water retention of the three options.

Use Deep Root Feeding for Vulnerable Tree Species

All trees suffer during drought but some species are especially vulnerable. These species include:

Watch for Signs of Decline

You can use the images in the gallery below as a visual guide to keep an eye out for the 5 stages of decline in your trees. (Good > Top Dieback > Discoloration > Dieback - No Growth > Dead). 

Learn More about Smart Water Management

When you conserve water, you’re benefitting your community and the environment at large. If you have further questions on ways to conserve water in your landscape, let us know.

Droughts are challenging but you can count on BrightView to advise you every step of the way. We proactively monitor local city and water agency restrictions ensuring our team is well prepared to assist you.

Your Landscape is in Good Hands

There are a number of things BrightView can do to maintain the quality of your landscape.

1. Develop a plan based on your property needs and local restrictions.
2. Complete system inspections regularly to identify sources of water waste as quickly as possible.
3. Implement irrigation system and component upgrades that increase water savings.
4. Aerate turf and add mulch around trees, shrubs and planting beds.
5. Check water levels in soil around important assets like trees which are susceptible to drought.
6. Prioritize areas that require maximum aesthetic value so water can be applied wisely.
7. Consider selectively removing or replacing high water use plants and capping non-essential irrigation.
8. Modify your plant palette and convert fountains to planters.
9. Evaluate your overall landscape design and how sustainable it is.
10. Create a short-term and long-term plan to address your property needs.

Every Drop Counts

Our water management experts work with you to develop a plan specific to your property that minimizes water use without sacrificing quality.

In the landscaping world, ground covers refer to the typically perennial, low-lying plants that spread and creep across sections of your grounds. They provide visible appeal with minimal maintenance.

Similar to mulch, ground cover plants provide a cost-effective means to cover the soil, creating interest, and finishing the design look of any landscape. These dependable and hardworking plants come in a wide variety of color and texture choices and solve a variety of landscaping challenges.

Ground Cover Contributes to Soil Care

Improves Soil Quality: Ground cover improves the humus levels in the soil. In its simplest description, humus is a slow-release organic fertilizer for your plants that is found in the soil. The more organic matter in the soil, the richer the humus content and the better chances all the plants will thrive.

Provides Soil Insulation: Ground cover plants offer a layer of protection and insulation. In the hot summer months, the plants help maintain the soil's cool temperature, trapping in moisture levels. This can result in less need for supplemental watering and, in turn, saves you money. During the winter months, they help warm the earth, protecting plant roots from the low temperatures in colder seasons.

Prevents Soil Erosion: Perfect for sloping areas or hillsides, some ground cover plants help protect the soil from eroding. They also protect the landscape from soil erosion during high winds and heavy rains.

Evergreens 

Evergreens are by far the most popular type of ground covers and keep their color year-round. They have the ability to turn what could have been a bleak and dead-looking landscape into one that is lush in every season. As a bonus, they require little to no maintenance and grow in a variety of regions, soils, and sun conditions. Ground covers can also help minimize weeds in two ways. First, by covering the soil so that weed seeds have a harder time germinating. Second, once the ground cover matures, weeds are physically suppressed from growing.

As the country’s largest commercial landscape company, BrightView has a vast knowledge of which plants work best in which environments. Discover some of our favorite ground covers and the challenges they overcome below.

Landscaping Challenges

1. Zones

Not all plants are suited to grow in all climates and conditions. So how do you know if the plant you fell in love with will flourish in your landscape? Fear not.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has created a climate zone map that divides the country by zone boundaries. These zones correlate to the zone recommendations you will find on plants, shrubs, and trees from the growers.

2. Shade

Wet, shaded areas of your landscape can often drown out the roots of some plants.

• Sweet Woodruff: Ideal for Zones 4 to 8, they grow to a height of 6 to 12 inches with a spread of 9 to 18 inches. They flourish in dense shade and are perfect for below trees and shrubs. Their tiny white flowers will bloom in the early spring.
   
• Bishop's Weed: Ideal for Zones 4 to 9, they grow to a height of 12 inches and have an unlimited spread. This a fast-aggressive plant that comes in a variety of leaf choices, but works well in contained spaces, such as between buildings or a building and sidewalk. It is not evergreen as it does drop leaves in winter.
   
• Ajuga: Ideal for Zones 3 to 9, they grow to a height of 4 to 9 inches with an unlimited spread. Ajuga aggressively spreads via runners and can tend to be invasive if not controlled properly. It is ideal for large areas, helps to choke out weeds due to its denseness, and is resistant to deer. There is an array of varieties with leaf colors ranging from shades of green, maroon, bronze, purple, pink, or white. Tiny spikes of blue, pink, lavender, or white flowers will bloom on spikes in mid to late spring.
   
• Lamium: Ideal for Zones 3 to 8, they grow to a height of 6 to 8 inches and spread almost twice as wide. It has a delicate silver-marked foliage that tolerates cold, heat, and drought and is deer resistant.
   
• Hosta: Ideal for Zones 3 to 8, they grow to varying heights up to 2 feet with a spread from 4 inches up to 6 feet, depending on the variety. Their foliage ranges from forest and lime green to variegated and all white. From May through August, blooms of small white or purple blossoms on top of tall spikes are loved by hummingbirds and bees.
   
• Brass Buttons: Ideal for Zones 5 to 9, they grow to a height of 3 inches and spread up to 18 inches. They like moist, but well-drained soil. They feature textured, feathery foliage in shades of bronze-black to purple-gray and have small, button-like yellow-green blooms in late spring and early summer.
   
• Periwinkle: Ideal for Zones 4 to 8, they grow to a height of 3 to 6 inches and trailing vines that grow to 18 inches long. Their blue, lavender, purple, or white flowers bloom in the spring and sometimes have a second, though less spectacular showing in the summer. Incredibly adaptable, they can grow in full sun to full shade, can tolerate drought conditions, and even assist in preventing soil erosion. These almost self-maintaining vines are deer and rabbit resistant and are ignored by most insects.

3. Drought

If your region doesn't get a lot of rain, that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice colorful foliage. Plenty of ground covers can withstand the heat. Commercial landscapers are turning to drought-resistant plantings more often to preserve natural resources and save on costs. Here are a few of BrightView's favorites.

• Pink Creeping Myoporum: Ideal for Zones 8 to 9, they grow up to a height and spread of 9 inches. These west coast favorite, low growing shrubs prefer full sun. They are both deer resistant and fire defensible. Their small, white flowers appear in the spring and last through the summer.
   
• Dragon's Blood Sedum: Ideal for Zones 3 to 10, they grow to a height of 8 inches and spread up to 18 inches. They are super hardy, withstanding a wide range of temperatures and conditions and help to choke out weeds. During the summer, the succulent's leaves are a bright dark green with a burgundy edge. In the fall, those leaves turn to a deep dramatic red that gives the plant its name.
   
• Creeping Juniper: Ideal for Zones 3 to 10, they grow up to a height of 12 inches and spread as much as 8 feet. The leaves on this low-growing shrub have a blue tint in the warmer months and turn to a purple-red tint in colder months. Due to their spread, they assist in soil erosion.
   
• Lamb's Ears: Ideal for Zones 4 to 9, they grow to a height of 12- to 18-inches tall and spread as much as 12 inches, depending upon the variety. Growing in full sun or partial shade, they flower in summer with tiny white, pink, purple, violet, or red blooms, but its the fuzzy, silvery-green leaves that are the real attraction of these plants.
   
• Japanese Spurge: Ideal for Zones 4 to 8, they grow to a height of 6 inches and double that in width. An incredibly tolerant plant, it will grow in partial and/or full shade, drought conditions, and is resistant to pests. While it produces pretty white flowers in the spring, it is grown primarily for its dark, leathery green foliage.
   
• Creeping Phlox: Ideal for Zones 3 to 9, they grow to a height of 2 to 8 inches and spread from 9 to 24 inches. Preferring partial shade and average soil moisture, they are early spring bloomers with pink, purple, blue, and white star-shaped flowers.
   
• Nepeta: Ideal for Zones 3 to 8, they grow to a height of 10 to 24 inches and spread up to 24 inches. While flexible in their sun exposure - full sun to part shade - they prefer dry to medium moisture and well-drained soil. Its fuzzy, billowing foliage produces spikes of purple flowers in early summer, which return throughout the season.
   
• Creeping Thyme: Ideal for Zones 5 to 9, they grow up to 4-inches tall and are slow to spread to their ultimate 36 inches. They prefer moderate climates, but can withstand full sun and drougt-like conditions. Ideal for controlling weeds and repelling deer, they also attract butterflies, honeybees, and other cross pollinators.
   
• English Ivy: Ideal for Zones 4 to 9, they grow to a height of 6 inches with vines that can reach 24 inches. Incredibly tolerant, it will grow in partial and/or full sun and prefers well-drained soil, but will grow well in any soil condition. It covers the ground so thoroughly that it holds the ground together, presenting soil erosion while choking out the weeds.

Trust the BrightView Professionals

Your commercial landscape team of professionals at BrightView has the experience and knowledge to help you select the right ground cover for your region and property type.

Drought, abnormally dry conditions, water restrictions—the last few years have been hard on the golf industry. Undoubtedly, no matter where your course is located, you and your team are working to conserve water. To help you get ahead, we’ve rounded up our golf course maintenance experts’ top five, tried and true, water conservation solutions

1. Do an Irrigation Audit

Before you undertake any water conservation efforts, do an audit of your course’s current water situation. Determine water use per acre and make sure your calculations are correct. Map your irrigation system, noting the efficiency and working order of every nozzle and valve. Adjust nozzles and water pressure as necessary, ensure your irrigation system’s programming reflects the changes and plan to address any deficiencies.

According to Ted Horton, BrightView’s Senior Consulting Superintendent, a comprehensive water audit and regularly scheduled maintenance of irrigation systems can reduce annual water usage on a golf course by about 5 to 10 percent.

2. Revisit Your Course’s Cultural and Maintenance Practices

Though it may seem obvious, it’s important to know the water needs of your plants in order to understand how and where to prioritize water use. Once you know that, you can consider adjusting cultural practices to save water. For instance, studies have shown plant growth regulators can cut down on water use by about 11 percent per year. Using wetting agents or soil penetrants also helps ensure the water you are using will be readily absorbed into root systems.

There are other simple steps you can take to help conservation efforts. Make sure your mower blades are sharp and reduce the height of the cut in the rough. You can also aerate and reduce soil compaction to allow water to infiltrate more efficiently. Consider hand watering instead of turning on irrigation heads and wash equipment with pressurized air rather than water. Don’t skip routine golf course maintenance practices. Aeration, sand topdressing, verticutting and a good fertility management program assist with soil compaction and allow for better moisture penetration, saving water usage in the long-term.

3. Use Soil Moisture Sensors

If you’re not already doing so, add soil moisture sensors to your golf course maintenance toolkit. Far more efficient and affordable than in the past, these sensors measure moisture content in turf and enable you to dial in irrigation efforts.

Mike Huck, a water quality and conservation specialist who consults at golf courses nationally, compared good soil moisture sensors to gas gauges. “The information these sensors provide is real time and exact,” he said. “It’s not based on opinion or a guess about the weather.”

Huck told of one Arizona golf client who, following information provided by soil moisture sensors in his turf, turned off irrigation in one zone one night per week. The savings amounted to half a million gallons of water per night.

“His turf didn’t suffer at all,” said Huck. “And over the course of a month, the amount of water and money saved was pretty significant.”

4. Plant Drought Tolerant Turf and/or Consider Turf Conversion

By far one of the most impactful ways to conserve water is through turf reduction and conversion projects. Kevin Neal, BrightView Vice President and Area Director for the West, has seen clubs take several approaches, including installing artificial turf on driving ranges, planting drought tolerant landscaping around bunkers, and converting turf from cool to warm season grasses.

“Just going from something like Rye grass to Bermuda grass can cut water use by as much as 15 percent,” said Neal. However, as Neal points out, planting a warm season grass that goes dormant in the winter requires a mind shift among clubs and players alike.

“People are getting used to not seeing green grass all the time,” said Neal. “But the reasons behind any turf conversion project need to be communicated clearly so that everyone can get behind and support the decision.”

5. Explore Alternative Water Sources

Being smart about water conservation means being aware of all water sources around you. Alternative sources to consider include wells, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams. Find out about recycled water opportunities in your area. For example, if sewer lines can be tapped into and skimmed, find out how you can do this and whether you can secure this resource for future use.

“Only 30 percent of golf courses are not using potable water, which means a lot still are,” said Ted Horton. “With water becoming ever scarcer, we all need to look at how we are using this precious resource. It’s up to all of us to use water as carefully and efficiently as possible.”