Gardening advice offers ways to reduce wildfire risk at home

A gardening column outlines practical steps homeowners in Portugal can take to reduce wildfire risk, from clearing dead vegetation and gutters to using stone or gravel mulch instead of flammable bark. It recommends inspecting trees near the house, lifting crowns and pruning branches, while keeping fire-resistant native hardwoods. The piece highlights succulents such as echeverias, aloes and aeoniums, and fire-resistant tree species including cork oak, olive, carob and cypress, as ways to create defensible space that slows fire and protects both homes and firefighters.