As scientists who study how vegetation ignites and burns, we recognize that well-maintained plants and trees can actually help protect homes from wind-blown embers and slow the spread of fire in some cases. So, we are concerned about new wildfire protection regulations being developed by the state of California that would prohibit almost all plants and other combustible material within 5 feet of homes, an area known as “Zone 0.”
It sounds a bit catch-22. They are struggling with having enough fresh water so that maintaining greenery can be difficult if not against watering restrictions.
During the drought different neighborhoods are only allowed to water their lawns/outdoor plants on prescribed days of the week. Not that it’s particularly enforced, but it’s often there.
There are plenty of plants that can subsist on minimal irrigation.