By Loren McIrvin

As landscape contractors, we live and work by the seasons, much like farmers. We plan ahead, prepare the ground, sow our seeds, nurture what we’ve planted, and work tirelessly to bring in the harvest. We understand that timing matters, the weather doesn’t always cooperate, and every productive hour is an opportunity we can’t afford to waste.

There is a rhythm to our industry. Spring brings new beginnings, summer demands everything we’ve got, fall is our final push, and winter offers a chance to catch our breath, reflect, and prepare to do it all again.

And right now, we’re in the final sprint.

By this point in the year, we’re tired. Our crews have battled the heat, our equipment has taken a beating, and our teams have worked through long days, unexpected challenges, and the constant demands of our customers.

We’ve earned the right to be tired. But we haven’t quite earned the right to slow down.

Not yet.

There’s still work to be done, opportunities to capture, and promises to fulfill. Every hour of good weather is a gift, and we know how quickly those opportunities disappear when the rain arrives and the days grow shorter.

Farmers don’t stop harvesting because they’re tired. They finish because the season won’t wait for them. We should approach our businesses with that same determination.

Dig deep. Find another gear. Finish strong.

This year, our final sprint may carry an added sense of urgency. With the possibility of a challenging winter storm season ahead, we have two jobs: finish the work in front of us and prepare for what’s coming.

We can’t control the weather, but we can control how well we prepare.

Are drainage systems clear? Are slopes and erosion-prone areas protected? Have we identified vulnerable trees and potential hazards? Are our crews, equipment, and customers ready?

The best time to prepare for a storm is when the sun is shining.

And this is where professional landscape contractors demonstrate our value. We’re not simply maintaining properties. We’re anticipating problems, protecting investments, and helping our customers navigate the changing seasons.

To my fellow CLCA contractors: support your crews, work safely, take pride in the details, and make every remaining day count.

Work hard. Work fast. Finish strong. No regrets

Winter is coming. Let’s be ready—and let’s earn that rest.

August 19, 2026 – The California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection approved the final draft of Zone 0 defensible space regulations, marking another critical step in the state’s ongoing effort to better protect homes and communities from wildfire. The new regulation adds to California’s growing list of wildfire resilience efforts and focuses on practical wildfire safety actions for the first five feet around homes and structures—an area where professional experience and research indicate that homes are most vulnerable to ignition from embers.

The new regulation was informed by extensive public input and reflects a practical approach that empowers homeowners and local governments to take action. The approved policy includes a phased-in implementation approach that prioritizes education and outreach over a 5-year period. While Zone 0 requirements will apply to new construction upon adoption of the regulation, existing homes and structures can implement actions in phases over time within different areas of Zone 0:   

• PHASE 1 (Implemented within the first 3 years): Includes removing combustible items such as firewood, dead leaves and branches, mulch, and wood chips within 5 feet of the structure. Cleaning gutters, removing dead and dying plants, trimming trees according to regulations, and implementing or adjusting for allowable vegetation during this time period.
• PHASE 2 (Implemented within 5 years): Local jurisdictions will assign a timeline, within 5 years of the effective date of the regulations, for the creation of an under-eave safety zone, replacing combustible gates, and making any necessary adjustments to sheds and fencing.

The policy applies to homes only in the State Responsibility Area (SRA) and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas (LRA). The goal is to give homeowners time, resources, and guidance to make changes effectively and affordably.

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