Review your landscape from the perspective of earthquake preparedness. Just as you would secure the appliances and electronic equipment in your home, stabilize large garden structures and small buildings. Brace your statues, fountains, trellises , sheds and potting benches so they won't tumble.
Have you secured tall bookshelves or media cabinets to the walls inside your home? You can use the same technique with structures outside. Also, be careful about siting. Do not place structures or statues where they could cause more damage if they fall. Avoid placing tall metal structures next to windows or doorways where they could break glass or block an exit.
In the recent quake, I lost numerous potted plants when poorly secured plant stands tipped over and the contents toppled. The ornamental cover for the gas meter turned into a hazard when we needed to find the wrench to turn off the gas main. I was grateful that I always keep a pair of sturdy shoes near a door, useful if you have to wade through broken glass and debris outside after an earthquake.
If you have an automated irrigation system and lose power during an earthquake, you will need to reset the timers. With fall just around the corner, you may want to readjust the timers because plants require less water in cooler weather. Check your irrigation infrastructure, such as valves, pipes and risers, to find cracks or breaks that could cause leaks and render your system ineffective.
If you lost any trees or shrubs from earthquake damage, consider replacing them with low-water-use plants. Local nurseries have a good selection because of the drought. Autumn is the best time to plant many shrubs and perennials so that they can settle in during the rainy season.
Scientists recently found new evidence pointing to a relationship between groundwater loss and seismic activity (http://www.naturalnews.com/046503_drought_earthquakes_California.html), another reason to use water wisely in the garden. If you are renovating your landscape, consider replacing a high-water area or a thirsty lawn with drought-tolerant native plants. Native plants are adapted to our Mediterranean climate and encourage biodiversity by supporting other native organisms.
Emergency preparedness includes having a readily available food supply. Dried or canned foods have the best shelf life and don't require cooking. An edible garden can be a source of emergency food, but if you preserve your harvest by canning, be sure to store those canned goods in a secure place so they are accessible and edible in an emergency.
I rarely use harmful chemicals in my garden, but I do keep a few herbicides that could create a hazard if spilled. If the crate of chemicals had fallen off of the top of my stacked washer and dryer, where they were stored, they would have soiled my garage floor.
If you do experience a chemical spill, read the label instructions for cleanup to avoid polluting water and soil. In fact, now is a good time to safely dispose of any chemicals you no longer use. Napa Waste and Recycling Services will take fungicides, insecticides, herbicides and pool chemicals, in addition to many other hazardous waste materials, at its South Napa facility. For more information, call 1-800-984-9661 or 707-259-8608 or visit http://naparecycling.com/household-hazardous-waste/.
Store any garden chemicals away from the space where you store emergency gear or where your family would congregate in the event of an earthquake. It is a good idea to store chemical fertilizers and pesticides in a locked cabinet in a side yard or backyard, away from any people, plants or animals the chemicals could harm.
Napa County Master Gardeners welcome any additional tips or lessons you learned in the aftermath of the South Napa Quake. To share suggestions with us, please call or email our Help Desk (information below).
Workshop: Join Napa County Master Gardeners for a workshop on “Critters in the Garden” on Sunday, September 21, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Yountville Community Center, 6516 Washington Street, Yountville. Learn to identify and manage the many critters that invade your garden by air, by land and from underground. Learn techniques for managing gophers, moles, voles, rabbits, squirrels, deer and birds. To register, call the Yountville Parks & Recreation Department at 707-944-8712 or visit its web site.
Master Gardeners are volunteers who help the University of California reach the gardening public with home gardening information. Napa County Master Gardeners ( http://ucanr.org/ucmgnapa/) are available to answer gardening questions in person or by phone, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to Noon, at the U. C. Cooperative Extension office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa, 707-253-4143, or from outside City of Napa toll-free at 877-279-3065. Or e-mail your garden questions by following the guidelines on our web site. Click on Napa, then on Have Garden Questions? Find us on Facebook under UC Master Gardeners of Napa County.