FormLA Landscaping

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FormLA Landscaping

13 Reviews

(Fire) Defensive in Mandeville Canyon

Featured in the Los Angeles Times and Sunset Magazine, this eco-smart home and garden overlook LA's storied Mandeville Canyon. Filled with an abundance of native foliage, the garden was a frequent favorite on the Theodore Payne Foundation Native Plant Garden Tour in the early 2000s. Since then, it's undergone extensive home-hardening and garden renovations to amplify its wildfire readiness. In 2020, it was featured on the USGBC-LA Fire-Defensive Property Tour.

Project Year: 2018

Country: United States

Zip Code: 90049

Others who worked on this project: Theodore Payne Foundation

This beautiful, optimally sustainable contemporary home sits on the steep slope of LA's storied Mandeville Canyon. Because flying embers pose the greatest fire danger to homes, we look first to the fire vulnerabilities of a home then create relevant protective elements in the landscape. Photo:...

Elevated Deck Overlooks Canyon

Chaparral native foliage, which holds its hydration throughout LA's climate cycle, grows low near to the home, providing defensible space. Native tree canopy further out can "catch" flying embers before they can reach and ignite the home. Photo: Lesly Hall Photography

Native Foliage Protects Slope

While no plant is fire proof, some native foliage is particularly adept at resisting fire. Dwarf Coyote Bush is a California native with protective qualities. It maintains hydration year round with very little supplemental water. This hydration helps it resist fire, which can give space and time to...

Dwarf Coyote Bush Is An Asset

Creating 5-10 feet of defensible space around a home is key. After directly addressing the home's vulnerabilities to collecting embers, we planted low-lying, mostly-native foliage to protect the home from rolling embers. Should the home catch fire, this space also gives fire fighters safe space to...

Defensible Space Is Key

Tree canopy, more than 10 feet from the home, can catch flying embers, preventing them from igniting the home. Dense, drought-resistant native Coast Live Oak canopy is particularly effective at this defense tactic! See how much harder it would be to break through the canopies in the center than the...

Oak Tree Canopies Intercept Embers

Let's look closer at the oak tree canopy. Its small, leathery leaves are tough to ignite. The density not only protects the home from flying embers, it provides complete privacy and an abundance of energy-saving shade. Photo: Lesly Hall Photography

Oak Trees Shade and Protect

The variability of these low-growing, native plant materials halts rolling embers more readily than turf or hardscape. They will also hold hydration better than turf and non-native foliage, although we do not leave that to chance! Hydrozoned, low-flow, subsurface drip irrigation on weather based...

Smart Irrigation Ensures Hydration

Creature comforts like cushions, umbrellas, some furnishings and artwork, toys and tools pose the greatest fire hazards in many landscapes. It is critical to store these items when they are not in active use. Having storage close makes it easier to get in the habit of doing so. Photo: Lesly Hall...

Storage Is Convenient

Much of the non-native foliage, which can struggle in LA's climate, is placed in contained gardens, so it can easily be protected from the elements. Unlike accent grasses, succulents hold hydration and pose little danger when potted and well maintained. Ceramic pots will not burn. Like low foliage,...

Succulents Are Contained

As with the other foliage in proximity to the home, Oregon Grape, native to California, also holds its hydration in high, dry heat. This helps it resist fire as long as possible. In the spring, it fills with delicate, bright yellow blooms. In summer, it turns blue with edible berries. The leaves...

Oregon Grape Stays Hydrated

While much garden art can pose dangers when left out, the owners of this home collect reclaimed art of metal and glass. While both can melt in high heat, they do not burn. Here, a glass drop "waters" Coast Dudleya, aka "Live Forever." It can live on just a few drops! Unlike its look-alike...

Coast Dudleya Saves the Drop

Fish and riparian native plants populate a biological pond that sits between the home and the sustainably harvested mahogany deck, the heart of the outdoor space. The mahogany was chosen 20 years ago for its sustainability and beauty. It is less fire resistant than other woods. Photo: Steve...

Before: Sustainably Harvested Mahogany Deck

Several steps were taken to minimize the risk of the deck igniting. Embers like to collect under decks where they can use collected leaf litter as fuel to gain enough heat to burn wood. We prevent that by sealing off the under-side of the deck with concrete hardy board. Next, two layers of...

Hardy Board Protects Deck

The deep greenery offered by Manzanita evidences its stamina in holding hydration. Its stiff, blade like leaves are beautifully competent ember catchers, and, like the Coast Live Oak, it protects both the deck and home. Its architectural, hardwood branches will resist fire and burn slowly when they...

Manzanita Resists and Recovers

While most every home has and needs rain gutters, they too can catch flying embers and hold them at the base of the roof. Here, we've addressed that vulnerability by placing a fine wire mesh over the top of all gutters, preventing the collection of both embers and leaf liter. From this view, it is...

Enclosed Gutters

Since Steve Gunther took this photo for Sunset Magazine, we've updated both the foliage, wood elements, and furnishings to better resist fire.

Before: Canyon View Saltwater Spa

The decking is now slow-burning epay wood. When it does burn, it burns slowly, making it less likely to ignite the home. "Drought tolerant" Mediterranean plants were replaced with a mix of natives that better hold hydration and will not travel into nearby wild spaces. Readily visible here are Deer...

Epay and Natives Wrap Spa

Note that the large, mounded accent grass in the previous photo is California native Deer Grass, not an arson grass (Feather, Fountain or Pampas Grass). While they have similar aesthetics, their performance is wildly different. Arson Grasses readily ignite and will escape gardens to increase the...

Deer Grass Stays Put

The low-growing, delicate grasses also deserve more attention. This Purple Three Awn (Aristada) provides the whimsical movement of Mexican Feather Grass, but it will not travel into wild spaces to increase the community's fire danger. Despite the dangers they present, arson grasses are still sold...

Native Plants Will Not Travel

While homes in the urban wildlife interface (UWI) face greater fire dangers, homeowners can choose to make them much safer. By conscientiously addressing architectural vulnerabilities (home hardening), homeowners protect firefighters and reduce their chances of losing a home. An ember resistant...

Smart Landscapes Protect Homes