Established tree canopy and wildfire dfense
Nestled in Santa Monica Canyon with deep, healthy redwood groves, this modern landscape epitomizes an authentic LA coastal canyon aesthetic. Vibrant natives surround the home with greenery and blooms throughout the year. While heat and drought tolerant, they also add stability in deluge. Ember resistant and permeable hardscape materials create a distinctive aesthetic in harmony with the home’s compelling architecture.
Sunset Magazine illustrated an effective, ember resistant and clutter-free Zone 0 in a 2024 explanation of how to protect homes now that fire season is year round.
When it comes to breaking down the defensible zones within your landscape,
Sunset Magazine 2024
FormLA encourages using landscape to provide a final layer of defensive strategy.
The most important landscaped space is the five feet closest to the home.
Project Snapshot
Designed and built while LA experienced several years of drought, the Coastal Canyon Garden’s owners aimed to protect their expansive, established tree canopy and complement their home’s distinctive architecture. We designed and built a smartly irrigated understory paired with ember-resistant, water-permeable patios, and walks through clusters of fragrant native foliage to support their lifestyle and add a layer of fire defense.
The property was featured on the 2017 Pacific Palisades Garden Tour.
See the gardens dramatic seasonal changes in the full project gallery in Houzz, where you can save your favorite ideas.
Plant Palettes
Want to protect established tree canopy in drought? In a high fire severity zone? Check out the plant palette of the Coastal Canyon Retreat, and save your favorite fire defensive ideas in Pinterest.
