wildfire prepared property contains a forest of ember-defenders
When we first visited this space, we were reminded of the Oak Forest of Descanso Gardens. It feels magical – it’s tens of degrees cooler than the surrounding area and full of life. The forested space, one of the most charming aspects of the property, is also among its most fire defensive. Featured in Sunset Magazine in 2024, the expansive, native Coast Live Oak-filled area illustrates a critical line defense against wind-driven embers.
Designing for fire defense doesn’t mean you can’t still have an enjoyable entertaining paradise.
Sunset Magazine 2024
In fact, [FormLA Landscaping’s] work reflects the best of both worlds
with lush, leafy, fragrant, ever-evolving gardens that are full of life.
Project Snapshot
Dense, small and leathery Coast Live Oak tree canopies evolved to thrive in low water and high-heat conditions. While there is no fire-proof plant, healthy Coast Live Oak have been known to “sink” embers, effectively resisting ignition as they intercept them. Even when cut and cured for firewood, their hardwood trunks and branches are famously slow to ignite and slow to burn.
Part of our job with the landscape design was to defend these defenders. This looks like giving them an understory that helps them stay healthy and hydrated in low water years and grows well in the deep, cool shade below their canopies.
See the distance between the lowest parts of the tree canopy and the understory foliage? That is an important characteristic, as is the ability of each plant selected to thrive in shade as well as drought and to root deep enough to help retain the slope.
As human made materials ignite faster, burn hotter, cast more embers, and achieve higher flame heights than plant life, they are the greatest danger on any property. The use of ember resistant cement and metal for the walls, walk, stairs, and rails is critical to the defense of the property’s structures as well as its forested space.
Learn about more fire defensive landscaping strategies in our Resources section.
Plant Palettes
If you are looking to defend a home from wildfire or simply to protect a beloved oak tree in low water years, check out the following plant palettes in Pinterest, where you can save your favorite ideas.
