Monthly Archives: October 2023

Wildfire | What Is Zone 0?

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New fire risk reduction requirements protects homes and fire fighters

 
Updated October 2023: Most landscape enhancements add delight or convenience to daily living. The creation of a “Zone 0” is no exception – yet it can also have dramatic impact on safety. Here’s what we understand about the latest fire risk reduction recommendations.
 
 

 

Where is Zone 0?

The California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection defines Zone 0 as the 0-5 feet closest to a home at ground level. It’s also called the “ember resistant zone,” where materials like gravel and cement encourage embers to burn out before they can build enough heat to ignite a home. In the photo above, the Zone 0 is the off-white concrete band closest to the home’s foundation.
 
 

 

Why do I need a Zone 0?

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety research shows that wind-driven embers are responsible for more than 90 percent of home ignitions. They can ignite a home while leaving hydrated foliage intact, as our homes are often made of and surrounded by highly flammable man-made materials. An effective Zone 0 reduces the chances of home ignition by removing these materials and, therefore, opportunities for embers to build heat near a home.

The benefits of a Zone 0 extend beyond a single home. Every home with an ember resistant Zone 0 amplifies the safety its neighbors, as home fires cast more dangerous ember storms than fires burning natural materials.

Fire fighters have another reason to encourage the creation of Zone 0s. This is the area they need to safely defend a home that has ignited. To protect them as they protect properties, this zone will be free of trip hazards as well as flammable materials.
 
 

 

When do I need to have a Zone 0?

Safety impacts are profound, so for those in or near high fire severity areas, we encourage immediate creation of Zone 0s or taking steps in that direction. Defending your home from wildfire can also help with insurance.

Note: In the summer of 2023, we expected fire department enforcement to begin in 2024. It is now expected in 2025 for new homes and 2026 for existing homes.
 
 

 

Which materials are allowed in a Zone 0?

At the ground level 0-5 feet from the home, ember resistant materials (gravel, concrete, stone, etc.) and well-irrigated low growing foliage, including natural lawns, are currently allowed.

Beyond ground level, well-irrigated, well-maintained, non-woody foliage is allowed. Mature, living tree trunks, canopy, and foliage can be within 0-5 feet, as long as they are 6 inches from siding, 10 feet from the roof, and “limbed up” from the ground.
 
 

 

Which materials are not allowed Zone 0?

At the ground level 0-5 feet from the home, mulch and synthetic turf must be removed, as well as unirrigated foliage. Each of these materials can ignite and allow embers to build heat against the home.

Above ground level, detached storage, fences and gates, and woody foliage (e.g. Junipers, Cedars, Palms) pose dangers and should be removed. Decks are considered part of the home – Zone 0 includes any under-deck area as well as 5 feet from the deck.

Some items require assessment and ongoing homeowner attention. Items such as awnings, shades, furnishings, outdoor kitchens, portable BBQs, pet homes, garbage and recycling receptacles, and vehicles should be stored when not in use. This is particularly true on red flag days.
 
 

 

What does a Zone 0 look like?

We know what you are thinking – don’t worry! We’ve got you! An effective Zone 0 doesn’t need to 0-out your curb appeal or lifestyle. In fact, it can be an opportunity to enhance both when its materials complement the architecture and take your daily lifestyle into consideration. See More Examples
 
 

How much will it cost to create a Zone 0?

The cost of creating a Zone 0 depends upon the circumference of a home, its current Zone 0 contents, and the ember-resistant materials chosen. The Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains (RCDSMM) currently has a waitlist for grants to cover the creation of free Zone 0s in specific LA-area communities.
 
 

Sources and Resources

  • California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection Workgroup: Zone 0 Requirements
  • RCDSMM’s DefensibleSpace.org: Step by Step Wildfire Defense
  • RCDSMM: Free Home Ignition Zone Evaluation
  • RCDSMM: Free Zone 0 Upgrade Application
  • YouTube: Tour RCDSMM’s Fire Resilient Home
  • KRCR (ABC 7): Hidden Danger: How Embers Move Wildfires
  • Univision 34: The Fire Resilient Garden

    • Solve Rainy Day Problems

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    Oscar and Kirk Troubleshoot Rain Garden Problems after Strong Storms

     
     
    January 2023. By Oscar Ortega: LA really tested the metal of rain gardens (aka bioswales or swales) this year. Some estimate we received 600 percent of our normal rainfall – much of it within a week! Incredible.

    We love maintaining these features – especially in rain. It means that we get to watch them work – and that usually means seeing how birds delight in the moving water. Even in the worst of times, maintenance of our rain gardens (aka bioswales or swales) consists of simply removing litter and checking any drains and sump-pumps to confirm the effective flow of water.

    The ease we have in maintenance can be credited to the skill of our design+build team. While rain gardens can look like simple shifts in topography, technical underground systems ensure water moves safely, quickly and in the right direction.

    If you experience problems maintaining a rain garden or with the results of rain, troubleshooting may involve looking below the surface of your garden’s beauty. With that understanding, let’s dive into some of the trouble you may have seen this month.

     
     

     

    Problem: A rain garden overflowed and sent water to the street.

    Let’s start with the best kind of trouble. As Angelenos generally install rain gardens in the hopes of limiting as much runoff as they can, it can hurt a bit to see some water escape to the street. At the same time, this means your garden has sunk and cleaned a great deal of water. The water it could not sink in this most exceptional of years did no damage to your garden or home.

    Tip: If you’ve completed the maintenance previously noted, remind yourself this is an exceptional year, and that you are already doing a great deal to support LA! Even a petite rain garden can absorb 25 percent of the stormwater that would otherwise runoff to the ocean. Consider expanding your bioswale if you can do so while maintaining space for the other garden activities that give you joy.
     
     

     

    Problem: Rain garden foliage fails to thrive after rain.

    A rain garden’s ability to sink water generally enhances the performance of the whole garden. If your rain garden is full of riparian loving native plants or an appropriate native meadow grass, the foliage should thrive in both drought and deluge.

    Tip: If your rain garden foliage is stressed, it may be worth considering whether it is appropriate to the area. Many non-native riparian plants prefer warm rain or more subtle shifts in temperature. If your foliage is on our rain garden list, it was at the end of its growth cycle and may have looked tired before the rains. We would expect cooler temperatures and precipitation to kick start a growth spurt and keep it lush and leafy through summer. If this very-appropriate foliage is failing, it may indicate that the substructure under your rain garden isn’t adequately moving water down through the root zone.

     
     

     

    Problem: Overflow impacted the design of your garden.

    If overflow from a rain garden impacted your garden’s shape, it is possible your bioswale is simply a topographical shift that lacks important underlying infrastructure.

    Tip: Consider adapting your garden design to include graduated topography to maintain the “redesign” completed by the rain. While we think of this rain as unusual, adapting to the unusual will save you the need to renovate your garden with every “extra” El Nino. Alternatively, you may want to renovate the bioswale to incorporate more effective substructure.
     
     

     

    Problem: Overflow entered or pooled near a structure.

    In addition to quickly sinking water before it can run toward your home or other structures, an effectively designed and built rain garden should direct water away from them.

    Tip: If you find water entering or challenging the foundation of a structure, check for obstructions in any drains, vessles or pumps meant to direct water. If all are clear, evaluate the topography. The overflow of the bioswale should be lower than the topography around the house and other structures.
     
     

     

    Problem: Liquified soil impacted the foundation of your home.

    We sure hope you don’t have this problem! It is more likely to occur in the flat areas of Los Angeles where clay soils dominate. These soils become mud when over-hydrated. Where there is clay soil, sophisticated substructure is essential to bioswale performance and safety.

    Tip: It’s important to evaluate the soil characteristics as well as your property’s topography. Not all sights are appropriate for bioswales. Some soils don’t percolate water effectively, so they turn soil to mud. On hillsides, this can create slippage of soil – nobody wants that! Also if the water doesn’t sink, the soil can become anaerobic. Anaerobic soil “grows” dead plants and thriving mosquitos. Consult with a professional to ensure your rain garden generates only good for you and LA.
     
     
    Do you have a question about rain garden design, building or maintenance? Check out our Instagram for timely tips, or reach out to our team.
     
     

    More Information

    See Rain Garden Styles
    See Our Rain Garden Plant Palette
    Prepare for Rain, Floods and Slides
    Get More Maintenance Tips

    Prepare for Rain

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    Maintaining Hope – and Your Garden – for Rainy Season

     
    December 2022. By Oscar Ortega: After months and months of attempting to will rain from the sky, it is sometimes difficult to believe it will eventually come. Part of our job in maintenance is to maintain hope – and prepare your garden to slow, spread and sink rainwater.

    As we work our way through your garden and through the year, we aim to prevent pesky problems, protect property, and prepare LA for a more water positive future.
     

     

    Prevent Problems

    Without regular water-mindful maintenance, getting a garden ready for rain can be a hustle. Simply staying on top of the following tasks can prevent potentially costly issues down the road. We:

  • Want your soil to be receptive enough to drink. We keep mulch fresh to prevent soil from hardening.
  • Oversaturated soil will move with water. For this reason, frequently check for irrigation leaks and adjust systems without time-and-water-saving weather based controllers to ensure soil is calibrated to accept as much rain as possible.
  • Remove obstructions from waterways throughout the year. While rain is most likely during rainy season, we have had the occasional summer shower, and removing litter from gutters in particular is also important for fire defense.
  • Clear invasive mosquito eggs. These eggs can cling to almost any surface through high, dry heat and reconstitute themselves and grow after very little rainfall.

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    Protect Property

    When a property is free of the urgent needs defined above, we can use our spring-to-fall time in a garden to build its equanimity to rainfall. We:

  • Stabilize slopes. We look for areas of barren soil – those are the most vulnerable to movement should rain fall. Many slopes can be maintained by deeply rooting native foliage like Yucca Whipplei, Manzanita and Dwarf Coyote Bush. We check and sometimes expand structural support. We note where sandbags may be necessary, so we can are prepared to take action long before rain falls.
  • Prepare catchment systems. We now know just how precarious our access to outdoor water can get. Capturing water onsite with rainbarrels and cisterns means it is on-hand and free of charge should a water agency or two restrict access to water.
  • Look beyond the property line. While we respect property lines, water doesn’t. We look notice how surrounding situations may impact the property we maintain.
     
     

    Prepare LA

    While it is smart for individual property owners to save for rain-free days onsite, as a community, we desperately need to recharge our groundwater. Features like this rain garden help us do that while extending the life of stormwater infrastructure and protecting properties and neighbors from debris flow.

    Many of the gardens renovated by our design+build team include substantial rain gardens. We love it! While maintenance includes all the same tasks noted above, the element of emergency is removed, as we know a garden like this can both manage substantial rainfall and enduring drought with grace.
     

    More Information

    Protect Properties Pre-Rain
    Fight Fire Without Water
    Total Tree Care Timeline
    Month-by-Month Maintenance