Shale hills above the coast

Hydroseeding in Malibu, CA

Steep clay slopes, loose shale and sandstone, and a long fire history make soil cover the first priority.

No-charge visits to your property, with estimates in writing
Itemized quotes: prep, seed, mulch and erosion control
Seed mixes picked for coast, basin, valley or foothill

Holding Malibu Hillsides in Place

Hydroseeding in Malibu is mostly erosion control. The city's steep clay slopes and dry chaparral make it prone to fires, floods and mudslides, and its hills are loosely packed shale and sandstone. Vegetation normally holds those slopes together during heavy rain. When fire removes it, the next storms can bring slides. After the 1993 fires, early 1994 rain triggered a large mudslide near Las Flores Canyon that closed Pacific Coast Highway for months.

A long list of fires

The Woolsey Fire in November 2018 burned 96,949 acres and destroyed 1,500 structures. The Franklin Fire in December 2024 burned 4,037 acres. The Palisades Fire in January 2025 destroyed many homes, including much of the eastern beachfront. Each one left bare ground that needed cover before winter.

Bonded fiber matrix and blankets

On steep shale slopes, a standard paper or wood mulch can wash off in a hard storm. We use bonded fiber matrix, which dries into a continuous layer bonded to the soil, or erosion control blankets pinned in place where the slope is very steep. A seed mix of fast-establishing cover and native species goes in at the same time. Wattles on contour and silt fence at the toe complete the system.

Rebuild sites

Rebuilding a home means grading, trenching and stockpiles of soil, often on a lot that slopes toward a canyon or the coast. Sediment control keeps that soil on site. We set silt fence, protect nearby drain inlets and stabilize stockpiles and finished grades with hydromulch until permanent landscaping is ready.

Water quality matters here

Malibu Lagoon sits at the mouth of Malibu Creek, and the city built stormwater treatment at Malibu Legacy Park and the Civic Center to cut pollution reaching the creek, lagoon and Surfrider Beach. Mud from a job site works against that. Keeping sediment out of drainage is part of every job we do here.

Mild coast, short rains

Point Mugu normals put annual precipitation at 12.53 inches, mostly November through April, with February at 3.93 inches. We schedule slope seeding so cover is on before the first big storm. Get a free estimate or call (213) 451-4997.

Malibu Slope and Fire Facts

Geology. Malibu's hills are loosely packed shale and sandstone, with steep clay slopes prone to mudslides.
Woolsey Fire. The November 2018 fire burned 96,949 acres and destroyed 1,500 structures.
1994 mudslide. Rain in early 1994 after the 1993 fire caused a mudslide near Las Flores Canyon that closed PCH for months.
Lagoon. Malibu Lagoon sits at the mouth of Malibu Creek, and Legacy Park treats stormwater runoff to protect it.
Rainfall. Point Mugu State Park averages 12.53 inches a year, mostly November through April.

Silt Fence & Inlet Protection in Los Angeles, CA

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Malibu Questions

Will plain hydromulch hold on a steep Malibu slope?

On very steep or loose shale slopes it may not. Bonded fiber matrix or pinned blankets hold much better through heavy rain.

Can you stabilize stockpiles on a rebuild lot?

Yes. We cover stockpiles and graded areas with tackified hydromulch and set silt fence so soil stays on site.

Do you use native seed on burned hillsides?

Often, mixed with a quick-cover species. The quick cover holds soil the first winter while natives establish.

When is the deadline to get a burned slope covered?

Ideally before the first major storm, which usually arrives between November and February.

Is erosion control only needed after fire?

No. Mudslides in Malibu can happen at any time, so any bare or disturbed slope is worth covering.

Free Estimates in Malibu, CA

Send photos and the slope's rough height so we can plan coverage.

Call (213) 451-4997 Free Estimate