Planting a Coastal Garden

For those lucky enough to live by the coast there are however a few problems posed to the gardener. Strong, often salty winds are probably the main problem for the coastal gardener to contend with. But with appropriate shelter from the wind and a few well chosen plants, coastal gardens have a magic all of their own. Here is a short guide to gardening by the sea and a few plants that will positively thrive in a coastal environment.

To garden successfully in exposed areas a strong windbreak against coastal winds is essential and will widen the choice of plants you can choose to grow. The best form of wind break is in the form of trees or shrubs which will help to filter the wind and lessen its impact. Alternatively you can use polypropylene webbing but this will not look as natural. It is not advisable to use a solid structure such as a fence as this can cause turbulence and other problems.

Coastal-tolerant plants

For larger sites and a real impact, try Pinus nigra or the European Black Pine. This is a stunning evergreen tree that can grow up to 30m in height and will tolerate full exposure to the wind. Another tree that will tolerate the coastal winds is the white popular or Populus alba. Its leaves turn a lovely shade of yellow in the autumn and it will grow to about 30m high. The rowan tree or Sorbus aucuparia, with its lovely red autumn berries, is a pretty specimen but will need to be planted slightly back from the threat of coastal winds. It will grow to a height of 15m.

There are a number of shrubs that will tolerate strong salty winds but perhaps my favourite is Rosa rugosa. This hardy deciduous shrub rose makes an excellent hedge and has lovely crimson pink or white flowers in summer, followed by large orange hips. Another shrub for the coastal garden is Ceanothus with its covering of blue flowers in late summer. This shrub won't stand the full impact of a coastal wind, so situate it slightly back for some protection. Perennials that are perfect for a coastal garden include Eryngium or sea holly which comes in various shades of blue and looks the perfect part especially when planted in shingle. Stachys byzantina or lambs ears is another ideal perennial for a seaside garden. It is evergreen with white wooly foliage and tiny pink flowers in summer. Lavender also grows well in coastal gardens. Try 'Hidcote' which is a more compact cultivar with grey-green foliage and fragrant blue flowers in summer.

In a coastal garden why not improvise with garden planters and use containers appropriate to the setting such as old lobster pots. Decorate empty spaces with bits of driftwood found on the beach and large decorative pebbles.