Tips for Planting a Coastal Garden

Tips for planting a coastal garden looks at some of the particular issues that seaside gardens are subject to. And, of course, suggests ways you can alleviate at least some of them. Because, even though none of us in the United Kingdom lives more than 75 miles away from the coast, we are often unsure how we should create and enjoy a garden there.

Why might you need to know about suitable plants for seaside gardens? Well, you may be moving to a coastal area and find the current garden is not quite to your taste, so you’d want to change it. Or you may already live by the coast and just need some fresh ideas to liven up your existing garden planting.

There are of course as many different sorts of coastal gardens as there are inland gardens or hillside gardens. Seaside gardens may have a mild climate, such as those in Devon and Cornwall. Or they may be exposed to the winds of the North Sea on the east coast of Scotland. But that’s not all…

Local Factors to Consider when Planting a Coastal Garden

There are those gardens which are right next to the coast where the plants have to be able to tolerate salt laden winds. Think of the tough grasses you see growing on sand dunes and headlands.

Then there are those gardens, which, whilst still maritime in general outlook, are less exposed to extremes, so that a wider range of plants are available to the gardeners who live there.

These local elements are –

altitude
latitude
aspect, especially on sloping sites, southerly, northerly, etc
soil – for example, sandy soils are more likely to suffer from frost
salt laden air can effect some plant species as far inland as five miles
prevailing wind
openness / shelter – from cliffs, trees and buildings
distance from the coast
warming and cooling sea currents

And then there is the microclimate within the garden itself.

Any coastal garden is going to have its own mixture of the above which create both benefits and problems. Assessing the prevalent conditions in the garden has to be the first step. Then consider which existing plants are thriving and which are not.

Prevailing wind

Whilst the direction of the prevailing wind cannot be altered, some of the elements can be modified to create more amenable growing conditions.

What actions could be taken which will alleviate some of the problems and allow struggling plants to thrive instead? For example, creating a wind break to lessen the effect of strong prevailing winds. This could be a shelter belt of trees and larger shrubs, or it could be open fencing and netting. The trick is to let the wind filter through the barrier and be slowed down as a result.

Sea currents

Most of the western coast benefits from the warming influence of the Gulf Stream. There is a sub-tropical garden on the west coast of Scotland – Logan Botanic Garden – that rivals those in the south west of England in its plant range. But these western coastal gardens may still have issues with northerly facing slopes or lakes that reduce temperatures for the planting there.

There are not many gardens as exposed as Derek Jarman’s at Dungeness. But the planting there and at Beth Chatto’s dry garden in Essex are good starting points if your garden has similar properties. For example, an exposed position to rough, drying winds, shallow soil, a minimal watering requirement.

Soil

Soil is a prime element of any garden. Check out the articles below on improving your garden soil, plus those on clay soil and chalk soil when looking for planting ideas. After all, there is no point in planting a shrub which will tolerate salt air if it hates the alkaline soil you’ve planted it in!

Tips for Planting a Coastal Garden – The Plants

Not a definitive list, just a selection. This is a topic we’ll come back to in other blogs, so we can look at themes for planting a coastal garden, formal and informal styles, kitchen gardens and mini orchards. Do check out the links at the end for a few more ideas.

NB Not all members of a species will tolerate salt laden air or strong winds.

As a general rule, look for plants with

smaller leaves
leathery leaves
hairy leaves

as these are better suited to more adverse conditions.

Oh and Botanical Latin is also helpful – plants with ‘maritima’ and ‘littoralis’ in their name are definitely ones for a coastal garden!

Be aware that some previous stalwarts for seaside gardens – Rosa rugosa, Cotoneaster horizontalis, Crocosmia, Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae Rhamnoides) are not included. Although you can still purchase them, there are some issues with their invasive tendencies, and they are now on Schedule 9 in one or more countries of the UK. This doesn’t prevent you growing them in your garden, but they must not be allowed to spread outside the perimeters. Which with careful removal of seedheads, for example, is easily achieved.

Plants for Seaside Gardens – 5 Flowering Shrubs

This combination of flowering shrubs would give you a long period of flowers from mid-spring right through to mid, or even late autumn. The Roses should be scented, to add another element of pleasure. You’ll also be doing your part for the wildlife, by offering nectar-rich plants.

Cistus
The rich pink flowers add a bit of drama. Or go for subtle white; perhaps as a contrast to some pelargoniums (pot geraniums) planted as summer bedding.

Cytisus, Broom
Earlier flowering, so why not have the yellow flowered form? This shrub always brings back memories of my childhood as I largely grew up on the coast.

Fuchsia
You could potentially have a garden filled only with fuchsias and still have a garden to bring you pleasure for eight months of the year. Golden foliage, variegated foliage as well as green offers a wide choice.

Rose
The Southsea Rose Garden in Portsmouth is proof that roses thrive in salt laden air. Indulge yourself with repeat flowering scented hybrid teas. Add in a Rosa rugosa to give you (and the birds) bright red rose hips in the winter.

Tamarisk
Deliciously feathery foliage and equally frothy pink flowers make this shrub seem far more tender than it really is.

Plants for Seaside Gardens – 5 Herbaceous Perennials

Agapanthus
Also known as the South African lily. It would be quite stunning to grow dark blue agapanthus in front of the bright pink cistus. It also looks good against Tamarisk for the contrasting foliage.

Echinops
Winter seed heads extend the interest for humans and provide food for wildlife. ‘Miss Wilmott’s ghost’ has white flowers, but the bees love it whatever the colour!

Eryngium, sea holly
The clue is in the name…the electric blue of these en masse is …electric. See the above photo taken at Eastbourne! For a smaller plant, ‘Blue Hobbit’ is really pretty.

Geranium phaeum
This is an earlier flowering geranium with tall flower spikes. A bit classy, you might say. Especially when you learn the flowers can be found in white and almost black.

Red hot poker
Some people are not keen, considering them a bit brash, but red hot pokers, or Kniphofia, certainly add height and drama to the flower border. Good for late summer colour too.

Plants for Seaside Gardens – 5 Irresistible Evergreens

Cabbage Palms
How could you have a seaside garden without a cabbage palm? These cordylines make the British coastline look positively tropical. Yes, I’m biased, childhood memories again, but let’s have some contemporary planting combinations. Try them as a backdrop to red hot pokers and electric blue Eryngium.

Phormium
The colourful leaves of Phormium ‘sunset’ will give a glow to your garden even on dull winter days. Not just irresistible, but reliable too.

Rosemary
A Mediterranean coastal native, Rosemary thrives in all but the most exposed seaside gardens around Britain. And remember, it’s a culinary herb, so it’s a practical addition to your garden.

Santolina
Also known as cotton lavender, this evergreen shrub has aromatic silver-grey foliage. It can be clipped twice a year to keep it in neat dome shapes. It would look chic paired with agapanthus and geranium phaeum.

Thyme
Another evergreen culinary herb that enjoys the seaside. Why not edge the path to your front door with low growing thymes?

And finally

Designing a seaside garden – or any garden – is about much more than choosing the right plants for the location. But finding plants that you like and would suit your level of expertise and the amount of time you have to spend gardening is not a bad place to start.

What style of coastal gardening would suit you? From a shingle beach inspired garden such as the late Derek Jarman’s at Dungeness to a tropical Gunnera forest like that at Trebah the choice is wide. If you’d like advice, inspiration and help in creating a seaside garden, why not get in touch?

And for further gardening advice and inspiration, check out Plews Potting Shed blogs, including the selection below. Plus our monthly Tipsheet – You could come and find us on Instagram Pinterest and Facebook too.