So Your Garden Style Is: Coastal
It's all about choosing the right screening and smart plant selection when creating gardens by the sea
Sunshine, sand, your own private oasis where you can lie back in the shade and gaze at the warm blue sea. That’s what many of us imagine when thinking about owning a property near the beach. Coastal gardens are relaxed places with an emphasis on natural materials, local plants and comfortable places to sit, lounge, cook and even bathe. Achieving that in a coastal environment with salt laden winds and sandy, nutrient-poor soils is not always easy, but with a bit of planning, well-placed screens and careful plant selection, it can be done.
Nature lovers
Naturalistic landscape designs, as seen in this Sydney garden, work best in coastal gardens. Here, the simple, strong shape of the pool is reinforced by large boulders and the planting of gum trees, frangipani and native grasses. The blue colour of the pool carries the eye to the sea in the distance.
Naturalistic landscape designs, as seen in this Sydney garden, work best in coastal gardens. Here, the simple, strong shape of the pool is reinforced by large boulders and the planting of gum trees, frangipani and native grasses. The blue colour of the pool carries the eye to the sea in the distance.
Wind breakers
It’s generally far easier and more environmentally sound to select plants that suit coastal conditions rather than modify the garden continually to grow unsuitable plants.
Having said that, it is possible to extend your plant choice quite significantly if you create shelter from strong, salt laden winds. Walls, fences and trellis screens are an obvious solution, especially for creating courtyards close to the house. This colourful Perth courtyard is just across the road from the beach.
It’s generally far easier and more environmentally sound to select plants that suit coastal conditions rather than modify the garden continually to grow unsuitable plants.
Having said that, it is possible to extend your plant choice quite significantly if you create shelter from strong, salt laden winds. Walls, fences and trellis screens are an obvious solution, especially for creating courtyards close to the house. This colourful Perth courtyard is just across the road from the beach.
Gimme shelter
Living shelter is a cheaper option and the semi-permeable nature of shrubs and trees is a better bet for reducing wind velocity than solid structures. The leaves of these tough, wind-hardy plants will not only reduce water loss caused by wind, but will also filter out the salt so it doesn’t kill more delicate plants. Plants that grow naturally on the coast are ideally suited for creating shelter. It makes good sense to use natives for this purpose as they have adapted over centuries to the unique conditions of our coastal environment. While there may be exotics that will grow faster in beach gardens, they often tend to have shorter lives than natives. However, not all native species are beach-lovers – many originate from the forest and will suffer if hit by coastal spray just as quickly as an exotic plant.
More: Hedging Your Bets: Make Your Hedges Work For You
Living shelter is a cheaper option and the semi-permeable nature of shrubs and trees is a better bet for reducing wind velocity than solid structures. The leaves of these tough, wind-hardy plants will not only reduce water loss caused by wind, but will also filter out the salt so it doesn’t kill more delicate plants. Plants that grow naturally on the coast are ideally suited for creating shelter. It makes good sense to use natives for this purpose as they have adapted over centuries to the unique conditions of our coastal environment. While there may be exotics that will grow faster in beach gardens, they often tend to have shorter lives than natives. However, not all native species are beach-lovers – many originate from the forest and will suffer if hit by coastal spray just as quickly as an exotic plant.
More: Hedging Your Bets: Make Your Hedges Work For You
Going native
Once you’ve created sheltered areas, it will be much, much easier to make the garden of your dreams. Of course, if you want to spend lots of time lounging on the beach or relaxing in your garden, then it pays to choose plants that are relatively tough and low maintenance like these kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos flavidus) and other Australian natives. Fortunately there are plenty of those to choose from. A stroll around the neighbourhood or your local marina will give you a good idea of what does well by the sea.
Once you’ve created sheltered areas, it will be much, much easier to make the garden of your dreams. Of course, if you want to spend lots of time lounging on the beach or relaxing in your garden, then it pays to choose plants that are relatively tough and low maintenance like these kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos flavidus) and other Australian natives. Fortunately there are plenty of those to choose from. A stroll around the neighbourhood or your local marina will give you a good idea of what does well by the sea.
Bring me flowers
If you’re a flower lover, you may want to introduce some exotics into your coastal garden. If you choose plants from coastal regions in other parts of the world such as the Mediterranean, South Africa and California, they’ll be able to cope with the heat and lack of moisture better. In this Melbourne coastal garden, bird of paradise (Strelitzia) and lavender add bold flower colour without the need for extra pampering.
If you’re a flower lover, you may want to introduce some exotics into your coastal garden. If you choose plants from coastal regions in other parts of the world such as the Mediterranean, South Africa and California, they’ll be able to cope with the heat and lack of moisture better. In this Melbourne coastal garden, bird of paradise (Strelitzia) and lavender add bold flower colour without the need for extra pampering.
Heat lovers
Succulents also do very well in coastal gardens. In this Sydney garden, dragon tree (Dracaena draco), with its strappy grey leaves, makes a sculptural statement complemented by the upright form of mother-in-law’s-tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) and round leaves of the jade plant (Crassula ovata) mass planted behind it.
Succulents also do very well in coastal gardens. In this Sydney garden, dragon tree (Dracaena draco), with its strappy grey leaves, makes a sculptural statement complemented by the upright form of mother-in-law’s-tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) and round leaves of the jade plant (Crassula ovata) mass planted behind it.
Well furnished
When choosing furniture and other accessories for coastal gardens, go for simple, natural materials that harmonise with their surroundings, or bold and bright as shown here in this contemporary beachside garden in Sydney by Tim Barnes Structural Landscaping. Everything at the beach is strong – light levels, heat, the landscape – so if you want garden accessories and art to make a statement, the bolder the better. Comfort should be key so consider buying outdoor cushions made of good quality UV resistant fabric.
When choosing furniture and other accessories for coastal gardens, go for simple, natural materials that harmonise with their surroundings, or bold and bright as shown here in this contemporary beachside garden in Sydney by Tim Barnes Structural Landscaping. Everything at the beach is strong – light levels, heat, the landscape – so if you want garden accessories and art to make a statement, the bolder the better. Comfort should be key so consider buying outdoor cushions made of good quality UV resistant fabric.
On the rise
Sandy soil is very free-draining so nutrients and water are leached out quickly. Few plants can cope with these conditions unless they are continually watered and fed. If you want to grow vegetables or plants that don’t grow naturally near the sea, consider using raised beds and importing good quality garden mix.
Sandy soil is very free-draining so nutrients and water are leached out quickly. Few plants can cope with these conditions unless they are continually watered and fed. If you want to grow vegetables or plants that don’t grow naturally near the sea, consider using raised beds and importing good quality garden mix.
Clean up
No beach garden is complete without an outdoor shower to rinse off the sand. There’s something quite special about bathing or showering outside and simple screens like these ones can provide all the privacy you need.
MORE
My Houzz: Rugged South Aussie Coastal Site Inspires Studio Sanctuary
Take the Headache Out of Gardening with Low-Care Landscaping
Take It Outside: 10 Ideas for Outdoor Bathrooms
No beach garden is complete without an outdoor shower to rinse off the sand. There’s something quite special about bathing or showering outside and simple screens like these ones can provide all the privacy you need.
MORE
My Houzz: Rugged South Aussie Coastal Site Inspires Studio Sanctuary
Take the Headache Out of Gardening with Low-Care Landscaping
Take It Outside: 10 Ideas for Outdoor Bathrooms
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You’ll love it if … you’re a sun lover who enjoys the laid-back atmosphere and simplicity of beach communities. You like materials and planting that are tough, and bold enough to hold their own in an environment that can be dramatic and forceful.
Difficulty ranking: Not for the faint-hearted as you often have to battle with intense heat, wind and sandy soils. Easier once you’ve established a sheltered environment and have improved the soil.
Key plants: Native coastal plants, succulents or those that grow on the coast in other regions such as the Mediterranean and California.