Selecting plants for the seaside garden is challenging, at best. Typical garden plants may not grow under the conditions found along the shore, but there are some lovely alternatives. Thorough research into the plants chosen will prevent disappointment later.
What Makes Seaside Gardens So Difficult?
We do, it is that simple. Creating a beautiful garden is the goal of every gardener and in the gardener's haste to do so, little time is spent on the planning of these gardens.
In order to have a successful flower garden at the seaside, the gardener needs to look at the conditions where the flower beds will be planted. The problems encountered with seaside gardening are listed below.
- Salt
Salt spray is always a problem with gardening at the beach. Salt attaches to blooms and foliage alike and can draw the life right out of a beautiful flower, causing it to wither and die.
- Wind
Wind is ever present at the seaside. Quickly drying the soil out and shredding foliage of unprotected plants. A good idea is to shield fragile plants with taller, grass-like plants or fencing on the sea side of the plants.
- Nutrient Deficient Soil
Soil at the beach is nothing like the average garden soil. It lacks any sort of organic matter to help hold the water and nutrients plants need to survive and thrive.
Beyond the Flower Bed
Utilizing containers such as window boxes, pots and hanging baskets permits the addition of various flowering plants that are not typically seen in seaside gardens. Building raised beds, filled with good composted garden soil next to the home will allow for the addition of classic garden plants.
Leaves of plants in containers and raised beds may still become burned due to salt spray carried in by the sea breeze. It is a good idea to give the flower beds a regular misting to wash away salt that may have collected on the foliage.
"Plan and Construct a Raised Bed" by Barbara M. Martin is a must read article for those planning a raised flower bed.
Nature Verses Human
Learn to work with natural surroundings, rather than against them. Native plants were thriving in the landscape long before humans set foot on it. Keeping this in mind, planting natives will make much less work for the gardener in the end.
Locating Native Plants
Contacting the local county extension office to speak with a Master Gardener, who will help with literature and garden planning, is a good start. To find your local extension office in the US, click on the map for your state and then choose the county you are interested in at the USDA website.
Check the local phone book for nursery listings and call to ask about their selection of native plants. This will save time and fuel in that, you will not be driving all over the county in search of the right plants for your flower beds.
Winning Plants
- African milk bush (Synadenium grantii)
- Beach bean (Canavalia rosea)
- Beach Sunflower (Helianthus debilis)
- Bottle brush (Callistemon rigidus)
- Coontie (Zamia integrifolia)
- Creeping fig (Ficus pumila)
- Creeping thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
- Fairy fanflower (Scaevola aemula)
- Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella)
- Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica)
- Inkberry (Scaevola plumieri)
- Liriope (Liriope spicata)
- Night-blooming cereus (Hylocereus undatus)
- Oleander (Nerium oleander)
- Pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira)
- Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
- Satsuki azalea (Rhododendron indicum)
- Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
A little time spent researching will turn up many choices for the flower garden by the sea.
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