Planting in coastal conditions can pose a huge challenge due to the strong, salt-laden winds and free draining soil.
Despite these challenges, you can have a beautiful garden with the right plants, a little patience and a few tips to get going.
Hedging and Windbreaks for Coastal Areas
By providing permeable shelter, you can increase the variety of plants that you can grow in your garden.
One option is to introduce shelterbeds, which are formed of tall trees and shrubs planted in three to four staggered rows. It can be especially effective if they are over 4.5 metres high, as will shelter plants from incoming winds. Windbreaks, made up of a hedge, single or double row of trees in your garden, are also effective. Windbreaks significantly reduce wind if planted effectively, ensuring they are wider than the area that needs protecting.
Solid structures such as fences and walls can also be used, but they can cause destructive turbulence, especially with fences being easily damaged in high winds.
When planting a hedge near the sea, it is best to start with small plants that will root more readily, and wait for them to grow. Larger, ready grown hedging plants often struggle more to establish in coastal areas due to strong winds and lack of shelter.
Our Top Plants for the First Line of Defence
Trees: Acer platanoides, Alnus glutinosa, Carpinus betulus, Crataegus, Cupressus macrocarpa, Fraxinus angustifolia, Juniperus scopulorum, Pinus mugo, Pinus nigra, Quercus ilex, Quercus robur, Salix alba, Salix caprea, Thuja plicata
Shrubs: Berberis, Eleagnus ebbingei, Escallonia (small leaved varieties), Euonymus japonicus, Lavandula, Lonicera nitida, Perovskia, Phlomis, Prunus spinosa, Pyracantha, Rosmarinus, Sambucus, Tamarix
Climbers: Hedera, Pyracantha
Perennials: Agapanthus, Armeria, Centranthus ruber, Crambe cordifolia, Echinops, Erigeron, Eryngium maritimum, Kniphofias, Nepeta, Senecio cineraria, Silene uniflora
Our Top Plants for the Second Line of Defence
Trees: Arbutus unedo, Cordyline australis, Ilex aquifolium, Laurus nobilis, Olea, Phillyrea latifolia, Sorbus, Syringa vulgaris
Shrubs: Brachyglottis, Buddleja, Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. repens, Chamaerops Humilis, Cytisus, Fuchsia, Genista, Grevillea, Grisselina litoralis, Hebe salicifolia, Helichrysum, Hydrangea, macrophylla,Lavatera, Phormium tenax, Pittosporum tobira, Rosa rugosa, Santolina chamaecyparissus, Trachycarpus Fortunei, Yukka
Climbers: Campsis radicans, Jasminum beesianum, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Solanum crispum ‘Glasnevin’, Trachelospermum jasminoides
Perennials and Grasses: Achillea, Cortaderia selloana, Dianthus, Erodium, Helianthemum, Ophiopogon, Phlox subulata, Stachys, Stipa tennuissima
Continue your Gardening Journey
Need a little extra advice? Visit your local Tates of Sussex Garden Centre today, where our friendly knowledgeable, team will be happy to help you choose the right plants and offer expert guidance.
