Tips for Gardening at the Coast

For many people, December means it’s time to head for the beach house.

Here are some great tips to help you create a hassle-free garden close to the seaside.

• The secret to successful coastal gardening is to work with the environment, not against it. Make your garden easy to maintain by planting species that grow naturally in the area and that are well adjusted to salty air and harsh winds.
• Try planting indigenous species like osteospermums, arctotis, gazanias, agapanthus, tecomas and vygies.
• Wind-resistant shrubs such as aloes, lavender and buxus sempervirens are great for coastal gardens.
• Also try planting hardy herbs like rosemary (which means dew of the sea), thyme, yarrow, feverfew and sorrel.
• One of the biggest challenges with seaside gardens is the poor, sandy soil. Work in a few bags of good quality compost and you’ll soon be reaping the rewards.