It’s an absolute privilege to live near the beach but sometimes that can come with some trade-offs. The coastal environment is not always gentle and kind, it can be wild and unforgiving for gardens and gardeners alike. The salty air, strong winds and poorer soils mean that choosing the right plants for coastal sites can be difficult. 

Hannah Preston & Kath Gadd kathgaddlandscapedesign.com.au

Planting a garden in an exposed site often requires a little bit of extra TLC to get the plants established, staking and regular watering is important to keep them thriving, surviving and looking beautiful. 

There are two main zones for coastal planting – the front line and the second line. Front line plants are those that can put up with heavily salted winds and poor soils that would be too much for most other plants. They often have specially adapted leaves (thick, shiny, or succulent) that allow them to handle front line conditions and the occasional sand blast.

Front line trees and shrubs will also tend to have stunted growth and curve with the direction of the wind. You can protect young plants with tree guards until they establish. Planting a windbreak is a good idea if you want some protection and the ability to plant more delicate plants behind exposed areas. 

The second line coastal zone starts where plants are protected from direct salt spray whether it be by a dune, hill, made structure or windbreak. The plants you can grow here still need some salt tolerance but not as much as those on the front line. What you can grow will depend more on the soil you have and the wind. Most of the Illawarra has clay soil, but the soils you have in the second line zone may be a mix of clay, sand, rock or loam. Check what conditions you’re working with before choosing which plants to grow. Bottlebrushes, melaleucas and tea trees are a good option for clay sites, they cope well with heavy soils but also some salt tolerance.