To survive near the coast plants have to be tough, capable of surviving winter gales and salt and sand-laden winds. The first priority should be to create a shelter belt by planting a hedge.
[caption id="attachment_1005" align="aligncenter" width="570"] Crocosmia[/caption]
Good choices would be evergreen Griselinia littoralis (littoralis means shore), Escalonia macrantha, Hippophae rhamnoides and the seldom seen Tamarix ramosissima ‘Rubra’, known as the hedgehog rose. A fence will provide temporary protection until the hedge reaches the required height. It makes sense to restrict your planting to species known to thrive in maritime conditions. These include the grass Stipa gigantea, olearia, seabuckthorn, brooms, hebes, plants with silver foliage, with furred leaves such as Lobelia tupa and those with leathery leaves such as Eucalyptus gunni.
[caption id="attachment_1006" align="aligncenter" width="570"] Agapanthus[/caption]
Flowers include agapanthus ‘Blue Giant’ and three colourful imported species that have naturalised around Ireland’s south west coast, crocosmia, fuchsia and kniphofia. The upside of coastal gardening is that the climate is milder, salt air discourages frost and snowfalls are rare, opening up the possibility of growing exotica such as palm trees and Mediterranean species.
Next time! Plants for pollution
Bord Bia It’s Garden Time
With thanks to Bord Bia for this article. For more information on Bord Bia and for further gardening tips and advice, visit http://www.bordbia.ie/consumer/gardening/itsgardentime/pages/gardentips.aspx
Crocosmia[/caption]
Good choices would be evergreen Griselinia littoralis (littoralis means shore), Escalonia macrantha, Hippophae rhamnoides and the seldom seen Tamarix ramosissima ‘Rubra’, known as the hedgehog rose. A fence will provide temporary protection until the hedge reaches the required height. It makes sense to restrict your planting to species known to thrive in maritime conditions. These include the grass Stipa gigantea, olearia, seabuckthorn, brooms, hebes, plants with silver foliage, with furred leaves such as Lobelia tupa and those with leathery leaves such as Eucalyptus gunni.
[caption id="attachment_1006" align="aligncenter" width="570"]
Agapanthus[/caption]
Flowers include agapanthus ‘Blue Giant’ and three colourful imported species that have naturalised around Ireland’s south west coast, crocosmia, fuchsia and kniphofia. The upside of coastal gardening is that the climate is milder, salt air discourages frost and snowfalls are rare, opening up the possibility of growing exotica such as palm trees and Mediterranean species.
Next time! Plants for pollution
Bord Bia It’s Garden Time
With thanks to Bord Bia for this article. For more information on Bord Bia and for further gardening tips and advice, visit http://www.bordbia.ie/consumer/gardening/itsgardentime/pages/gardentips.aspx 
