Exposed and Coastal gardens
Exposed/Coastal
Produced in Association with AFDS
A little time and research in choosing the right plants for your garden can prevent frustration and failure
For the best results you need three things:
- Quality plants locally grown;
- A well repared site;
- Weed control to prevent competition and allow establishment.
The 3 main factors controlling growth of a plant and consequently its selection are:
- Soil;
- Situation;
- Hardiness.
Soil
Soils come in many variations but if you have one which is either light or heavy, acid or alkaline (limy) extra care needs to be taken over the choice of plants. A heavy soil will feel really sticky and damp, a sandy soil will feel gritty and will drain quickly. You can easily find out whether your soil is acid or alkaline using a test kit from your local garden centre or by observing hydrangeas in your area - they will be pink if the soil is limy and blue if it is acid and purple in neutral soil.
Situation
Whether exposed, sheltered, shady or sunny a plant in the wrong situation will not thrive. It may either not grow or grow long lank stems, fail to flower, fade or lose variegations.
Hardiness
We have a mild climate in Ireland as a result of the Gulf Stream but inland areas can suffer from frost and the most tender plants are not recommended inland especially those susceptible to spring frosts such as Pieris.
Not only do plants grow best when they are given the right conditions but they also look their best.
Most plants are now sold with informative labels - always read these as they are a good source of information
In exposed gardens plants have to be able to withstand strong winds so good root systems are essential. Those whose young foliage or tender flowers would be ripped by the wind should be avoided or given shelter. In coastal gardens in addition to the wind salt damage has to be considered.
The following plants are all grown locally and recommended by growers as suitable for coastal and exposed gardens:
- Choisya ternata
- Cordyline australis
- Cytisus 'Killiney Red'
- Cytisus praecox
- Cytisus praecox 'Allgold'
- Cytisus beanii
- Cytisus kewensis
- Elaeagnus ebbingei
- Elaeagnus pungens aurea
- Elaeagnus pungens maculata
- Escallonia all vars.
- Euonymus fortuneii vars.
- Fuchsia Riccartonii
- Fuchsia Aurea
- Fuchsia 'Tom Thumb'
- Fuchsia 'Lady Thumb'
- Fuchsia mag 'Alba'
- Fuchsia mag 'Versicolor'
- Garrya elliptica
- Genista 'Lemon Spreader'
- Genista lydia
- Hebe 'Green Globe'
- Hebe pagei
- Hebe 'Red Edge'
- Ilex 'Golden King'
- Ilex 'Argentes Marginata'
- Griselinia littoralis
- griselinia littoralis variegatus
- Lavertera olbia 'Rosea'
- Lavertera 'Burgundy Wine'
- Lonicera pileata
- Parahebe (all)
- Phormium 'Tenax Purpureum'
- Santolina chamaecyparissus
- Senecio 'Sunshine'
- Spiraea x arguta
- Spiraea 'Goldflame'
- Spiraea 'Gold Mound'
- Spiraea 'Little Princess'
- Spiraea 'Shirobana'
- Viburnum tinus
Herbaceous
- Armeria maritima 'Splendens'
- Armeria maritima 'Alba'
- Eryngium bourgattii
- Eryngium planum
- Helianthemum
- Coprosa 'Beaton's Gold'
Trees
- Acer pseudoplatanus
- Sorbus aria
- Sorbus aria 'Lutescens'
- Quercus ilex
Hedges
Can provide valuable shelter in exposed areas: Ilex aquifolium, Olearia macrodonta, Escallonia macrantha are suitable, in coastal areas it is hard to beat Fuchsia .
Climbers
- Solanum jasminoides 'album'
- Actinidia kolomikta
This small selection of plants are all grown in Northern Ireland by professional growers and are available from good garden centres.
Local growers growing for you
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