By the Sleak Property Services team ·
Gardens close to the sea in Cleveleys and Anchorsholme have two problems most inland gardens don't: wind carrying salt, and light, sandy soil that dries out quickly. Further inland towards Thornton it gets easier, but anything on the seaward side of the house still takes a battering.
The good news is that plenty of plants are made for exactly these conditions. Pick those, give them some shelter and the garden becomes far less work.
Plants that cope with salt wind
Plants with tough, leathery, waxy or silver leaves usually handle salt spray best. These are reliable on the Fylde coast:
- Escallonia: glossy evergreen hedging with pink or white flowers, one of the best seaside hedges there is
- Griselinia: bright green evergreen that makes a neat, dense hedge
- Hebe: compact evergreen shrubs in lots of sizes and flower colours
- Olearia (daisy bush): grey-green leaves, very salt tolerant
- Rosa rugosa: a tough shrub rose that grows happily in sand dunes
- Lavender, rosemary and sea holly: they like the sharp drainage of sandy soil
- Ornamental grasses such as Stipa and Festuca, which bend with the wind rather than snapping
Hedges beat solid fences in the wind
A solid fence stops the wind dead, which sounds ideal, but the air spills over the top and tumbles down the other side, and the fence itself takes the full force of every gale. That's why so many panels end up flat on the drive each winter.
A hedge or a slatted fence filters the wind instead, slowing it down over a much bigger area of garden. If you do want a solid fence, use concrete posts and gravel boards, and keep panels in good repair so one loose one doesn't take the rest with it.
Sandy soil
Sand drains fast and holds few nutrients, so water and feed wash straight through. Digging in compost or well-rotted manure in autumn, and mulching beds with bark or compost, holds moisture in and stops the surface blowing about. Lawns on sandy soil turn brown quickly in dry spells, but they usually recover once it rains.
Keeping it low maintenance
- Choose evergreen shrubs and hedges that need one or two trims a year
- Use gravel or bark in the most exposed corners instead of fighting to keep plants alive there
- Keep hedges to a sensible height so they can be cut safely and don't block light
- Edge lawns and beds so they stay tidy between visits
- Get regular help through spring and summer, when growth is fastest, and lighter visits in winter
When the garden has got away from you
If a Cleveleys or Thornton garden has been left for a few seasons, regular gardening won't be enough at first. It needs clearing back to a manageable state, then looking after. Our garden clearance guide explains what that involves.
Common questions
What is the best hedge for a garden near the sea?
Escallonia and Griselinia are two of the most reliable evergreen hedges for salt wind on the Fylde coast. Both make a dense screen and recover well from storms.
Why do fence panels keep blowing down near the coast?
Solid panels catch the full force of the wind. Concrete posts, gravel boards and well-fixed panels help, and a hedge or slatted fence filters the wind rather than resisting it.
How often should a coastal garden be maintained?
Every two to four weeks through spring and summer keeps most gardens under control, with a monthly or occasional visit in autumn and winter for hedges, leaves and tidying.