love the coast and will reward you with fruit every second year. They thrive in full sun, so choose a north-facing spot.
gypsum (a mineral which originated from the drying out of ancient seas) will help break up the clay, then organic matter can be applied. Any new plants will need to be well anchored so they don’t get ripped out by the wind. Pop a rock or brick over the roots of the plants – this will help them establish a strong roots system.
Finishing touches
Many New Zealand natives thrive by the seaside. Cordylines, such as cabbage trees, have spiky leaves and love the salt and wind. Griselina have lovely, shiny foliage and are tolerant of coastal conditions. P¯ohutukawa and rata are quintessential coastal Kiwi trees and planting them is an investment in the future of our coasts. You just need to make sure you have a large enough garden, as they can grow up to 35m tall. They thrive in warm, coastal, cliff top conditions, but will turn their roots up at cold, southerly winds.
Flower power Give your garden a splash of sizzling summer colour with some beach-loving flowers. Gazanias and arctotis are both sun worshippers, and create a bold blaze of colour when mass planted in beach gardens. They come in a range of vibrant colours – red, orange, yellow – great for instant impact. Daisies also thrive by the sea and come in a range of lovely colours. Kings Plant Barn in Howick has a wide range available and will give you advice on the best type for your garden.
Top coastal plants • P¯ohutukawa
• Cordylines
• Gazania
• Olive
• Lavender
• Griselina
SuPEr CATEgOry SPrEAdS TEmPlATE Editorial
Natural selection
Once you’ve worked out your planting, you might want to add a few embellishments to give your garden a classic coastal feel. Edging your garden bed with rocks will give it a natural boundary and can recreate a rock pool effect. Reinforce the seaside theme by using crushed shells as a mulch. Auckland Landscape Supplies in St Johns stock crushed shells and a range of other mulches and stones. Driftwood can create a lovely sculptural feature, so do a bit of beach trawling for some natural treasures.
Mediterranean magic Capture the magic of the Mediterranean in your garden with some coastal plants from that region. Mediterranean plants, such as lavender, love Kiwi coastal conditions. Choose a hardy lavender variety, such as French lavender, that will cope with our cold winds. It will look great for months and will reward you with its soothing aroma during the summer months. For a real taste of the Mediterranean, plant an olive tree. They Read on for details of local garden centres
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