Celtic Engagement Rings

Irish Landscape

Irish Landscape

Challenges of Ocean Front Landscaping

Planting and maintaining a garden near a large body of salt water can be quite different from your average inland garden.

If your plants are yellowing, burnt, or hard to establish, chances are they aren't the best choices for your seaside growing conditions. You may have to make some adjustments to your garden or re-think the type of plants that will grow successfully.

The five main challenges that confront oceanfront gardeners are:

1. Damage from strong winds
2. Drought
3. High salt levels in the soil
4. Sandy soil
5. Contributing to ocean pollution

Dealing With These Challenges:

Wind and Salt Spray - Plant a natural wind guard using a combination of trees and smaller shrubs in a front row. Do your research – you don't want trees that will grow large enough to block your view.

A man-made trellis may be required to supplement your natural wind break. Solid fences or brick walls work well, but may also block your view.

Ocean or Seaside Drought - Combat this problem with a thick layer of organic compost and use plants that do not require constant watering.

Salty & Sandy Soil - Salt is the most common cause of severe leaf burn and shedding leaves. It also affects the plant's ability to thrive. Choose plants that thrive in salty soils and use wind blocks to prevent the passage of salt into the soil. (See list below)

Mixing in plenty of organic compost with the soil will help improve the quality and add much needed nutrients.

Using Green Practices to Reduce Pollution - Often times the run off from ocean front gardens contributes heavily to ocean pollution. This includes waste from the yard, fertilizer, and other chemicals that seep into storm drains. In an effort to improve the quality of our gardens, these pollutants can poison fish and contaminate ground and ocean water.

Ways to alleviate this problem include:

Cover piles of organic waste, or other materials with tarps to prevent run off during rain and storms.
Do all your excavating during dry weather conditions.
Make small dams or ditches to divert runoff from storm drains.
Prevent erosion on your property by planting native plants and grasses to bind the soil.
Don't overwater. Instead employ the use of drip irrigation or soaker hoses.
Do not blow or rake leaves into storm drains or on the street.
Use organic or non-toxic fertilizers.
Store chemicals in a covered area to prevent run off.

Plants that grow well in salty, sandy soil, and don't cower from high winds include:

Trees

Acacia longifolia var. sophorae (Coast Wattle), Agonis flexuosa (Willow Myrtle), Allocasuarina littoralis (Drooping She Oak), Arbutus unedo (Irish Strawberry Tree), Callitris columellaris (Coast Cypress Pine), Cocos nucifera (Coconut Palm), Eucalyptus ficifolia (Red Flowering Gum), Olea europea (Olive), and Phoenix canariensis (Date Palm).

Shrubs

Banksia ericifolia (Heath Banksia), Brachysema lanceolata (Swan River Pea), Dodonea viscosa (Hop Bush), Leptospermum laevigatum (Coast Tea Tree), Murraya exotica (Mock Orange), Nerium oleander (Oleander), and Westringia fruticosa (Coastal Rosemary).

Groundcovers

Alyssum maritimum (Sweet Alice), Cerastium tomentosum (Snow in Summer), Osteospermum cultivars (African Daisy), and Mesembryanthemum sp. (Pigface).

Beach wormwood (Artemisia stelleriana, Z3-7)

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa, Z4-9)

Catmints (Nepeta spp. and cvs., Z4-8)

Montauk daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum, Z6-10)

Salt spray rose (Rosa rugosa, Z2-9)

Sea lavender (Limonium latifolium, Z4-9)

Summersweet (Clethera alnifolia, Z3-9)

Wand flower (Gaura lindheimeri, Z6-9)

About the Author

Visit PreviewNaples.com for all the tools and information you need to navigate the Naples real estate and greater Southwest Florida real estate market. You'll find local realty info, including details about Grey Oaks Naples real estate.

Irish Verse to Landscape DVD $17.99 Take in the breathless beauty of the Emerald Isle as you listen to a selection of classic Irish poetry and popular verse. Soothing words by poets such as Thomas Moore, Oliver Goldsmith and more. Traditional music adds to the scenery and the inspiring words. Approx. 55 min.

Irish Verse To Landscape $13.99 Irish Verse To Landscape

Landscape Mysteries - Volume 1: In Search Of Irish Gold $6.99 Landscape Mysteries - Volume 1: In Search Of Irish Gold

Irish Verse To Landscape (DVD) $12.43 A selection of classic Irish poetry and verse set to beautiful Irish landscapes and famous landmarks. Running Time: 52 min

Irish Blessing $7.99 Irish Blessing

Tourism, Landscape, and the Irish Character (Paperback) $55.57 Picturesque but poor, abject yet sublime in its Gothic melancholy, the Ireland perceived by British visitors during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries did not fit their ideas of progress, propriety, and Protestantism. The rituals of Irish Catholicism, the lamentations of funeral wakes, the Irish language they could not comprehend, even the landscapes were all strange to tourists from England, Wales, and Scotland. Overlooking the acute despair in England’s own industrial cities, these travelers opined in their writings that the poverty, bog lands, and ill-thatched houses of rural Ireland indicated moral failures of the Irish character.

Atlas of the Irish Rural Landscape $56 No Synopsis Available

Irish Socks $9.99 Truly a cheerful treat for Irish feet?.socks with shamrocks, an Irish flag and the word Irish! Cotton and spandex.

Irish Blessing 8 Plate $22.99 Irish Blessing 8 Plate

Irish Cup Of Tea Bead $70 Irish Cup Of Tea Bead

Irish Soup Recipes Magnet $9.99 Irish Soup Recipes Magnet

Irish Stout Recipes Magnet $9.99 Irish Stout Recipes Magnet

Honey With Irish Cream Liqueur $7.99 Honey With Irish Cream Liqueur

Irish Blessing 4 Plate $11.99 Irish Blessing 4 Plate

Irish Dancer Bead $53 Irish Dancer Bead

Born Usa 100% Irish $59 Born Usa 100% Irish

Irish Mom Bead $31 Irish Mom Bead

Irish Cottage Bead $55 Irish Cottage Bead

Irish Tux Shirt $21.99 Irish Tux Shirt

Irish $10 Irish

Irish Landscape - Kate Spain - Photo Greeting Card $2.99 "This picturesque view of the Irish coast can be used to highlight the meaning in any type of note you add within. A beautiful photograph, this greeting card is versatile and memorable. 7"" x 5"" Folded Card"

Irish Sweatshirt $39.99 Let the world know that you're proudly Irish! Printed in the USA. 50% cotton / 50% polyester.

Personalized Irish Angel Ornament $6.99 An adorable angel and as Irish as can be! Resin. Imported.

Irish Attitude License Plate Cover $7.99 Irish Attitude License Plate Cover

Summer Fruit Preserve With Irish Whiskey $7.99 Summer Fruit Preserve With Irish Whiskey

Irish Whiskey Loaf $24.99 Ultra moist and delectable, this favorite Irish treat is filled with raisins, pecans, and real Irish whiskey. 17 oz. USA.

Irish Visor $21.99 What could say Irish more than this! Be noticed by all and have fun doing it! Cotton/polyester. One size fits most.

Green with Irish $10.99 These green with white shamrock socks show that you're Irish from the tip of your toes to your knees! Organic Cotton and Spandex. One size first most. USA.

Bax: Symphony No 6; Irish Landscape $16.99 Lyrita:296

Atlas of the Irish Rural Landscape (Hardcover) $175.28 Description not available.

Best Irish Folk Songs $10.99 These ever-popular songs include Danny Boy, When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, Black Velvet Band, and 17 other Irish favorites. Canada.

Musical Irish Dancer $29.99 This Irish lass will dance her way into your heart! Dressed in traditional Irish costume the 7? figurine is adorned with shamrocks and plays ?Irish Lullaby?. Please state name up to 24 characters. Poly Resin. Dancer must be screwed in counter clockwise to top of base.

Nostalgic Irish Blessing Thermometer $13.99 This distressed Irish designed tin thermometer would look great hanging anywhere. How appropriate that the three lines of the Irish Blessing all have to do with weather - wind, rain, and sun. Imported.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 12th, 2007 at 2:48 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.