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Coastal garden?

TerryannTerryann Posts: 48
in Plants
Hi, help and advice please, I will be moving to the Essex coast soon, new blank garden to keep me busy.   House/garden is approx 1 mile from the coast, is this classed as “coastal”?  Garden has 5/6 ft wooden fences all around and is south facing, does this mean it’s sheltered, there are not any trees close by either?  Should I only consider plants for coastal areas or do most plants manage at this distance from sea?  
Many thanks.

Posts

  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    'South facing' will be good.  'A mile from the coast' will still give you exposure to sea breezes, and you should be able to source goodly amounts of seaweed for nutrition.  Why not have a wander round the area to see what other gardeners are growing?  If you loiter long enough, you might get into conversation.
  • NormandyLizNormandyLiz Posts: 788
    I'd wait and see. Be patient and get to know your garden before planning anything major. You'll feel for yourself if it's sheltered when you've been there a few months!

    We moved from near the north Essex coast a couple of years ago and one thing I would say to bear in mind is that can be very dry. That would also be a factor you might want to take into consideration.


  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited February 2023
    Coastal in plant terms means:  wind, salt, more sun, and less extreme temperatures.

    If you are not high above sea level, the tides acting on the water-table may pull moist air into the soil.  It's why hydrangeas do so well near the coast.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited February 2023
    @Terryann I agree with  @nick615 Taking a look at what is growing nearby especially near to the coast is even more important as these conditions can be variable.
    There is also information available on line now for the NGS Open Gardens 2023. There could be some local to your new home. There are often plants for sale cheaper than the G C and if they grow well locally they should do well in your garden too.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Look up Beth Chatto's garden near Colchester in Essex. You can visit it too and buy plants. There is a wonderful dry garden, another garden with ponds and a garden full of perennials that was planted more recently.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • TerryannTerryann Posts: 48
    Thank you everyone for the advice.  I’ve been told about the water, and will be on a meter too, so will get some butts.  Beth chatto garden is not far away, so will be visiting this summer.  Can’t wait to get in the garden, have plenty of plants in pots to take, current garden is mainly paved.  Once I move in, I will probably be asking loads of questions on siting them etc.   glad to hear Hydrangers cope well, love these. 
    Thank you everyone again 
  • TerryannTerryann Posts: 48
    Can you just take seaweed from the beach?

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Yes, it's OK to collect small quantities for personal use https://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/en-gb/what-we-do/on-the-seabed/coastal/seaweed-harvesting/ , unless it's a privately-owned beach in which case you'd need the landowner's permission.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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