Creating A Gorgeous Garden

4 Tips for Creating Great Coastal House Landscaping

7 February 2017 by Tiffany Gonzales

Whether it's a full-time residence or just a vacation escape, your new beach house is a great opportunity to leave it all behind and enjoy a property that's unique and relaxing. But, as you start planning your landscape, it's important to keep a few things in mind. Here are 4 top tips for beach house yard planning.

Have it Evaluated. If the house and property are situated close to the beach, water lines, or cliffs, you may want to consult with a professional landscaper with experienced in civil engineering. Beaches and coastlines may be subject to harsher weather and additional erosion challenges, so you want to make sure your yard is sound and solid before starting a design. A civil engineer can assess risks for soil loss, drainage problems, slope stability, and storm weathering.

Keep it Casual. The beach is a place of peace and comfort, so design a yard that reflects that feeling. How can you do this? Gentle curves rather than straight lines work well. Opt for a free-form garden style with loose flower bunches or clusters and shrubs that overflow into each other, rather than a formal style with manicured hedges or sharp distinctions between greenery.

Light it Up. Lighting is vital to enjoying a yard in the evening and night hours. Beach houses should be functional at all times so that you and your guests can enjoy early morning walks, sunrises, and sunset entertaining. So, be sure to work with your landscaper to formulate an integrated lighting plan. In keeping with the softness of the beach style, try to avoid harsh overhead lighting; instead, use low pathway lighting, string lights, open fire, and spotlight lighting in gardens and around trees.

Add Hardscape. Hardscaping means anything in the yard that's not organic. Hardscaping in your beach yard helps make it usable and accessible. This doesn't mean you have to use a harsh or modern hardscape element, though. You can include hardscape features like fire pits, benches and chairs, outdoor grills, pathways to the water line, or a hot tub. Arrange your hardscaping to take advantage of the best views, make easy access to the house and the beach, and serve as a "skeleton" of sorts around which to plan your greenery and plants.

Go Native. Local plants—flower, shrubs, and trees—are likely to work best in your landscape because they've adapted to the local climate and weather. This can be vital if your coastal area is prone to storms or rough weather. Using hardy local plants will help you keep maintenance low and water less. If you want a more exotic landscape, you can often find hardy varieties of exotic plants or a plant that mimics the look. For example, there are a number of palms such as sago palm, needle palm, or windmill palm that thrive in colder weather. Canna has a great tropical look while still growing well in drier and cooler regions.

Whatever you decide on for your beach landscape, by following these few guidelines, you'll help ensure a great result that will last for a lifetime of enjoyment. Learn more by contacting services like Morris-Depew Associates Inc.

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