Gardening beside the sea takes special consideration. Salty sea air and exposed conditions can be difficult for some species and varieties of hedging plants, so it is important to choose carefully when planting along the coast.
Many suitable coastal hedging plants are evergreen, offering colour, shelter and protection to the garden all year round.
The benefits of planting hedging in your coastal garden include:
Coastal conditions can be harsh, so choosing plants that can cope with wind and salty air will give your new hedge the best chance of establishing successfully. Here are some of our recommended hedging plants for coastal areas in Ireland.
Elaeagnus x ebbingei is a fast-growing, vigorous and hardy evergreen hedging plant with leathery green leaves and an attractive silver underside.
Elaeagnus will grow in full sun or shaded areas and performs well in most soil types, although it does not like consistently wet or waterlogged ground.
Young plants may benefit from protection from strong winds during their first year after planting. In particularly exposed locations, green windbreak netting can help while the hedge becomes established.
Originally from New Zealand, Griselinia littoralis is a very popular evergreen choice for coastal gardens in Ireland.
It has attractive, soft, waxy lime-green leaves and forms a dense evergreen hedge. Griselinia is fast growing and hardy to approximately -10°C, although it can be susceptible to frost damage during particularly cold winters in inland areas.
For a thick hedge, plant approximately 3 plants per metre in a single row. Griselinia responds well to pruning and will grow in both full sun and partial shade.
Its combination of attractive evergreen foliage and tolerance of coastal conditions makes Griselinia particularly popular with our coastal customers.
Holly (Ilex aquifolium) is a hardy evergreen hedging plant and a good choice for coastal gardens. It is tolerant of exposed conditions and salty sea air once established.
Holly has distinctive spiny evergreen leaves, with small flowers appearing in spring followed by red berries on female plants where suitable pollination occurs. Its evergreen foliage provides colour and screening throughout the year.
Holly hedging will thrive in most reasonably well-drained soils.
Plant at approximately 3 plants per metre for a thick hedge. Holly can be relatively slow growing during its first few years but responds well to regular pruning once established.
Whitethorn (Crataegus monogyna), also known as Hawthorn, is a hardy native deciduous hedging plant that performs well in coastal and exposed locations.
Its dense, thorny growth creates a strong natural boundary, while an abundance of creamy-white flowers in May makes Whitethorn an attractive flowering hedge.
Red berries, known as haws, follow later in the year and provide an important food source for birds and other wildlife.
Whitethorn is fast growing, extremely hardy and responds well to pruning, making it a popular choice for both rural and coastal hedging.
For a standard hedge, plant approximately 3 Whitethorn plants per metre in a single row. For a thicker hedge, plant approximately 5 plants per metre in a staggered double row.
Keep the area around newly planted Whitethorn free from grass and weeds to reduce competition and help the hedge establish quickly.
Looking for a hardy native hedge for an exposed or coastal site? View our Whitethorn Hedging Plants, available for nationwide delivery from Cullen Nurseries.
Good planting and aftercare are particularly important when establishing a hedge in an exposed coastal location.
Keep newly planted hedges free from grass and weeds, particularly during the first few months after planting. Grass and weeds compete with young hedging plants for both water and nutrients.
Before getting started, read our Guide to Planting or watch our Step-by-Step Planting Guide.
As with all living plants, newly planted hedging needs sufficient water to survive and establish. This is particularly important during the first few months after planting.
During dry summer weather, watering is best carried out early in the morning or later in the evening. Water thoroughly rather than giving the plants a small amount of water frequently.
Feeding can also help support healthy growth. Chicken Manure Pellets can be incorporated into the soil to add nutrients and support healthy plant growth.
The best coastal hedging plant will depend on how exposed your garden is, your soil conditions and whether your priority is privacy, shelter, wildlife or year-round colour.
Here at Cullen Nurseries, we are an award-winning, DAFM-approved nursery, growing a large range of native trees and hedging plants at our nursery in Carlow.
We offer nationwide delivery throughout Ireland and are always happy to help you choose suitable hedging plants for your garden or planting project.
Bare-root season is coming!
Thanks for visiting Cullen Nurseries. Our bare-root and rootballed harvest begins in November, when the trees and hedging are fully dormant and ready to lift.
You can order now to secure your plants.
Lifting fresh from our fields to order means your plants reach you in the best possible condition, ready to plant.
Potted plants are available all year round and can be dispatched now.
Questions? Call us or WhatsApp us, and we’re always happy to help.
