Purple sand, Monterey Bay at the mouth of the Big Sur River, California. Photo courtesy of: © Gary Griggs
Coastal Landscaping Ideas For Any Location
Picture vibrant hues, gentle ocean breezes, and the soothing sound of crashing waves as you design a coastal haven that reflects the beauty of the shore! Sound good? We thought so!
Whether you live by the coast or simply want to bring a coastal garden charm to your backyard, this post will explore the essential elements to help you transform your outdoor space into a coastal retreat.
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What is Coastal Landscaping?
Coastal landscaping refers to creating a landscape design in coastal areas, such as properties located near beaches, cliffs, or waterfronts – or mimicking that look elsewhere. It involves creating landscapes that are inspired by and harmonize with the natural elements found in coastal environments, including the beach, dunes, ocean views, and the unique flora and fauna that thrive in such locations.
Coastal landscaping or coastal gardens aim to capture the inspiration of the beach by incorporating elements that evoke a sense of relaxation, serenity, and connection to the sea. It embraces a blend of natural and man-made features, striking a delicate balance between aesthetics and practicality to enhance the beauty of the sand and sea setting.
When planning a coastal landscape, various factors come into play, such as heavy winds, saltwater exposure, sandy soil conditions, and the need to withstand harsh coastal elements. The selection of plants, materials, and design elements takes these factors into account, ensuring that the landscape remains resilient and sustainable in the coastal environment. Some of these points are for homes that are directly on the beach and can be adapted based on how close you are to the water or beach.
In coastal landscaping, the design often focuses on creating a seamless transition between the built environment and the natural landscape. It may include design ideas such as beach-inspired pathways, coastal-themed structures, native plants that thrive in sandy soil, and strategic placement of vegetation to provide shade, privacy, and wind protection.
Overall, coastal landscaping offers an opportunity to embrace the coastal lifestyle and design an outdoor space that celebrates the unique beauty and tranquility of living by the sea. It allows individuals to create their own oasis, where they can unwind, connect with nature, and enjoy the breathtaking vistas that coastal living has to offer.
White
The startling white sands of Hyam’s Beach, Jervis Bay, Australia. Photo source: © Agent Smith
Hyams Beach is a village located in New South Wales, Australia and surrounded by three brilliantly white sand beaches, Chinaman’s Beach to the north, Hyams Beach and Seaman’s Beach to the south. Seaman’s Beach is the largest of the three beaches, stretching for approximately 2 kilometres (1.6 miles). Hyams Beach is present in the Guinness Book of Records as having the beaches with the whitest sand in the world. It is comprised of fine particles of quartz.
Green
Green sand beaches are very rare.
Papakōlea Beach, Hawaii. Photo source: © Ryan
Papakōlea Beach (also known as Green Sand Beach or Mahana Beach) is located near South Point, in the Kaʻū district of the island of Hawaiʻi. One of only four green sand beaches in the World, the others being Talofofo Beach, Guam, Punta Cormorant on Floreana Island in the Galapagos Islands, and Hornindalsvatnet, Norway. It gets its distinctive coloring from the mineral olivine. Captions: © Wikipedia
Two popular ones lie within the US: one on Papakolea Beach, Pu’u Mahana, in Mahana Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii, one in the territory of Guam, and the Galapagos Islands Punta Cormorant.
Green sand is composed primarily of olivine crystals which erode out of basalt (lava) flows. The crystals are heavier than most sand types on the beach and remain behind when lighter sand grains are washed away by strong wave activity. Olivine is a silicate mineral that contains iron and magnesium.
Pink
Pink beaches are also quite rare. They occur only in areas near a very large coral reef formations that contain a tiny organism that has a red skeleton, invertebrates such as corals, clams, forams and other shells.
Photograph: © SAF — Coastal Care
When they die, these skeletons fall to the ocean floor and are gradually eroded to small particles that are carried to shore by the current, where they mix in with the sand. The finest example of a pink beach sand may be seen at Harbor Island, Eleuthera in the Bahamas, although pink beaches are also found in Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Barbados, the Philipines, and in Scotland.
