Living on the Central Coast offers incredible lifestyle benefits—ocean views, beach access, and that relaxed coastal atmosphere. But coastal properties come with unique landscaping challenges that catch many homeowners off guard.
Salt spray, strong winds, sandy soils, and intense sun kill plants that thrive just 5km inland. Having designed gardens for hundreds of coastal properties from Noosa through to Newcastle—including beachfront homes taking the full force of easterly winds—we’ve learned what works in these challenging conditions.
Understanding Your Coastal Microclimate
Not all “coastal” properties face the same challenges. Your specific conditions depend on distance from ocean (0-500m extreme salt exposure versus 2-5km occasional exposure), elevation and exposure (elevated properties with views get maximum wind versus protected gullies), and prevailing winds (easterlies bring salt spray, storm events test even hardy plants).
Salt-Tolerant Plants That Actually Thrive
Forget English garden perennials—they’ll last six months on coastal properties before looking miserable. Feature trees for coastal properties include Coastal Banksia (handles full salt exposure, bird attracting), Norfolk Island Pine (handles extreme exposure, symmetrical form), Tuckeroo (dense canopy provides windbreak), Coastal Tea Tree (ultimate wind and salt tolerance), and Bangalow Palm (tropical resort feel, perfect for pool landscaping areas).
Screening plants that handle coastal exposure include Coastal Rosemary (Westringia – grey-green foliage, extremely hardy), Lilly Pilly ‘Resilience’ (bred for coastal conditions, dense evergreen), Coastal Hakea (handles extreme exposure), Pittosporum ‘Silver Sheen’ (variegated foliage, fast growing), and Bamboo clumping varieties (fast screening, provides wind filtering).
Groundcovers for coastal gardens include Lomandra (handles full sun and salt, minimal maintenance), Pigface (succulent coastal native, handles poorest soils), Native Violet (soft groundcover for shade), and Dymondia (drought and salt tolerant, light foot traffic).
Managing Wind: Your Biggest Challenge
Wind causes more coastal garden problems than salt. Strong winds dehydrate plants, physically damage foliage, topple trees, make outdoor spaces unusable, and increase salt exposure deeper into gardens.
Better than solid barriers: use filtered barriers that slow wind without blocking completely—slatted fencing with gaps, mesh screening combined with plants, strategic tree placement in layers, and hedge plants that filter rather than block.
Create layered windbreaks with hardy coastal shrubs taking full force (Layer 1), medium-height screening plants (Layer 2), feature trees and less hardy plants in protection (Layer 3), and garden beds and entertainment areas in sheltered zones (Layer 4).
Soil Challenges and Solutions
Coastal soils range from pure beach sand to heavy clay. Poor nutrient retention (solution: regular organic matter, slow-release fertilizers, mulching), drainage extremes (solution: compost and appropriate drainage systems), high salt content (solution: salt-tolerant species, deep watering to flush salts), and variable pH (solution: soil testing and amendments).
Irrigation for Coastal Properties
Coastal properties need carefully designed irrigation addressing wind increasing evaporation dramatically, salt spray damaging irrigation components, water restrictions, and sandy soils requiring frequent watering. Professional irrigation delivers water directly to root zones, minimizes evaporation, allows zone-based watering, and uses water efficiently.
Material Selection for Coastal Durability
Built elements need coastal-appropriate materials: quality paving installation with non-slip finishes and proper drainage, marine-grade aluminum or quality treated timber for fencing, concrete or stone garden edging (not steel that rusts), and marine-rated lighting fixtures for extreme coastal properties.
Complete Coastal Garden Budgets
Basic Transformation ($15,000-$30,000): Site preparation and soil improvement, hardy coastal plant selection, basic irrigation system, concrete edging, mulching, and small paved areas.
Mid-Range Landscaping ($35,000-$70,000): Comprehensive soil improvement, extensive coastal plant palette, quality irrigation with smart controller, retaining walls creating levels, paving for entertainment areas, fencing and screening, and landscape lighting.
Premium Coastal Estate ($80,000-$200,000+): Complete property transformation, multiple garden rooms and zones, extensive retaining walls and terracing, comprehensive outdoor living spaces, pool landscaping integration, feature trees and specimen plants, complete lighting design, water features, outdoor kitchen, and quality finishes throughout.
Ready to Create Your Coastal Garden Paradise?
Whether you’re dealing with a beachfront property taking full salt exposure or a sheltered coastal home 2km from the ocean, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities your property presents.
Contact Ocean Landscapes today for expert coastal garden design on the Central Coast. With extensive experience creating beautiful, thriving gardens in challenging coastal conditions, we’ll help you design and build a garden that flourishes year after year.
Related Services: Landscaping Services | Irrigation Systems | Screening & Privacy | Garden Lighting | Retaining Walls | Drainage Solutions