May 1953. Seaside Gardens. Seaside conditions in the British Isles normally provide less extreme temperatures than do inland regions, but at the same time the winds are more violent and the air is salt-laden. The first thing to do in making a seaside garden is to consider the question of shelter, and this having been provided, the garden will grow practically any type of plant according to the natural soil of the district.
Before planting any trees or shrubs the condition of the soil should be taken into account. The ordinary rules for soil preparation will apply; that is, heavy soils should be lightened and light soils should be made more retentive of moisture by the addition of strawy manure, leaf mould, ect. The worst problem will be where the soil is practically pure, sea-washed sand. Here the sand must be prevented from blowing about by the eastablishment of grasses, the erection of fences, and by pegging down tree branches over the surface. Scotch roses, willows, common privat, broom, and tamarisk, with violas and sea pinks (thrift), will constitute the first planting, whilst trees that can be planted almost at once include Corsican vines, maritime pines and sitka spruce. Other trees and shrubs suitable for coastal regions are: dogwood, alder, blackthorn sycamore,, hollies, sea buckthorn, whitebeam, certain Veronicas, hawthorn, Lycium barbarum, and Rosa rugosa.
