Living on the Sunshine Coast sure has some incredible perks, with one of the most popular being that we are surrounded by countless beautiful beaches.
However, living by the beach and in extreme heat can be challenging for our garden plants.
The wind dries out plants’ foliage and can stunt their growth, salt spray coats the plant’s leaves which stops them emerging easily and seeps into the soil. Soils are then quite often dry, sandy, and salty.
Living in a subtropical climate also means that summer creates some challenges in the garden. Our harsh Queensland sunshine can burn and harm our flowers and greenery, and the pots located in sunny positions can dry out very quickly.
If you love bright summer colours in your garden, we recommend:
- Dianthus
- Vinca
- Zinnias
- Marigolds
These gorgeous flowers love the heat and will flower for months.
Dwarf bougainvilleas (including the Bambino range) and dipladenias enjoy hotter conditions and will thrive and flower almost all year in a warm, sunny location.
Succulents in pots of all different shapes and sizes are also a popular, appealing, and low maintenance choice!
If you live close to the beach, we recommend brightening up your garden with plants that are more sand tolerant, wind tolerant, and robust to be able to grow in dry, sandy soil. Choosing hardy and drought resistant plants will also require a lot less maintenance on your end.
If you are looking for plants to thrive in your Sunshine Coast garden, we recommend:
- Silver-grey foliage (deflects scorching sun)
- Coastal rosemary, New Zealand Christmas bush, New Zealand Christmas bush
- A naturally low shape (aerodynamic in a strong breeze)
- Carpobrotus
- Slender grass-like leaves (the wind won’t shred the foliage and creating a tatty mess)
- Mat rushes (Lomandra), flax lilies (Dianella), club rush (Ficinia nodosa), waxflowers (Chamelaucium)
- Thick fleshy leaves or leathery leaves (hold water and won’t dry out fast)
- Saw banksia (Banksia serrata) Yuccas, Oleanders, Sea lavender (Limonium perezii)
So, living by the beach or on the steamy Sunshine Coast doesn’t mean you can’t have a nice garden, it just means it pays to do your research and carefully choose your plants, as well as practice some gardening upkeep to help them withstand the heat.
With a bit of planning and preparation, your garden can be healthy, enticing, and colourful all summer long.
Any questions, we are happy to help! Chat to our team today.