Retreat to the sea

Learn how this garden thrives by the coast

Step out in a relaxed, beachside garden – the combination of recycled materials,

clever landscape design and sturdy plants will inspire an ocean of ideas!

Asuccessful garden embraces its location, celebrates the plants that will thrive there and combines the two. This garden, created as a sanctuary on the coast, is a fusion of strong design elements and informal plantings – all packed into a sloping suburban block. If a coastal theme and plants will suit your place, nab a few of these ideas.

About the garden

This private backyard situated on a coastal hillside in the Illawarra region, south of Sydney, had many challenges. The site was subject to hot, dry conditions, as well as winds laden with sea spray. With all this in mind, landscape designer Grant Boyle transformed the space with hardwood sleepers and a mix of native and exotic plants. There’s an entertaining area at the front of the house to take in the view, while the steep slope of the back garden has been embraced, with a variety of terraced areas.

Blending naturalist style and plantings with a contemporary flourish, this garden was designed to suit the needs of a family, with areas dedicated to entertaining, relaxing and playing.

Even in a coastal garden design, touches of formality add interest – these clipped buns of westringia contrast delightfully with the natural foliage and aged wood around them. Lengths of hardwood like these railway sleepers, repurposed from an old coal...