Bring a touch of British seaside charm to our garden
These past holidays have been all about embracing the staycation, discovering hidden gems and exploring the beautiful British beaches on our doorstep. Whether you live by the sea or have a balcony in the city, you can still achieve the seaside look and bring a touch of coastal charm to your outdoor space. The experts at Dobbies Garden Centres have put together their top plant picks and expert advice to recreate a British beach vibe, no matter the size of your garden.
Seaside style
The feeling of coastal calm can be created with a colour palette of whitewashed walls and fences, pale woods, grey and concrete pots filled with greenery, adding pops of colour in your planting scheme.
A key feature of any British beach is sand and pebbles and this is also true in coastal gardens. If you have the space, choose gravel over lawn and install raised bed planters and winding pebble pathways or wooden sleepers.
Coastal cool plant picks
Rosemary – This hardy shrub will look lovely and scent your garden beautifully too. There are many herbs that will happily grow in seaside gardens, including Sage and Thyme. An outdoor herb garden patch will also provide you with an endless supply of fresh herbs for outdoor cooking.
Cordyline Australis – This seaside loving plant thrives in harsh environments, hence why it does so well by the sea. Ideal for sunny spots, it will look great in your garden all year round.
Sea Holly (Eryngium) – Making a bold statement, these spiky plants grow upright and are long lasting. With striking, thistle like flowers, they prefer a sunny spot and dry, well-draining soil. They are also a favourite with bees and butterflies.
Hydrangeas – A great plant for sandy soil, they come in a variety of shades including sea blues, pretty lilacs and soft pinks for a country coastal feel. Keep these plants well hydrated in hot weather.
Lavender – As long as it is planted and established well, lavender is drought tolerant and low maintenance. Often seen growing in gardens by the sea, they work well in pots on the patio either side of your front door for a fragrant welcome.
Ornamental Grasses – Coping well in windy conditions and often found along British beaches and within sand dunes, these tall and spiky plants are the perfect addition to complete any seaside look. Best planted in groups, choose from varieties including Calamagrostis Arundinacea or Carex Oshimensis ‘Evergold’ which has variegated foliage and will thrive best in borders or near ponds, as likes to be kept moist.
About Dobbies
It all started in 1865 with James Dobbie who created a business selling seeds. He named it Dobbie & Co. The company went on to build up a customer base and started opening garden centres that fast became a go-to destination.
A new turning point in the business came in 2019 with the acquisition of 37 centres – more than doubling its national footprint and strengthening its position as the UK’s leading garden centre retailer. There are now 68 centres nationwide.
Dobbies’ garden centres are much more than a shopping destination; they exist to enrich people’s lives and nurture connections between people, the community and the environment.
