Evening star., 1960-12-11
Some Plants
Will Live in
Salt Air
BY w. H. tBILL) YOUNGMAN
star Garden Editor

by w. II. t6IkILD YUUNGMAN
star Garden Editor
Gardening close to the sea
coast. or along the Bay shore.
is more often a problem Of
wind. poor soil. lack of moisture
and plant food, than 1t is Of
salt laden air. This may seem
strange when the car parked
in the driveway rusts so quick
ly that the owner can only
blame his troubles on salt air.
OF course there are some
plants that are much more toll
Grant to sea coast conditions
than others. Nevertheless the
wind is the major factor and
one that must be solved first
before the others are tackled.
In some places where the soil
is sandy tosthe extent Of blow
ing, it must be stabilized by
beach grass" The next step
is to plant trees and shrubs
that can take the wind, The
Japanese black pine. the jack
pine. pitch pine and the pond
pine are well known for their
usefulness in such exposed situ-
ations. The native shrubs -
beach plum. bayberry, wax
myrtle. sweet .pepperbush. sea
buckthorn, ETC.. to mention Q
few, may be used in and around
the pines If q complete screen
is desired. These are the tough
ies-the one that can be de-
pended upon to stop the wind.
Wood and Glass Screens
If space does not permit a
sufficient thicket of one or
more Of these shrubs then the
gardener may need to turn to
wooden screens II ANIMALS and
perennials are to survive In his
garden. On the West Coast
some use is being made Of glass
panels which effectively stop
the wind and permit the gar
dener to have his view of the
sea.
The important thing before
planting other flowers and
shrubs Is to make sure the
wind is controlled. Not only
does 1t stunt plants. but they
cannot function when the wind
takes more moisture from the
leaves than the roots can sup
ply.
Usually light is rather In
tense along the coast. probably
due in part to the reflection
from the light colored sands.
Where this is the situation
then a dark colored mulch is
needed to reduce the light in
tensity. Also q good mulch
helps moisture penetration and
prevents some loss through
surface evaporation.
Little Moisture In Soil
Obviously with the high
rate Of evaporation caused by
the winds and the sun. water
ing becomes more essential
than in more protected areas.
Also sandy soils do not retain
moisture as readily as do the
clay and loan soils. Thus wa
tering Is important to the sue
cess of beach gardens. Along
with the need for supplement
tai watering the gardener will
most likely need to feed more
literally. than is the normal
practice in the city. Sandy
soils do not contain much
plant food in the first place
and that which is amplied Is
likely to leach away unless
there is an ample supply Of
humus in the soil to absorb It.
The pines are not the only
trees for the beach front prop
erty. The blackjack oak, the
arbor-vitae, privet. rose Of
sharon, sour gum, the syca-
mores. birches. jumpers. poplar.
mulberry, red cedar and many
others may be used.
Some Tough Perennials
Among the perennials there
are a number that will with
stand more rigorous conditions
than others. They are: Thrift.
yucca. iris. loosestrife. daylily,
pinks. sea holly. fieabane. globe
thistle. coralbells. gaillardia.
veronica. hardy asters, peren-