Appendix C:   Pacific Northwest Coastal Landscaping

by Lil Crom

Little Whale Cove is a combination habitat of rugged headlands, small coves, wetlands and forested areas blended to provide beauty and scenic variety. We are blessed with a moderate year-round climate interspersed with occasional severe winter freezes causing even Mother Nature’s plantings to succumb.

Constant summer winds, poor soil that is either sand or clay (topsoil has been carried away pre-construction). Salt in the air burns sensitive leaves; in the soil it competes for available moisture and in the water, it is toxic to the tissues of all but the most specialized plants. Seawater is 2-1/2 percent salt. A solution with only 1-1/2 percent salt is final to leaves, stems and roots of most ordinary plants.

Most plants typically grow together within a specific type of habitat. Plants in this handbook will be grouped in four habitats; Wetlands, Cliffs and Grasslands, Brushfields, and Coastal Forests. It is rare for the lines between these areas to be sharply defined. Often one area blends into another, forming what is called an ecotone. An example is salal. It dominates brushy areas along the bluffs and also grows as the understory of the shady forested areas as we move away from the ocean front.

Little Whale Cove has no sand dunes or beaches so we will not address the struggles of vegetation in this habitat.

PLANTING METHODS: All nurserymen, gardeners and county agents advise that plant selection be small and immature. The hardiest coastal specimens are those that have started as seedlings or small plants so that they have adapted to the harsh environment. Evergreens are traditionally planted in the fall and though they will probably survive any frosts, they often succumb to the cold, salt blasts that come with spring storms. You might find a late spring planting is a better solution so that the plants will be well established before the late winter storms come. Wrapping trunks with burlap reduces the rate of moisture lost. Water the entire plant, not just the roots to offset moisture loss.

Deep soakings are the best for coastal planting, for they ensure adequate moisture and also help leach the salts that are likely to accumulate in coastal soils.

After a severe storm, a good rinsing with the hose will be beneficial in removing salt from shrubs and small trees. Plants best adapted to coastal conditions manage with minimal nutrients. Massive applications of fertilizer are not as effective as small, frequent applications. Overfeeding will make plantings vulnerable rather than strong. It makes for weak, leggy growth.

Mulches will hold moisture in the ground and minimize the need for both frequent watering and weeding. Ground covers act as green mulches. Chipped wood, bark, rock and beach stones are other mulches that come to mind. The heavier the mulch material, the more effective against the wind.

One thing to remember: once construction begins, you no longer have the topsoil that provided nutrients to the plants and ground cover that were native to your lot.

WETLANDS: Coastal wetlands, once thought to be wasteland, and often drained to make way for other uses, are now being recognized for the valuable habitat they provide. A number of home sites in Little Whale Cove are at least partially wetland. This is one of the reasons for a mandatory drainage inspection before construction. The rains and consequent runoff must be accommodated by replacement drainage capability. Homes, driveways or any other installation eliminates the natural drainage. When considering this it is important to ascertain the direction of the natural drainage flow.

CLIFFS and GRASSLANDS: The coast headlands that comprise most of the oceanfront at Little Whale Cove are underlaid with basalt. In early spring wild iris, thrift (sea pinks), larkspur and seaside daisies appear. The challenge on the oceanfront is the wind and the salt spray.

BRUSHFIELDS: This is the transition between open grasslands and forest cover. This is also where spectacular flowering shrubs; rhododendrons, azaleas, flowering currants flourish.

COASTAL FORESTS: The coastal forest area consists of pine, spruce,
Douglas fir and hemlock and includes a layered understory of shrubs, ferns and mushrooms. As more houses are built, the forest is sacrificed to make room for the new construction. This is one reason every effort is made to save as many trees as possible. It is the natural home of bleeding heart, miner’s lettuce, wild ginger, violet, and trillium.

As mentioned previously, the lines between the habitats are not sharply defined. Gardens as close as across the street cannot enjoy the same plantings.