If
you have visited Landscaping in Bradley Beach, NJ or any place along the Monmouth County coast,
you probably saw that the yards are not behaving like the yards even a few
miles inland. On paper, it doesn’t look complicated at all: a patch of grass,
some shrubs, maybe a patio. But when you actually come to live with the salty
air, sandy soil, and unpredictable Jersey Shore weather, you realize that
landscaping here has a distinct character.
And
frankly, homeowners were the main source of this knowledge for us—no book would
have explained it.
Seaside Life Is Not “Low Maintenance” (Though It
Can Look Like It)
One
of the first things that homeowners in Bradley Beach often say is: “We thought
living by the coast would mean less work in the yard.” After all, you have what
appears to be sand rather than that heavy clay, ocean winds, and only indoors
are considered mild winters compared to other regions.
However,
realization sets in only when you are faced with the situation.
Wind
is a lot stronger than expected. Salt that gets carried by the wind travels
much farther than you imagine. Plants which were perfect in the nursery fail
once they are a block or two from the ocean. Even the lawns that seem to be
doing well in spring will quickly deteriorate and become patchy after the
summer heat and salty air set in.
Most
people are shocked by the fact that plants grow, but they do not always remain
the way you planted them.
Water Plays by Its Own Rules
Without
a doubt, the landscaping problem that comes up most frequently in Bradley
Beach, NJ is drainage. And in the majority of cases, it is not apparent at
first.
Many
times we have seen homes where everything seemed to be fine until after a heavy
downpour, when the soggy and soft corner near the fence which was not noticed
before has become the first place that stood out to us. Another example is a
water lagoon that suddenly is formed near the patio edge which used to be
completely dry.
Recently,
one of the homeowners whose backyard appeared perfectly level, simply did not
comprehend that with every heavy rain the water would take a slow route back
into the house after all. That is because this phenomenon was very subtle,
there were no floods or considerable standing water. Just a consistently damp
lawn and a few plants that were struggling.
Typical Drainage Spots around the Monmouth
County Coastline
We
at landscaping company in Monmouth County, NJ have come across a few areas that
are always the problem spots in coastal yards:
1.
Lower parts of the yard where the soil naturally settles over time
2.
Very narrow side yards between the houses with limited airflow
3.
Edges of patios or walkways that were not properly graded
4.
Places near downspouts where water is discharged too close to the planting beds
We
say that the damage to the yard caused by the water remains hidden for a long
period of time and only reveal itself when the appearance of patchy grass, moss
or plants that never seem to thrive is noticed.
Why “Adding More Soil” Isn’t A Solution
The
very next thing a lot of homeowners think about is leveling the yard by filling
it with more soil. In theory, it sounds very reasonable and sometimes it is a
short-term solution.
However,
under the typical soil conditions of Bradley Beach, where sandy layers are
usual, water doesn’t necessarily behave in the manner expected by people. Water
moves at a high speed through sand but can also get trapped when there’s a
compacted layer below or when grading accidentally directs it toward the wrong
place.
Therefore,
instead of fixing the problem, an additional layer of soil may only “move” the
problem elsewhere.
Eventually,
the most efficient solution turns out to be something along the lines of slow
gradual changes in the grading of the land or a discreet drainage path that
‘guides’ water to places it would naturally go rather than trying to counter
its movements.
Sand Is Not “Bad Soil”—It Just Requires a Few
Phenomena
People
either love or hate sandy soil from the very first moment they move to the
shore. It will not keep you wet for long and when washed off, it will stay at
the top of the ground, which is very good for preventing the formation of water
puddles. However, its disadvantage is that it is very poorly able to retain the
nutrients.
This
implies that the lawns become more susceptible to drought during hot weather in
July and the plants will require more attention than those that are located
inland.
On
the other hand, sandy soil which one is able to manage and comprehend, gives
rise to many opportunities.
There
is a possibility for a lot of successful coastal yard designs that do not
struggle against nature to obtain the desired results but simply work with it.
Plants that do not require continuous watering are generally the plants that
flourish here as well as with less of the stress that comes from the overgrown.
Which Plants Do Best
Gradually,
patterns emerge and certain plant/landscape combinations “fit” with local
Bradley Beach environs.
Almost
always the dependable methods/ways/ options are:
1.
Wind-tolerant coast grasses that break less upon exposure to storms
2.
Shrubs which possess good salt resistance without exhibiting sun dryness on
their foliage
3.
Deep-rooted species which provide a natural stabilization of sandy soils
4.
Plants that are indigenous to New Jersey as they are well adapted to the
weather changes
One
of our customers replaced a traditional flower-laden bed with a simple
native-flora mix. There was nothing spectacular about it—just grasses, small
shrubs, and a few seasonal highlights. Within a few months, the customer
reported that the time spent on yard repairs had been greatly reduced and that
time spent on enjoying the yard had been increased.
Here Are Some Plants That Usually Don’t Do Too
Well
A
couple of the issues we find on the other side of the coin:
1.
Delicate ornamental plants placed too near direct wind exposure
2.
Grass lawns which are kept green by means of constant watering during the hot
summer season
3.
Thick hedge planting without considering salt damage potential
4.
Plants with shallow roots in high drainage spots
They
might work with proper maintenance, but generally speaking, they require more
effort than most people anticipate when they begin.
The Wind Factor Nobody Talks About Until It’s
Too Late
Wind
is not just a part of the weather in Bradley Beach—it is an element of the
design.
Most
of the time you run into this in winter and very early spring when strong winds
just blast right through the open yards. Unprotected plants could get damaged
or forced to change by way of leaning or drying in a manner that is not
immediately obvious.
Apparently,
a yard along with its backyard may up until June look quite beautiful and come
the following spring half of the plantings may be in distress simply because
they had been too exposed which nobody noticed at the time.
Well,
the fact of the matter is that very often good landscaping is not about cutting
off the wind completely—it is about softening it or rerouting it.
Even
a slight change in arrangement can dramatically impact the survival of a yard
over time.
Small Yards, Big Design Decisions
Many
homes in Bradley Beach come without a lot of yard space and that really ends up
changing the way you think about design.
If
you don’t have the luxury of space at all, then it is obvious that every square
foot is going to count. However, what is amazing is that in many cases, it
becomes a factor pushing towards more full-fledged and well-thought grounds
layouts and do not feel at all like a restriction.
We
have seen homeowners do the following:
1.
Small seating areas hidden behind planting borders
2.
Narrow planting beds that also function as privacy screens
3.
Patio areas with multiple functions - dining and relaxation spaces in one
4.
Walking paths that direct movement rather than cluttering up the yard
The
biggest challenge here is to resist the temptation to pack together all the
empty spaces. On the contrary, outdoor areas by the coast generally benefit
from a little breathing room.
A Few Things Experience Has Taught Us
Sufficient
work in Monmouth County is likely to make you aware of some phenomena which are
not frequently mentioned in design plans.
Quick
fixes are rarely permanent. The small drainage issue that you opt to overlook
in year one will most likely come back to you in a big project later on.
Plus
the best yards are not the ones that are magazine-copy attempts but the ones
that adapt to their surroundings.
And
Finally, we have also come to understand that homeowners here usually
appreciate another very simple aspect of it: a yard that is comfortable to live
in, not only one that looks good from a distance.
What It All Comes Back To
In
the final analysis, landscaping in Bradley Beach, NJ is not about battling the
elements—it is about knowing the elements.
The
salt, the sand, the wind, the rainfall patterns—they are all parts of the
puzzle. Gradually, if nothing else, the change in your viewpoint will result in
a more natural and systematic progression of things.
And
most of the homeowners with whom we have worked end up here too: they stop
trying to impose a perfect yard and start creating one which really suits
living by the shore.
A
slow process most of the time, it’s also the one which you enjoy the longest.
No comments:
Post a Comment