{"id":29791,"date":"2025-01-29T08:21:44","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T13:21:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/?p=29791"},"modified":"2025-02-10T15:05:20","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T20:05:20","slug":"winter-2025-the-guide-to-coastal-living","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/winter-2025-the-guide-to-coastal-living\/","title":{"rendered":"The Guide to Coastal Living"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eco-friendly local plants and smart gardening practices can help to create healthy and beautiful coastal landscapes. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As spring approaches, many people begin to think about their gardens and landscaping. Knowing which plants will thrive, support local wildlife, enhance the beauty of a space, and provide benefits \u2014 like reducing erosion and flooding \u2014 can be challenging to navigate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits of Eco-Friendly Plants <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coastal habitats are unique and often experience a wide range of conditions \u2014 including storms, intense heat, flooding, and salt exposure. Plants and animals that are from coastal North Carolina are well-suited for these extreme conditions and support each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some introduced plant species outcompete local plants for resources and spread quickly, unchecked by environmental conditions or predators. These problem\u00a0\u00a0plants can rapidly take over and leave no room for local, native species, which in turn harms the environment and wildlife. Examples of such plants include kudzu, the common reed, and\u00a0beach vitex<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using eco-friendly local species offers a host of benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building Resilience <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vegetation can help to reduce flooding, stabilize shorelines, and provide habitat. Local plant species have complex root systems adapted to local soils. Native plants help soak up stormwater and can reduce erosion by holding the soil in place. Some local coastal species, like\u00a0sand live oaks<\/a>, are salt, wind, and drought tolerant \u2014 and can absorb thousands of gallons of water per year.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supporting Local Wildlife<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coastal North Carolina wildlife relies on plant species that are local to this area. For example, pollinators have adapted to thrive on local plant species and help the plants reproduce. Birds like painted buntings<\/a> rely on native plants for food and shelter. Waterfront shorelines with native plants like smooth cordgrass<\/a> also help fisheries that rely on salt marshes for food and shelter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Better Water Quality<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because native plants are adapted to a local area\u2019s conditions \u2014 sunlight, temperatures, soil type, and precipitation levels \u2014 they need fewer costly fertilizers and pesticides. They also require less irrigation. Reducing the use of additives and chemicals benefits the environment and, in turn, human health. Excess nutrients from fertilizers also can enter waterways and lead to algal blooms<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steps to Beautiful Eco-Friendly Landscaping<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Know Your Property Before Digging In.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding the physical conditions of the specific planting locations is crucial for successful landscaping. Observe the area to determine the number of sunlight and shade hours it receives throughout the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assess the soil characteristics; soil quality greatly influences plant health and growth. Local resources, such as your county\u2019s NC Cooperative Extension, provide free and valuable guidance about understanding soil, plants, and improving conditions. Local extension centers offer expert advice tailored to the region\u2019s unique landscaping needs. Find a nearby extension center here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another effective way to understand the landscape is by observing the plants growing throughout your neighborhood. Many plant identification apps are available to assist in determining if a plant is local to an area. These tools provide valuable insights into local flora, helping to make informed decisions about what to include in a landscape design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Determine Your Landscape Goals, and Find a Design that Inspires You.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Landscaping serves various purposes: creating an appealing and enjoyable space, managing stormwater, supporting pollinators, growing food, minimizing maintenance needs, and much more. Defining the specific goals for a space helps refine the project\u2019s budget and design options. Inspiration can come from local arboretums, nature parks, and plant nurseries, each of which showcase a variety of ideas and techniques. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An invaluable free resource for coastal landscaping in North Carolina is the\u00a0Coastal Landscapes Initiative<\/a>. CLI addresses landscaping at every stage, including planning, design, installation, and management, helping to foster landscapes that are visually appealing, functional, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable.\u00a0Find inspiration\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When designing a space, consider whether managing stormwater is an important goal. The incorporation of rain gardens, rerouting downspouts, rain barrels, and permeable surfaces can be cost effective and attractive solutions  for soggy yards. Find options here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Decide Which Plants Are Right for Your Purposes.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a landscape goal in mind \u2014 and a general idea of how much flower, grass, bush, and tree coverage you want \u2014 the next step is to select plants that meet these goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CLI offers\u00a0Plant This Instead!<\/em><\/a>\u00a0\u2014 a guide that provides alternatives to introduced ornamental plants that do not provide the same benefits as native plants, as well as landscaping templates and information specifically for coastal North Carolina.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NC State Extension Gardner has also created a Plant Toolbox<\/em><\/a> that can sort through over 4,700 plants that grow in North Carolina based on site conditions and desired plant characteristics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With so many choices, sometimes it can be helpful to chat with someone in person. NC Cooperative Extensions have \u201cMaster Gardeners,\u201d volunteers who are trained experts in supporting fellow community members in creating resilient landscapes. To find a Master Gardener, contact a county NC Cooperative Extension office. Learn more about the North Carolina Extension Master Gardener Volunteers Program(including how to become one) here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NC State Extension Horticulture<\/a> also provides resources to support growing food and ornamental plants, as well as on managing pests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other resources include the North Carolina Botanical Garden\u2019s Green Gardener Clinic<\/em><\/a>, which is a free public resource from provided by horticulturalists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Guide to Coastal Living <\/em>provides quick and practical information about how to live and thrive in a coastal environment.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ashley Caine<\/strong> recently completed her internship with North Carolina Sea Grant and received her bachelor\u2019s degree in environmental sciences from UNC Wilmington. Mariko Polk<\/strong> is North Carolina Sea Grant\u2019s coastal processes specialist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FROM THE WINTER 2025 ISSUE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Eco-friendly local plants and smart gardening practices can help to create healthy and beautiful coastal landscapes.  As spring approaches, many people begin to think about their gardens and landscaping. Knowing…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":63,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ncst_custom_author":"Ashley Caine & Mariko Polk","ncst_show_custom_author":true,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"displayCategoryID\":1563,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"subtitle\":\"From Shore to Shady Spots: Plants That Thrive on Our Coast<\/strong>\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1562,598,1563],"tags":[],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[],"class_list":["post-29791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-1562","category-coastal-landscapes-and-plant-life","category-winter-2025"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":1563,"name":"Winter 2025","slug":"winter-2025","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1564,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":1562,"count":14,"filter":"raw"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Guide to Coastal Living - Coastwatch<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/winter-2025-the-guide-to-coastal-living\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Guide to Coastal Living - Coastwatch\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Eco-friendly local plants and smart gardening practices can help to create healthy and beautiful coastal landscapes.  As spring approaches, many people begin to think about their gardens and landscaping. Knowing…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/winter-2025-the-guide-to-coastal-living\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Coastwatch\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-01-29T13:21:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-02-10T20:05:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/01\/Monarch_ConeFlower.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"713\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dave Shaw\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dave Shaw\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/winter-2025-the-guide-to-coastal-living\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/winter-2025-the-guide-to-coastal-living\/\",\"name\":\"The Guide to Coastal Living - Coastwatch\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/winter-2025-the-guide-to-coastal-living\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/winter-2025-the-guide-to-coastal-living\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/01\/Monarch_ConeFlower.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-01-29T13:21:44+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-02-10T20:05:20+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/#\/schema\/person\/9462183c95cb42509aed4d3346e43fe1\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/winter-2025-the-guide-to-coastal-living\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/winter-2025-the-guide-to-coastal-living\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/01\/Monarch_ConeFlower.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/01\/Monarch_ConeFlower.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":713},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/\",\"name\":\"Coastwatch\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/#\/schema\/person\/9462183c95cb42509aed4d3346e43fe1\",\"name\":\"Dave Shaw\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dabfeb46dfe41055acf38c64062edacf?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dabfeb46dfe41055acf38c64062edacf?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Dave Shaw\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/author\/dmshaw\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Guide to Coastal Living - Coastwatch","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/winter-2025-the-guide-to-coastal-living\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Guide to Coastal Living - Coastwatch","og_description":"Eco-friendly local plants and smart gardening practices can help to create healthy and beautiful coastal landscapes.  As spring approaches, many people begin to think about their gardens and landscaping. Knowing…","og_url":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/winter-2025-the-guide-to-coastal-living\/","og_site_name":"Coastwatch","article_published_time":"2025-01-29T13:21:44+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-02-10T20:05:20+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":713,"url":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/01\/Monarch_ConeFlower.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Dave Shaw","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Dave Shaw","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/winter-2025-the-guide-to-coastal-living\/","url":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/winter-2025-the-guide-to-coastal-living\/","name":"The Guide to Coastal Living - Coastwatch","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/winter-2025-the-guide-to-coastal-living\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/winter-2025-the-guide-to-coastal-living\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/01\/Monarch_ConeFlower.jpg","datePublished":"2025-01-29T13:21:44+00:00","dateModified":"2025-02-10T20:05:20+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/#\/schema\/person\/9462183c95cb42509aed4d3346e43fe1"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/winter-2025-the-guide-to-coastal-living\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/winter-2025-the-guide-to-coastal-living\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/01\/Monarch_ConeFlower.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/01\/Monarch_ConeFlower.jpg","width":1000,"height":713},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/#website","url":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/","name":"Coastwatch","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/#\/schema\/person\/9462183c95cb42509aed4d3346e43fe1","name":"Dave Shaw","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dabfeb46dfe41055acf38c64062edacf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dabfeb46dfe41055acf38c64062edacf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Dave Shaw"},"url":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/author\/dmshaw\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29791","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/63"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29791"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29791\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30082,"href":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29791\/revisions\/30082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29791"},{"taxonomy":"_ncst_magazine_issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_ncst_magazine_issue?post=29791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}