Wamberal’s stunning beachside setting brings a unique blend of coastal climate and landscape character, calling for a carefully considered approach to garden design. By tailoring plant choices and installations to suit local conditions, it’s possible to create outdoor spaces that will thrive year round.

Designing for Coastal Climates

Gardens in Wamberal are often open and modest in size, surrounded by the natural beauty of sandy soils, native trees, and the ever present sea breeze. The aim is to preserve the area’s low density, leafy character while still achieving privacy and function.  This means avoiding tall retaining walls or harsh terraces and instead embracing soft, layered planting and natural slopes. A good way to make a garden feel more inviting is to include plants that add a sense of shelter without closing things in. Keeping hedges or shrubs roughly a third as tall as the space is wide works well. This might mean using medium height coastal natives that soften the edges, offer some privacy, and take the sting out of salty winds without blocking the view or sunlight. Architectural features like the lines of the home or existing property boundaries can act as invisible guides to organise the garden’s layout. This approach, sometimes called the regulating line, helps tie together the built environment and natural landscape, making the outdoor space feel balanced and intentional.

Creating Depth and Flow with Layering

A well designed garden layers plants by size and function, which is especially important in coastal gardens where space can be tight. Start with small to medium sized trees that withstand salt spray and wind, species like Native Frangipani (Hymenosporum flavum) and Coast Wattle (Acacia sophorae) are perfect for adding height without overwhelming the space. Next come the shrubs, including hardy and colourful natives like Coast Rosemary (Westringia fruticosa) and Hairpin Banksia (Banksia spinulosa). These plants provide year round structure and attract native birds, which adds life and movement to the garden. At ground level, include drought tolerant groundcovers such as Native Violet (Viola hederacea) or Black-eyed Susan (Tetratheca thymifolia) to protect the soil and create a lush carpet that ties the garden together. Layering plants in this way adds visual depth, encourages biodiversity, and maximises the use of available space. It also helps the garden flow naturally from one area to another, avoiding isolated clumps of planting and instead creating a harmonious, organic feel.

Ensuring Year Round Colour and Growth

Wamberal’s coastal environment can be challenging, salty winds, sandy soils, and periods of drought require plants that are tough yet visually appealing throughout the year. Focus on planting in masses, which means grouping several plants of the same species together to create a bold, impactful look. This also improves the garden’s resilience, as plants protect each other from wind and salt spray. Repetition of plant forms and colours builds unity and rhythm. Selecting species with staggered flowering seasons is another way to maintain interest across all four seasons. Native Frangipani offers fragrant spring blooms, while the NSW Christmas Bush (Ceratopetalum gummiferum) bursts into colour in summer, meanwhile, plants like Mint Bush (Prostanthera spp.) provide aromatic foliage and mauve flowers in autumn and winter.

Using Professional Design and Installation

A thoughtful landscape design provides a clear vision and guides all stages of your outdoor transformation, helping your garden reach its full potential faster and more beautifully. Working with the experts at Devo Designs will help you avoid common pitfalls and optimise the use of your outdoor space. Being based on the Central Coast, our team understands the environment and design principles needed to create gardens bursting with colour, texture, and thrive throughout the year. Get in touch today with our team to install and design your new coastal garden.