You want to decorate your garden but you live near the sea? In this case, you have surely wondered if the plants you like the most will resist in very saline soils.
The truth is that several factors must be taken into account to know which type of plants do well in soils containing soluble salts.
It is not common to find places so saline that nothing can be planted there. However, the place where you want to plant your garden may be saline.
This can happen in areas close to the coast or also in places with a dry climate, because when heavy rains fall, the salts contained in the soil are washed away.
read more: the problem of irrigation with salinity
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Previous: how to know if a soil is saline
If there is already vegetation on the ground you want to use, you may see signs of salinity. For example, if you water often or if it rains a lot but the plants seem to dry out, may be due to soil saltpeter. Indeed, the salt prevents the roots from absorbing the water well.
You can also use other methods to check that your soil contains salts. Look at the appearance of the surrounding vegetation. If they have leaves or stems of yellowish or brown colorthey may burn due to the presence of salt.
And a trick that our grandparents used many times is plant green beans and check the color of the leaves. If they are purple or purple instead of green, it’s probably because you have too saline soil. This result is due to the fact that the beans are sensitive to the presence of salt in the soil and show these symptoms.
read more: how to irrigate with salt water
Plants resistant to salinity
If you have already confirmed that you want to plant a garden in saline soil, let’s see which plants are ideal for growing in these conditions.
Palm trees
The places with the highest salinity are those near the sea. And if we look at what abounds in the coastal areas, we will find the plants most resistant to the salts present in the soil. The Palm trees They are typical of lands close to the sea as they are very resistant to salt spray and extreme environments.
Some of the most common types of palms to resist salinity are the Butia capitataheart of palm, canarian palm or Washington. They tolerate very well the soluble salts of the earth and those of the sea and the air. Some even live perfectly on the beach by the sea. There are many options to choose from.
This resistance is due to the fact that they have defense mechanisms against the effect of salt. They have glands that filter the salt to expel it. Additionally, they can delay the emergence of flowers and fruits until it is the perfect time for them.
Some interesting palm species for your garden that can survive in saline soils are:
Shrubs for saline soils
The domains of Mediterranean coast they are rich in bushes that are resistant to the humid and saline environment coming from the sea. If you want to create a garden on similar soils, you should consider one of the following bushes.
Laurel is a slow-growing tree, remaining the size of a bush for years. The good thing is that its leaves serve as a condiment and have many health-promoting properties.
You can plant it with cuttings or seeds, but with this second method it will take longer to grow.
Another shrub very resistant to extreme conditions is rosemary. This aromatic plant also has good health characteristics. He’s so tough that It grows wild and its leaves are evergreen. The good thing is that it does not require much care or frequent watering.
Another plant ideal for saline soils is mint, in addition to for its uses in the kitchen. It is very fast growing and inexpensive to spread, so it is important to limit the area in which you want to plant it. And you need to make sure you give it plenty of sun daily.
There are many other recommended shrub types. For example, he tamarisk it resists well to drought, can measure 5 meters and has small pink flowers. As flowering plants, we recommend geraniums, begonias and lantana, which looks a lot like mint but with very colorful flowers.
Climbers
Climbing plants are very versatile for decorating gardens. But you should use those that are most suitable for land with high salinity.
For example, bougainvillea is widely used to cover walls or garden screens. Requires nutrient-rich soil, lots of sun and constant watering. And the good thing is that it resists saline soils well.
The ivy This is another vine that is ideal for saline soils, but it also has other advantages. It is good for purifying the air, removing moisture from the wall and helping to maintain the temperature inside the wall where it grows.
You can choose between different types of ivy, such as purple ivy or Japanese ivy, for example.
Salinity resistant grass
Grass cannot be lacking in a garden, but if your land is salty, you must choose the type of grass that you are going to plant well.
grass shorts it is very striking and easy to maintain, but it weakens at temperatures below 10 ºC. Does not grow well in shade but does well in spring and summer.
The most resistant variety of grass is the gram or St. Augustine’s weed. It is widely used in gardens near the sea in tropical areas because it does not tolerate low temperatures well. It is very resistant to trampling and drought and grows without problems in shady areas.
read more: Basic guide to grass selection
As you have seen in this article, the saline soils are not a big drawback to have a beautiful and varied garden. You just need to know what species to plant and how to care for them.