# THRIVES BY THE SEA 🌊 | Best Coastal Plant for Wind, Sun & Ocean Gardens 🌊 **ATLANTIC OCEAN. PACIFIC OCEAN. STRONG WINDS. SALT SPRAY. FULL SUN.** Looking for a beautiful, hardy, low-maintenance plant that can survive tough coastal conditions? Meet **Armeria maritima (Sea Thrift)**, also known as Sea Pink — one of my favourite plants for exposed seaside gardens! Filmed along Ireland's spectacular Wild Atlantic Way, this little coastal plant is perfectly suited to gardens exposed to strong winds, salty sea air, sunshine and poor, free-draining soils. 🇮🇪 **IRELAND & UK:** Perfect for coastal gardens along the Wild Atlantic Way, County Clare, Galway, Kerry, Cork, Donegal, Cornwall, Devon, Wales and Scotland. 🇺🇸 **UNITED STATES:** A fantastic option to consider for suitable coastal gardens along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, including Maine, Massachusetts, Cape Cod, Long Island, New Jersey, the Carolinas, California, Oregon and Washington. 🌎 **COASTAL GARDENING WORLDWIDE:** Whether you're gardening beside the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Irish Sea or North Sea, choosing plants adapted to your local conditions is essential. 🌸 Beautiful pink pom-pom flowers ☀️ Loves full sunshine 🌬️ Tolerates exposed, windy conditions 🌊 Naturally adapted to coastal environments 🌱 Thrives in poor, well-drained soils ✂️ Deadheading can encourage further flowering 🐝 Attractive to pollinators 🏡 Ideal for rock gardens, coastal borders, gravel gardens and small outdoor spaces The secret to successful coastal gardening isn't spending more money. It's choosing the right plants for your climate, soil, exposure and location. I'm an Irish outdoor advisor sharing practical gardening knowledge, planting ideas, landscaping advice and ways to make better decisions about your outdoor space — wherever you live. **Think before you spend and follow for more!** 🇮🇪 GreenTouch Outdoor Advisory | Ireland #CoastalGardening #ArmeriaMaritima #SeaThrift #CoastalPlants #AmericanGardens #USGardening #IrishGardens #AtlanticOcean #PacificCoast #SeasideGarden #WindTolerantPlants #SaltTolerantPlants #FullSunPlants #LowMaintenanceGarden #GardenDesign #LandscapingIdeas #WildAtlanticWay #GardeningTips #Shorts

🇮🇪 **LISCANNOR STONE | IRELAND'S NATURAL STONE HERITAGE** Ireland has some of the most beautiful natural stone in the world, and Liscannor stone from County Clare is a fantastic example! I'm down on Ireland's stunning west coast, visiting Lahinch and Liscannor, exploring this beautiful Irish stone and how it's used in traditional buildings, gardens and outdoor spaces. 🪨 **WHAT MAKES LISCANNOR STONE SPECIAL?** Liscannor stone is known for its distinctive fossil markings, natural textures, durability and timeless character. Across Ireland, you'll find it used for: 🇮🇪 Natural stone paving and patios 🇮🇪 Garden walls and stone walling 🇮🇪 Exterior and interior cladding 🇮🇪 Natural stone cobbles and pathways 🇮🇪 Traditional Irish pubs and shop floors 🇮🇪 Fireplaces, countertops and tabletops It's a beautiful material that brings character to both traditional Irish properties and modern garden designs. **WHY IMPORT STONE WHEN WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL NATURAL MATERIALS HERE IN IRELAND?** Whether you're building a new home, renovating an old property or planning a garden makeover, it's worth exploring the natural stone available here in Ireland before looking overseas. At **GreenTouch Outdoor Advisory**, I help homeowners make better decisions about garden design, landscaping, planting, materials and outdoor projects before spending their hard-earned money. 📍 Filmed in Lahinch, Clahane and Liscannor, County Clare, along Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way. 🌍 Based in Ireland, sharing practical outdoor advice and inspiration for homeowners in Ireland and beyond. **Think before you spend and follow for more!** #LiscannorStone #IrishNaturalStone #Ireland #IrishStone #CountyClare #WildAtlanticWay #GardenDesign #LandscapingIreland #NaturalStonePaving #StoneCladding #StoneWalling #IrishGardens #GardenMakeover #OutdoorLiving #IrishArchitecture #GreenTouch #OutdoorAdvisory #BarryMurphy #Landscaping #GardenIdeas

🌿 **WEST OF IRELAND SELF-BUILDS** Building or just completed your self-build and wondering what to do with your outdoor space when the budget is tight? **That's where I can help!** From garden layouts and planting advice to reviewing contractor quotes, planning your driveway and deciding what you can tackle yourself. You might have excess topsoil or subsoil that could be reused rather than paying thousands to remove it. Or leftover building materials, blocks and fieldstone that could become fantastic garden features. Choosing the right plants for your location, soil and climate now can also save you from costly mistakes later. **You don't need a finished garden straight away.** Sometimes all you need is a practical entrance, a presentable outdoor space and a plan that allows you to develop your garden as finances improve. Whether you're going DIY, using contractors or a bit of both, I'll help you make the right decisions now so you're not ripping everything out in a few years. 💻 **I also offer online video consultations and phone consultations**, where we can discuss your project, review your plans and potentially save you thousands of euro in unnecessary costs. 📩 **DM me to discuss your project.** **Think before you spend, and follow for more!** 🌿 #BarryMurphy #GreenTouchOutdoorAdvisory #OutdoorAdvisory #TheOutdoorConsultant #GardenConsultant #LandscapeConsultant #Ireland #WestOfIreland #WesternIreland #IrishHomes #IrishSelfBuild #SelfBuildIreland #SelfBuild #SelfBuildJourney #NewBuildIreland #NewBuildHomes #NewHomeowners #DreamHome #FirstTimeHomeBuyer #Mortgage #HomeBuilding #HouseBuilding #BuildingOnABudget #BudgetFriendly #BudgetGardening #BudgetLandscaping #GardenPlanning #GardenDesign #LandscapeDesign #OutdoorDesign #OutdoorLiving #OutdoorSpaces #GardenTransformation #GardenMakeover #DIYGarden #DIYLandscaping #LandscapingTips #GardeningTips #PlantingDesign #PlantSelection #RightPlantRightPlace #LowMaintenanceGarden #SustainableLandscaping #GardenIdeas #DrivewayDesign #FrontGardenIdeas #BackyardDesign #BackyardMakeover #BackyardIdeas #AmericanBackyards #AmericanHomes #USALandscaping #AmericanLand

LOVE / HATE – ARTIFICIAL GRASS 🌱 | Is It Really That Bad? Artificial grass! Love it or hate it, it's here to stay! But does it deserve all the criticism it gets? Some homeowners love it, while others wouldn't dream of installing it. But does artificial grass have a place in Irish gardens? 🌿 A Coastal Garden in the West of Ireland This weekend holiday home sits on heavy clay soil with poor drainage, exposed to Atlantic winds and heavy rainfall. The garden was designed for low maintenance, summer colour, coastal planting and durability in our unpredictable Irish climate. Composite decking at both ends, large limestone stepping stones and artificial grass connect the outdoor spaces. A weatherproof, powder-coated aluminium shed sits on a raised concrete pad, with a floating deck to the front. Over six years since installation, and this garden still looks as good as the day it was finished! 🏡 Where Can Artificial Grass Work? Artificial grass isn't just for holiday homes. 🏡 Family Gardens: A practical surface for children playing outdoors. 🐕 Pet Owners: Less mud, although regular cleaning and good drainage are essential. 🌳 Shady Gardens: Where natural grass struggles beneath trees or beside buildings. 🏙️ Rooftops and Courtyards: Where traditional lawns aren't always practical. 🌿 Low Maintenance: For homeowners who want less mowing and upkeep. 💚 Personal Preference: Some people simply like the look and feel! 🌍 What About the Environment? Is artificial grass environmentally friendly? No. It's manufactured from synthetic materials, doesn't support biodiversity like natural planting and creates disposal challenges. But composite decking, concrete paving and many other manufactured garden materials also have environmental impacts. Durability, drainage, maintenance, environmental impact and how a garden is used should all influence our decisions. Artificial grass isn't completely maintenance-free either. It still needs cleaning, and proper drainage is essential. 🌱 My Approach to Garden Design After more than 25 years working in landscaping and horticulture, I've learned that every garden is different. I'm not suggesting artificial grass suits every situation. Where natural grass can thrive, it's often the better environmental option. But sometimes difficult growing conditions, limited maintenance time or personal preference make alternative materials worth considering. Good garden planning means choosing the right materials and plants for the conditions, the budget and the people using the space. A garden doesn't have to suit everybody else's taste. It should reflect the people who own it and enjoy it. 💬 LOVE IT OR HATE IT? Would you install artificial grass in your garden? Have you already got it? Has it worked well? Or is it something you'd never consider? 👇 Let me know in the comments. I'd love to hear both sides! 🌿 GreenTouch Outdoor Advisory With over 25 years of landscaping and horticultural experience, I help homeowners across Ireland make better outdoor decisions. From garden layouts and planting advice to material selection and making the most of your budget, GreenTouch Outdoor Advisory helps you plan before spending. 📩 Get in touch for garden consultations and outdoor planning advice. Think before you spend. Subscribe for more practical garden advice, planting ideas and real-world landscaping projects. #ArtificialTurf #ArtificialLawn #SyntheticGrass #GardenMakeover #GardenTransformation #GardenInspiration #GardenTips #GardenAdvice #GardenDesigner #GardenConsultant #LandscapeDesign #LandscapeArchitecture #LandscapeGardening #GardenPlanning #GardenRenovation #GardenMaintenance #EasyMaintenanceGarden #ModernGardens #ContemporaryGardens #SmallGardenIdeas #FamilyGardens #PetFriendlyGardens #CoastalGardening #CoastalGardenDesign #SeasideGardens #AtlanticCoast #WestOfIreland #GardeningIreland #IrishLandscaping #IrishHorticulture #HorticultureTips #GardeningTips #GardeningIdeas #GardeningForBeginners #BackyardDesign #BackyardIdeas #BackyardMakeover #OutdoorSpaces #OutdoorDesign #OutdoorLifestyle #CompositeDecking #LimestonePaving #GardenSheds #ClaySoil #GardenDrainage #SustainableGardening #EcoFriendlyGardening #GardenDebate #GardenExpert #HomeImprovement #HomeAndGarden #DIYGarden #GardenProjects #GardenSolutions #GardenBudget #GardenGoals #GardenYouTube #GreenTouchOutdoorAdvisory