Adding Beachy Touches to Your Cape Cod Landscaping

Even if your Cape Cod home isn’t right on the water, the beach is never far. For Cape Codders, the sea and sand are a vital part of the landscape all year long—even when temperatures are nowhere near ideal beach day levels. A fun way to showcase some seaside pride is incorporating beach elements into your Cape Cod landscaping.

If you’re looking to add a seaside touch to your home’s outdoor look, we’ve got a few ideas:

Cape Cod Roses
Though roses have a reputation for being difficult to grow, the truth is there are many shrub rose varieties that are resistant to disease, bloom reliably throughout the summer season, and add a pop of vibrant color to your outdoor space. Place quintessential Cape Cod rose bushes where they’ll have ample morning sun and be sure not to crowd them with other plants, and they’ll lend your yard a delicate, beachy feel. Deadhead for a second, though less robust, bloom later in the season.

Hydrangeas
When it comes to Cape Cod landscaping, you can’t go wrong with hydrangeas, considered by many to be the Cape’s signature flowers. These bright plants can be found beside many a walkway down to the water, where a mixture of blue and white blooms makes for a lovely nautical touch. They’re also lovely as a border planting along the front of a home. Aim to plant hydrangeas in late fall or early spring and water regularly to give your outdoor space a lovely pastel wash.

Sand and Beach Grass
Consider bringing the beach home by incorporating sand and beach grass into your landscaping. Sand can be used practically to section off a kids’ play area or a surface for sports—volleyball, anyone? And beach grass can soften the edges of your property and provide pleasant decoration against fencing or gates all season long.

White Picket Fencing, Pergola Included
Nothing says ‘Cape Cod beach house’ quite like a classic white picket fence and pergola. Fence in your hydrangeas and roses, provide depth with some beach grass, and use the pergola for some dramatic draped vines to create a shaded, defined space for outdoor dining or just relaxing.

Shell Driveway
If you’d like to be reminded of the ocean every time you pull into your driveway, line it with seashells, a beautiful, functional, and environmentally friendly alternative to gravel and other materials. As the shells (typically, clam, oyster, or scallop) are walked and driven over, they break into smaller pieces to create an increasingly stable surface. And to boot, the light colors will brighten up your home’s exterior on even the darkest winter days.

With just a few landscaping upgrades, your home can have the classic seaside touch that draws so many to beautiful Cape Cod.