Growing by the coast requires specialist soils
Peat-free compost and kelp-based products developed for gardens across Cornwall, Devon and the coast.
The coast asks more of our gardens
Life beside the sea has its rewards, but growing here can be demanding. Strong, salt-bearing winds dry out leaves and soil, exposed ground loses moisture quickly, and heavy coastal rain can bring drainage and structure problems. Plants often take longer to establish, and products made for the average British garden do not always account for these conditions.
Coastal communities have used seaweed to support difficult soils for generations. Our current products take a different approach: the kelp-derived ingredients we use come from cultivated kelp rather than material stripped from local shores.
Modern products should not depend on stripping wild seaweed from beaches. Beach-cast seaweed plays a role in coastal ecosystems, and wild stocks are limited. That is why we work with responsible kelp farming instead, which produces a consistent, traceable ingredient without taking material away from the shoreline.
Growing something useful beneath the surface
Kelp farming needs no agricultural land, no freshwater irrigation and no conventional fertiliser inputs. As it grows, cultivated kelp takes up dissolved nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from the surrounding water.
Harvesting a farm removes some of those captured nutrients from the cultivation area, and the ropes and fronds create three-dimensional structure in the water column, providing habitat and shelter for marine organisms while the crop grows. The benefits depend on where and how each farm is located, scaled and managed.
We use ingredients derived from farmed kelp to create practical products for soil and plant care, linking productive coastal waters with healthier gardens on land.
See the Coastal Kelp RangeCombined experience, in the garden and in the water
Coastal Garden Supplies is run by Max and Pascale. Max brings a background in marine biology and environmentally focused product development, alongside practical experience delivering compost and advising on products. Pascale brings hands-on plant care, customer support and a close understanding of what coastal gardens actually need. If you are unsure which product suits your soil or planting, message us before ordering.
Gardens grown on the Cornish coast.
A few of the borders, meadows and beds we work with day to day across Cornwall and Devon.
