How to Keep Marigolds Alive on the Coast

Plant marigolds on the landward side of your home, shed or another structure. This will help protect them from the salt spray.

Grow a row of shrubs or trees as a windbreak to keep salt spray from reaching areas where marigolds are growing. Plant salt-tolerant plants, such as American hollies, oleander, rose of Sharon or common junipers. Grow marigolds on the landward side of this windbreak.

Install a trellis to block the salt spray, directing it up and over your garden area. Choose salt-tolerant vines for the trellis, such as confederate jasmine or creeping fig. You also can grow vines along a fence to help fill in any gaps.

Rinse the marigolds after an extremely windy day when salt spray was more likely to reach the garden area. Or, if the marigolds are not protected by a hedge, fence, trellis or another structure, rinse them every day or two during the growing season. Set your sprinkler or hose on a light spray to rinse the plants of salt residue, causing little damage to any flowers.

Water your marigolds frequently. Rain and water from your hose will drive excess salts deep into the soil. Water them two to three times a week with 1 inch of water. If it rains 1 inch of water, count that as a watering. Water the plants slowly so the water seeps into the ground rather than running off or puddling at the top. Also, make sure the soil is not super saturated. If it is, ease up on the waterings. In other environments, marigolds are only watered about once a week with 1 inch of water.