The Bones of the Garden

The phrase “good bones” often conjures up an image of a gorgeous model with chiseled features. But the phrase can also apply to garden landscape design as well. The bones of the landscape are the hardscape elements, (like pathways and decks) and plant elements like trees and shrubs that hold the design together. Without good bones, gardens lose structure and have a much less memorable impact on the viewer. Creating a garden without first considering its structure is like decorating a house before the framing goes up.

Once you have decided on what your hardscape will be, it is time to look at the placement of evergreen shrubs and trees. One way to think about the bones of the garden is to imagine how the garden will look in winter without all the flowers and deciduous foliage; much like imagining Las Vegas without all the lights. Once all the flash and color is gone, what will be left? Will the garden still be interesting or will it lack appeal.

Evergreens are important because they add interest and texture to the garden through all four seasons. Conifers make up a large group of evergreens that include trees like pines and spruces but also junipers and podocarpus. From giant redwoods to groundcover junipers, this group of plants can keep your garden interesting at all levels when the leaves have fallen and the blooms faded for the year.

Confiers come in a variety of shades and can add color when there isn’t a bloom in sight. The foliage of Gold Coast Juniper varies from a golden yellow to chartreuse and green. The foliage of the Blue Angel White Pine or Hoop’s Blue Spruce sparkles in shades of blue to almost grey. For the greenest greens, the Austrian Pine or Oriental Spruce can make a garden feel spring-like in the middle of January. Adding a variety of conifers and overlapping them in the landscape can add interest with contrasting colors and texture.

With a large range of sizes and growth habits, conifers can be used in almost every aspect of design. For easy care evergreen groundcovers select a Dwarf Japanese or Blue Chip Juniper. Both get a mere one foot high and can spread 6’-8’. For small to medium sized shrubs check out the Gold Coast Juniper at 3’-4’ wide and as high or a compact Little Gem Norway Spruce which grows a mere 18”. If a medium sized tree is needed, the Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce which gets only 10’-15’ high should fit the requirement. And if you need something really large, the Blue Atlas Cedar can get up to 50’ tall.

Conifers can also be planted and kept happily in appropriate sized containers. For exciting container interest, look for Feelin’ Blue Deodar Cedar trained as a standard or a staked Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar. With their needle like foliage and unusual shape, they can make a bold statement near an entry way or on a patio.

By adding conifers and other evergreens to your yard, you strengthen the structure which holds the design together and makes it cohesive. You also add interest and make your garden attractive all year long. Once you have added the bones, then and only then should you move on to the rest of the garden design.

Written by Kat White. All images are copyright Monrovia Nursery and used with permission.