Don’t forget evergreens in your garden plan

It’s easy to be lured away with pretty flowers, but when it comes to creating the bones of the garden the focus really should be on evergreens.

Evergreens are more than plants, trees and shrubs that stay green all year, these workhorses create the structure our gardens require to look their best in winter and summer. They can be large trees like spruce and pine that form the backbone of our gardens, or shrubs and sprawling ground covers that create texture, add height to the garden and provide cover and habitat for wildlife while they protect our soil from harsh conditions.

In our garden, we have a good combination of pines, including Eastern White Pine (see my earlier post), Spruce including both trees and shrubby forms. A massive nest spruce has been growing for years beside our patio. It was originally sold as a dwarf nest spruce, but nobody told it to stay small. In another corner of the yard a very young larch is doing its best to stay clear of the deer. There is also a blue point juniper the birds must have planted under the spruce tree near the weeping Serbian spruce. I need to get more low-growing evergreen ground covers like junipers to go with the non-native pachysandra, euonymus and creeping phlox.

In our front yard, we benefit from our neighbour’s two massive blue spruce on the edge of our property. Down the other side of the property, we’ve teamed up with neighbours to plant several Green Giant Cedars that form a thick, fast-growing hedge of evergreen perfect for birds and small mammals to call home and escape our severe winter weather.

• For more on Evergreens, check out my post on Five of the Best Evergreens for Birds and other Wildlife.

While our yard has its share of evergreens, a walk through the neighbourhood is where the value of evergreens really shines. This is an older neighbourhood – 75-80 years – where the evergreens have been given space and time to mature. In many instances, these evergreens dominate the front landscape.

In newer subdivisions, it’s sometimes more difficult to appreciate the pure size and importance evergreens can have in the landscape. The next time you go for a walk, be sure to pay attention to how your neighbours use evergreens in the landscape.

In fact, one of the most impressive front yards in our neighbourhood, was created by professional landscapers just about 10-12 years ago, and includes a massive evergreen border through the middle of the property in the front yard.

The entire property was landscaped with environmental considerations at the forefront. Just for perspective, the house itself was constructed using straw as insulation, the garage has a living roof of native wildflowers, and the entire landscape is focused on keeping all runoff water on the property. A truly impressive example of where we need to move toward in housing of the future.

*A beautiful dusting of snow creates a magical landscape in this front evergreen, even if it is just for a few days or hours. The same landscape is pictured below in late fall.*

The neighbour’s garden on a wet fall morning illustrates the importance evergreens play in the front garden. They take centre stage creating a lovely dense habitat that looks great throughout the seasons but really shines after a fresh snowfall.

Evergreen front garden with dusting of snow — *The same garden pictured above but with a dusting of snow shows how the landscape can be transformed in winter with a simple dusting of snow.*

But it’s the use of evergreens that really catch my eye when I pass by it on my walks with our dog, Holly. The images above show the extensive planting of evergreen trees and shrubs ranging from a mugo pine and junipers in the front rising up to larger pines closer to the home. A number of Eastern White Pine border the property on the opposite side along with a lovely native birch grove growing up through native grasses and wildflowers closer to the home.

The homeowners actually moved to Canada from France and brought their progressive and highly knowledgeable landscaping ideas with them, as evidenced by the water-permeable driveway.

*This impressive front island of evergreens is brought to life with a simple dusting of snow.*

This impressive evergreen island combines spruce trees, juniper ground covers as well as deciduous trees to form an interesting screen from the street. Notice the large nest up in the high canopy of the deciduous trees. These areas are particularly useful for birds and small mammals.

Large evergreen island is impressive addition to corner property.

Just a little farther down the road is a large corner property that also uses a massive evergreen border to break up large exapanses of lawn and create real interest as well as privacy from the street.

While everyone may not have the space to create such a sprawling island of evergreens on their front property, smaller versions can have a similar impact and still create islands for wildlife habitat.

The original owners of this property actually worked at our world-renowned Royal Botanical Gardens, so these gardens certainly got off to a great start.

Of particular interest here is the fact several spruce trees are boldly planted in a large grouping that has grown together over the years to form a natural border. No doubt the trees’ underground roots have joined to work together symbiotically. The original owners may not have planned it, but more recent research on trees show that their extensive underground root systems work together when they are planted together close enough to touch and share resources. This concept has been explored in great depth in the book How Trees Communicate and in the work of Dr. Nadina Galle in her work with the Internet of Nature.

Don’t be afraid to break rules and plant trees close together in groupings of three and five where they can tap into and benefit from surrounding trees. Not only are they often healthier, they make a strong statement in the landscape as well as creating privacy and even a micro-climate for other plants.

For more information as well as inspiration to explore evergreens both in the garden and evergreen forests, check out the acclaimed book The World of Northern Evergreens.

This trio of Weeping Alaskan Cedars combined with smaller evergreens and ornamental grasses again shows the value of group plantings in islanda to create privacy and a bold statement in the front of the property.

How to use larger evergreens to create structure in your landscape

The importance of evergreens as a backbone for the garden

Evergreens play a crucial role in creating structure and providing a strong foundation for any garden.

Larger evergreen trees, such as pine and spruce, are particularly important in this regard. These majestic trees not only add beauty and elegance to the landscape, they also serve as a backbone that holds the garden together throughout the seasons. Their tall and upright growth habit creates a vertical element that adds depth and interest to the overall design.

Whether used as a focal point or as a backdrop for other plants, these trees bring a sense of permanence and stability to the garden.

In addition to their aesthetic value, larger evergreen trees also provide important habitat for wildlife. Birds, squirrels, and other small animals find shelter and nesting sites among the branches and foliage. In more rural areas, these trees also attract larger mammals, such as deer and rabbits, who rely on them for food and protection.

In some cases, evergreen trees even serve as perches for raptors like owls, offering them a vantage point from which to hunt.

By incorporating larger evergreen trees into your garden, you not only create a visually appealing landscape, but you also contribute to the overall health and biodiversity of the ecosystem. These trees provide food, shelter, and nesting sites for a wide range of wildlife, helping to support a thriving and balanced ecosystem.

Evergreens create structure and add a magical appearance in this landscape. — *These evergreens with a dusting of snow creates structure in this corner lot in our neighbourhood.*

Smaller evergreens also play an important role in the landscape

Evergreen shrubs like mugo pines, nest spruce, and other low-growing evergreens are not only essential for hiding a home’s foundation, they also have other significant roles to play in our gardens.

These versatile plants provide more than just aesthetic appeal; they offer important habitat for wildlife and contribute to the overall structure and diversity of the garden.

One of the key benefits of these evergreen shrubs is their ability to create different heights in the garden throughout the seasons. Their compact and low-growing nature allows them to be used in a variety of ways. Whether used as borders, hedges, or focal points, these shrubs bring depth and dimension to the garden design. By incorporating these shrubs into your garden, you can create a welcoming environment for a variety of creatures, enhancing the overall biodiversity of your outdoor space.

Boxwood has never been a favourite of mine, but they can be used to provide year round structure in more formal gardens, or to add formality to an area in your garden.

Furthermore, evergreen shrubs are relatively low-maintenance, making them an excellent choice for busy gardeners. They require minimal pruning and can withstand a range of weather conditions, making them a reliable and resilient addition to any landscape.

Creeping phlox evergreen ground cover — *This creeping phlox in full bloom can be an effective evergreen ground cover that blooms early and then remains as a green evergreen ground cover for the remainder of the year.*

Evergreen ground covers play an important part in our landscapes

Finally, let’s turn our attention to the evergreen ground covers that are essential for creating structure in our landscapes. These low-growing plants not only add visual interest but also serve practical purposes in the garden.

One popular evergreen ground cover is “creeping juniper.” Its dense, spreading habit makes it an excellent choice for filling in gaps between larger plants or covering bare ground. Creeping juniper also provides erosion control on slopes and acts as a natural weed suppressant.

Another versatile option is “wintergreen.” This low-growing evergreen has glossy leaves and produces small, white flowers in the spring. Wintergreen is an ideal ground cover for shady areas and can tolerate a range of soil conditions.

“Creeping phlox” is another favorite among gardeners.

With its vibrant flowers in shades of pink, purple, and white, it adds a pop of color to the landscape in spring and summer. Creeping phlox is also deer-resistant and attracts pollinators, making it a valuable addition to any garden.

“Pachysandra is another popular choice for shady areas. Its glossy, dark green leaves create a lush carpet-like effect, providing a beautiful backdrop for other plants.

Don’t forget about Epimedium. Although it’s not normally included in the world of evergreens, our plants keep most of their leaves all winter before greening up again in spring before flowering.

Incorporating these evergreen ground covers into your landscape not only adds structure but also helps to minimize maintenance by reducing the need for mowing and weeding.

They provide year-round interest and contribute to the overall health and beauty of your garden. By utilizing these evergreen ground covers, you can create a cohesive and visually appealing landscape that is both functional and sustainable.

Evergreens: Building the bones of the woodland garden