Choose conifers in sizes that fit the scale

Silhouettes define a conifer’s shape

After deciding what size conifers to use, I had to start thinking about using them in combination with each other. Doing it well can be difficult; conifer colors are subtle, and their shapes never really change. A conifer shaped like a Christmas tree looks like a cone whether it’s five years old or 50 years old.

For a designer, those unchanging shapes are both charming and challenging. The trick is turning those static forms into dynamic compositions. It’s almost like creating a sculpture. For me, the whole secret lies in juxtaposing shapes so that the individuality of each tree or shrub is accentuated by its nearest neighbors.

That’s not as difficult as it sounds. It’s just a matter of mixing shapes. And luckily, nearly all conifers take one of four basic shapes. Except for weeping varieties and a few irregular cultivars, most conifers can be roughly classed as flat, round conical, or cylindrical. “Roughly” is the key word; I always allow for some variation. But for simplicity’s sake, I still think of both a ball-shaped false cypress and a moundlike ‘Blue Star’ juniper as being basically round.

To make understanding the shapes even simpler, I find it useful to think of them as silhouettes. Then I need consider only the straight or curved lines that define their margins. If the plant’s lines are horizontal, it’s a flat, ground-hugging variety, such as a ‘Blue Carpet’ juniper. If they are upright and nearly parallel, the tree is a cylinder, like a ‘Moonglow’ juniper. If the lines form an upside-down “V” and are simply a pair of slanted straight lines, it’s a cone-shaped tree, one that looks like a Christmas tree. Finally, if the silhouette is composed of curved lines that form a circle or oval, the conifer is one of the round varieties, like a ‘Montgomery’ blue spruce. Once you understand the shapes, making eye-catching combinations is easy.

Blend sizes and shapes to create visual interest in the garden

To me, a successful planting of conifers is like the skyline of a great city—a creative, eye-pleasing blend of varied sizes and shapes. Close-up views reveal the essence of an individual tree or building by baring its shape, color, and texture. But when seen from a distance, the colors and textures fade. Shapes dominate. And those contrasting shapes are what provide the drama and sense of wonder I so often experience when viewing a majestic city skyline—or a great planting of conifers.

Just as buildings are the architectural building blocks of a city, conifers are the structural backbone of a garden. And because the view of a conifer bed is usually a “skyline” view—they are often seen from a distance—shape is my primary consideration when designing a new planting.

To make sure I’ll like a combination, I experiment before planting. Since conifers usually come from the nursery in containers or balled and burlapped, it’s easy to arrange and rearrange them—even at the nursery.

Size is the one characteristic to keep more or less consistent in a conifer planting. You don’t want to plant a 12-inch-tall miniature next to something that will grow to a height of 50 feet or more. Still, you can mix and match a little. In small planting beds, I use mainly miniatures and dwarfs, but I’ve discovered that intermediate-sized ground-huggers or slim cylinders serve well as accents because they never get too massive.

Fill out a bed of conifers with perennials

When planting, I’m always careful to leave plenty of room between each conifer. Generous spacing eliminates the need to move a crowded conifer after a few years. More space also allows better air circulation and thus promotes healthier growth. The most important reason for generous spacing, however, is aesthetic. I think the beauty of a conifer’s shape is diminished if nearby plants obscure their silhouettes.

Conifers shine through four seasons