Designing your garden to look good all year round

My Top 5 structure plants to make your garden look great all year round

Many of my clients ask me for a no or low maintenance garden. Secretly, I do die inside a little every time someone says this too me (OK, I am allowed a little “Designery” flounce every now and then), as there is no such thing as a no maintenance garden. Even (should be banned) fake grass needs maintenance. It is possible to have a lower maintenance a garden, and this is where good structure plants come in.

Good planting design is about repetition and unity. These plants will form the back bone that is repeated around the garden. They are the unsung heroes that make the showy diva flowers look good when the decide to show for a month or so in the summer. 

As I design more and more gardens, these plants really are now firm personal favourites. I find myself taking more work heavy plants / flowers out of my my own garden and focusing on texture and foliage colour.

1. Grasses – especially Hakonechloa

Grasses bring structure year-round, with colours of green through to golden hues in Autumn and winter. Add in the way they can catch the low Winter light and rustle in a gentle wind, what’s not to love. 

My total number love is Hakonechloa, the Japanese forest grass. The books will tell you it likes dry shade, but I find it grows exceptionally well in my damp North West Garden in every aspect. The contrast opportunities are endless. On mass, or with other plants, it always adds value. Particularly useful under trees and as a contrast to topiary.

2. Topiary - shaped evergreens

I’m not talking box balls, for the obvious moth and blight reasons, but the many other shrubs that can be easily incorporated in garden schemes. They look amazing with ornamental grasses and provide fantastic rest spots for your eyes when repeated around your garden.

I love Taxus baccata (Yew), Pittosporum, especially Tobira namum. Do be careful with pittosporum, it can be quite tender, so best site it in a sheltered spot if you are more northern like me in the UK.

3. Trees

There isn’t much really to say other than, why wouldn’t you plant trees? 

Besides adding structural interest, we all know that they are great for everyone who uses your garden, be it people, birds, insects and all wildlife.

Evergreens do exist, but be careful that you find a variety that doesn’t grow to large for your space. 

I favourite of mine are the small multi stem birches, such as Betula utilis jaquemontii Snow Queen or Doorenbos. A bit of a mouthful, but amazing bark colour in winter. There is also Betula Trinity College, that only grow to 5 m tall and 3 metres wide.

4. Hedges

Just for boundaries? No. They are a great way to break up spaces, and introduce textural contrast. Fantastic where you have steps and level changes. Pick the right species, like Taxus, Beech etc… that need a light trim once a year once its established.

5. Architectural plants – evergreen

There are many to choose form here, just check you tick the box re: right plant, right place and all will be well. My favourites to look at include Euphorbias and Libertia. There is a Euphorbia for every aspect and soil. I love Euphorbia characias susp. wulfenni. Its perfect for a gravel garden or as part of a mixed sunny border.