A good garden reads well in every season. The trick is layering evergreen trees that hold structure and privacy year round with deciduous trees that bring movement, colour and a sense of change.
Get the mix right and you have a garden that anchors itself through winter, comes alive in spring, gives shade through summer and puts on a show in autumn. Here is how to plan it.
Evergreens do the heavy lifting
Evergreens are your bones. They hold the shape of the garden when everything else drops its leaves. Use them for privacy screens, hedges, formal entries and backdrops that make feature trees stand out.
Place taller evergreens at the back of borders or along boundaries to create a natural fenceline. Mid sized evergreens work as informal screens or feature planting. The dark glossy foliage gives every other plant something to read against.
Deciduous trees add the seasons
Deciduous trees give you the changes. Spring growth, summer flowers, autumn colour, bare winter branches with interesting bark. Each phase is a different garden.
Plant them where you want a feature, where you need summer shade but winter sun, or where you want a tree to mark the seasons. Front gardens, courtyards and entry points all benefit from a well placed deciduous tree.
How to combine them
The rule of thumb is evergreen behind, deciduous in front. The evergreen wall makes the deciduous feature pop. Behind a Ficus Hillii hedge, a Crepe Myrtle in full bloom looks twice as striking. The same goes for a Japanese Maple set against a glossy Magnolia.
Think about light too. Deciduous trees let winter sun through to warm the house and garden, then leaf up to give summer shade. Evergreens block wind and sight lines all year.
Care basics
Water deeply through the first two summers to establish root systems, then taper off. Mulch heavily to lock in moisture and suppress weeds. Prune evergreens to shape in late winter and structural prune deciduous trees in winter when they are dormant. A balanced slow release fertiliser in early spring keeps everything moving.
Frequently asked questions
Should evergreen or deciduous trees go in first?
Start with evergreens. They form the structure and screening. Drop deciduous feature trees in once the bones are in place.
When is the best time to plant?
Autumn and early spring are ideal. Soil is warm enough to encourage root growth and rainfall does most of the watering for you.
How do I choose the right tree?
Match mature size to the space, check the conditions match your soil and aspect, then pick for the role: screening, feature, shade or flower.
I would like a row of trees next to the back fence (11m) as a windbreaker and privacy provide. We also have a pool. I like the idea of alternating Ornamental pear with Cupressus glauca, giving each tree a meter space in length. Could you please advise your thoughts?
Thank you