The second phase of our west side garden transformation is complete! After the successful installation of our pondless waterfall, it was time to add the anchor plants that will serve as the foundation for this garden area. These carefully selected trees and evergreens will provide structure, vertical interest, and year-round beauty to complement our new water feature.

Planning Our Anchor Plant Layout

Before digging any holes, we spent time experimenting with different placements for our anchor plants. We wanted to ensure each specimen was positioned to showcase its unique characteristics while creating a cohesive and natural-looking landscape.

A few key design principles guided our decisions:

1. Avoiding straight lines - We carefully positioned each plant to ensure nothing lined up perfectly with anything else (unless creating a formal effect, which wasn't our goal here).
2. Creating layers of texture and color - Each plant was selected to contribute something unique to the overall composition.
3. Considering mature size - We spaced plants according to their eventual growth habits, not just how they look today.
4. Protecting wind-sensitive varieties - Our fence provides excellent protection from westerly winds, which is particularly important for certain specimens.

Our Anchor Plant Selection

Japanese Maples: The Showstoppers

Arctic Jade MapleThis magnificent specimen arrived in a 20-gallon box and became the centerpiece of our design. Its striking chartreuse-jade foliage creates a beautiful contrast against our fence and pairs wonderfully with the dark foliage of the nearby Prairie Fire crabapple. Eventually reaching 20 feet tall by 15 feet wide, this tree will provide a perfect backdrop for future plantings. Its strong root system and cold-hardiness (to Zone 4) make it ideal for our Zone 6a upstate New York garden.

Ice Dragon Japanese MaplePositioned near the top of our waterfall, this weeping maple's cascading branches will eventually extend over the water, creating beautiful shadows and reflections. A Jack Frost hybrid between Japanese and Korean maples, Ice Dragon combines stunning beauty with excellent cold hardiness (to Zone 4). It will mature to approximately 10 feet tall and potentially 15 feet wide, with a branch structure that provides year-round interest.

Evergreen Specimens: Year-Round Structure

Arnes Dwarf Nordman FirFor a vertical accent in the back corner of our garden, we chose this narrow columnar evergreen. Growing to 10-15 feet tall while staying a compact 2-3 feet wide, it creates a striking pinnacle effect. Its tidy, tiered structure provides an architectural element that balances the more flowing forms of our Japanese maples.

Firefly Oriental SpruceThis bright yellow-green spruce serves as a transition point between garden areas. A sport of Skylands Oriental Spruce, Firefly grows more compactly (6-8 feet tall by 4 feet wide) and features vibrant chartreuse new growth that gradually deepens to green. We positioned it between the Arctic Jade maple and Ice Dragon maple, making sure nothing was directly aligned for a more natural appearance.

Deroiter Serbian SpruceMarking the entrance to our waterfall garden area, this beautiful blue-green spruce grows slowly to eventually reach 10 feet tall by 8 feet wide. Its compact form and striking color make it an ideal transitional element between different sections of our garden. We placed it carefully to ensure it wasn't lined up with any other trees.

Ripple Brook Norway SpruceSelected specifically to cascade over the rocks concealing the waterfall mechanics, this weeping spruce will eventually reach 2 feet tall by 4 feet wide. Its undulating branches mimic the rippling water below, creating a harmonious connection between plant and water. We positioned it as close as possible to the edge while being careful to avoid the underground piping.

Gemstone Hinoki CypressThis adorable specimen was tucked between two small rocks near the waterfall. Growing just 2 feet tall by 1 foot wide at a very slow rate (1-3 inches per year), it adds whimsical texture and bright emerald color to the landscape. Its compact size makes it perfect for filling small spaces while adding visual interest.

The Planting Process

Planting these specimens around a newly installed water feature required careful attention to avoid damaging the waterfall components. Here's how we approached it:

1. Cautious digging - We worked slowly and carefully, especially near the waterfall's infrastructure, uncovering irrigation lines and lighting wires as we went.
2. Soil improvement - We amended our native soil with Cobs Cook planting soil, a mixture of compost, peat moss, and aged bark that improves drainage and soil structure. This is particularly important in our challenging soil, which consists of construction backfill with a mix of sand and clay.
3. Proper planting depth - We were careful to plant slightly high, exposing the root flare of each tree. This is especially important with our soil conditions and ensures proper drainage away from the crown.
4. Strategic positioning - Each plant was carefully rotated to present its best face toward viewing areas, with any natural "back" positioned against the fence.
5. Firm but gentle backfilling - We packed soil firmly around each root ball to eliminate air pockets without overcompacting the soil.

One minor mishap - during planting, we accidentally punctured the quarter-inch drip line that supplies the auto-fill function for the waterfall. Fortunately, we were able to quickly repair it with a coupler and some extra tubing. This is a good reminder to always be prepared for unexpected issues during garden projects!

Future Plans for the Space

While these anchor plants establish the foundation of our west side garden, we're already planning the next phases:

• Adding dark-foliaged plants like possibly a Wine & Roses Weigela or Black Smoke bush to contrast with the bright Firefly Oriental Spruce
• Incorporating shade-loving perennials like dark coral bells or small-leaved hostas near the Ice Dragon maple
• Possibly adding creeping Jenny or other trailing plants around the waterfall rocks
• Exploring aquatic plants that can be incorporated directly into the water feature

Creating a Harmonious Landscape

What makes this garden design special is the thoughtful combination of different tree forms, textures, and colors:

• The bright chartreuse of Arctic Jade maple contrasting with the darker foliage of nearby trees
• The weeping form of Ice Dragon juxtaposed with the upright structure of the Nordman fir
• The soft, rippling texture of Ripple Brook Norway Spruce echoing the movement of the water
• The blend of deciduous and evergreen elements providing multi-season interest

From certain angles, you can appreciate how these new plantings work with existing elements in our garden - the Diana larch, the purple pillar Rose of Sharon, and even the borrowed landscape of an Eastern Redbud visible through our fence.

The result is exactly what we've been hoping for - a garden with varying textures, heights, and forms that looks beautiful from every angle and will only improve with age. These anchor plants provide the perfect framework for future additions as we continue to develop this special garden space.

Thank you for growing with us!