Size Matters (or Think Big)

After a very quick tour of Green Spring Gardens this morning, curtailed by the air quality advisory and the fact that I forgot to swallow a Claritin, I’ve decided to address the question of size and scale in the landscape from the air-conditioned comfort of home. If you haven’t visited this public park in Alexandria do so on a non-orange alert day or any time you need a little inspiration. The park is beautifully landscaped and the horticultural center offers a reference library, all kinds of events and classes and several shops.

The great thing about visiting an established (or historic) landscape is seeing mature specimens in all their glory. It can be difficult for the new home gardener to make the visual leap from a potted sapling at the garden center to a 30- or even 15-foot tree.

The photo of this big old house in Old Town has some great examples of scale; the full-size SUV parked in front of the Mini and the large (mature) tree on the left with all the smaller (and much newer) trees on the right. Notice how the large tree balances the mass of the front part of this mansard roof house and shades the backyard. The smaller specimens planted closer to the house focus the eye closer to the ground and provide a pedestrian-friendly view.

When I worked in a nursery designing landscapes, mostly for new or non-gardeners, the most challenging element of my task was helping people see the possibilities; especially with regard to scale. Simply put: size matters — especially in the larger context of the built environment. The miniature orchid that rocks the galley kitchen from its windowsill stage will most likely disappear on the front porch where it will be obliterated by the scale of its surroundings.

My favorite, and most effective, technique to help people visualize size and scale in the garden is to pose as a plant. Sounds ridiculous, I know, but there’s no need to cover anyone with compost or leaves. Just place a volunteer in the planting spot you’re considering and stand back to assess the impact. And take a photo, it lasts longer and will help you long after your volunteer has run off for well-earned libations. Raised or outstretched arms easily add height and width. This is particularly useful when trying to determine the proper placement and height to create an effective screen. If you’d rather skip the posing, pick up this great book entitled The Plant Growth Planner, by Caroline Boisset, that shows plants at one, three, six and twelve years old.

When you’re considering woody specimens (trees and shrubs), size is even more important given the longer time frame for them to reach maturity compared to herbaceous plants. If you need to buy several trees, and you’re not installing a perfectly symmetrical allée, I advise buying one of the largest specimens you can afford (up to about 10 feet in height since anything taller can be tricky to establish) and several smaller specimens in different heights. This keeps the price more manageable and you’ll get a yard that looks less like a newly started tree farm and more like an established landscape.

Even a container garden needs to have the proper stature in order to succeed. There’s something terribly depressing about a large pot with a few scraggly specimens poking up through the exposed soil. Think big — especially for your annual displays. Larger annuals and perennials obviously cost more (and the price of woody plants rises exponentially with regard to size) but you’ll buy fewer to fill up a pot and the effect is so worth it.

The expertly designed and well-tended pots at Yates Sunoco in Del Ray are planted with a mix of coleus, New Guinea impatiens and sweet potato vine for a perfectly lush, bold and exotic effect.

I was reminded once again of the drama and impact that proper scale creates when I walked under the fragrant shadow of a 4-foot rosemary standing tall in a small raised bed in Old Town. Now that’s what I’m talking about!