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Placing items such as spruce trees, shrubs and ornamental grasses close together will help form an attractive, tight composition. (SUPPLIED PHOTO)

We often hear the phrase bones of the garden, and it’s always spoken with sufficient reverence to chase off any morbid images. Obviously we want some good bones. So what exactly are they?

Simply put, if it’s big, heavy, and really hard to move, it’s probably some bones — items such as trees, large shrubs, walls, pergolas, raised decks, whatever’s left standing after the leaves fall.

The combination of how these elements fit together and how they fit into the overall yard makes for good, or not so good, bones.

The front yard bed pictured in the photo here includes a spruce tree, a couple of shrubs, some ornamental grasses, some perennial seed heads, a low wall, and a few boulders. Notice that the spruce, shrubs, boulders, and wall are placed close enough to each other to form a tight composition. A lovely set of bones. The grasses and seed heads, honourary members, just make it stronger.

Placing the bones close together to form an attractive composition is the making of good bones. Trees, or tall shrubs with branches that are touching or nearly touching, works. A deck buddied up a small tree, a couple of large shrubs, or a row of small shrubs has the making of good bones.

The arrangement is also important. In the photo example, the bed is a naturalistic shape. Plant spacing is staggered, there are an odd number of shrubs, the wall is curved, and the boulders are placed here and there. Naturalistic. Pick a theme, and stick with it.

Many people shy away from using geometric shapes. In smaller yards, straight lines are miracle workers.

They get right into the little corners, making everything seem bigger and a part of the action. Branches, leaves, and groundcovers soften the lines during the summer. During the winter, those same lines can be stunning.

One set of good bones is not enough. A yard with good bones will often have two or three sets, all with the same theme, though usually different sizes. A composition that connects to the house is essential, and one or two more. Ideally, all the beds will share some of the same bones (provided growing conditions allow for it). Just one of the shrubs and a couple of boulders is all that’s necessary.

Winter is a great time for contemplating bones, because snow simplifies the garden. And good bones really shine in that simplicity.

Carla Keast has a masters degree in landscape architecture and is a Winnipeg-based freelance landscape designer. She can be reached at contact@carlakeast.com.