Planting the Big Stuff First (And Why It Matters)

There’s a moment when your garden finally feels ready.

You’ve thought about it.

You’ve sketched it.

You’ve shaped the space.

And now, standing there with soil in front of you, it’s tempting to do what most people do:

Go to the garden center… and buy a bit of everything.

A few flowers.

A couple of grasses.

Something that looks nice in a pot.

It feels like progress.

But it often leads to something else entirely:

A garden that never quite comes together.

The Step That Changes Everything

Before you plant anything small…

Start with the big things.

Trees.

Shrubs.

The plants that stay put and grow into the space.

Because these are what give your garden:

• shape

• height

• structure

• a sense of permanence

These aren’t just plants—they’re anchors.

Why This Matters So Much

Small plants are flexible.

You can move them.

Replace them.

Fill gaps later.

But big plants?

They define everything around them.

• Where shade falls

• Where your eye goes

• Where other plants can live

If you place them first:

👉 everything else becomes easier

If you don’t:

👉 you’ll constantly be rearranging

Step 1: Place Your “Anchors”

Look at your plan (or even just your space) and ask:

• Where do I want height?

• Where do I want something to draw the eye?

• Where do I want a sense of structure year-round?

This might be:

• a small tree

• a statement shrub

• a grouping of something evergreen

You don’t need many.

One or two well-placed anchors can shape an entire garden.

What Makes a Good Anchor Plant

You’re looking for plants that:

• hold their shape well

• look good most of the year

• grow slowly and predictably

• feel right in your space

Think:

• a Japanese maple

• a hydrangea

• a small evergreen

Not because they’re trendy—

but because they give your garden something to build around.

Step 2: Think in Layers

Once your anchors are in place, everything else starts to fall into layers.

• Tall (trees / large shrubs)

• Medium (smaller shrubs)

• Low (perennials / groundcover)

You don’t need to plant all of these yet.

You just need to see where they will go.

Step 3: Give Them Space

This is where most beginners go wrong.

You plant a small shrub…

and it looks a bit lonely.

So you add more.

And more.

And a year later, everything is crowded.

Plants grow. Your garden should have room for that.

When placing anchors:

• imagine them at full size

• leave space around them

• resist the urge to fill gaps

A Different Way to Think About It

Instead of asking:

“What should I plant here?”

Try asking:

“What is this space waiting for?”

A tree?

A shape?

A sense of height?

What Comes Next

In the next post, we’ll start filling things in.

We’ll look at:

• perennials

• groundcover

• the plants that soften everything

But by then, your garden won’t feel overwhelming anymore.

Because the hard part—the structure and the anchors—will already be in place.

A Gentle Reminder

You don’t need to plant everything at once.

One tree.

One shrub.

One good decision.

That’s how gardens grow