Start With the Bones: Why Structure Comes First in Great Landscape Design

Before the blooms, the color, or the Instagrammable “wow” moments… there’s structure. 

At R&R Landscaping, we always start with one question:
What’s going to give this outdoor space shape and presence — all year long? 

Because those spring perennials and showy fall color bursts? We love them. But they come and go. The bones – your trees, evergreens, and architectural plants – are what hold it all together, season after season. 

If you’re designing a landscape in Auburn, Opelika, or around Lake Martin, focusing on plant structure gives you a space that looks intentional and beautiful even when everything else is hitting snooze. 

What Do We Mean by “Structure” in Landscape Design? 

Structure doesn’t mean stiff. We’re not talking about military rows of hedges (unless you’re into that). In outdoor design, structure is about rhythm, balance, and movement. It’s what gives your landscape flow, form, and a sense of presence – whether anything’s blooming or not. 

Your landscape’s structure might come from: 

• Trees that anchor and frame your space 
• Evergreens that hold their color and texture through winter 
• Architectural plants with bold silhouettes or sculptural shapes 
• Screening hedges or layers that define zones and create natural movement 

And while we’re focusing on plant-based structure here, we always design with both living and built elements in mind. (Think pathways, garden walls, fire pits – all working together.) 

Why Structure Matters Year-Round – Especially in the “Off” Season 

Great landscape design doesn’t fade when the flowers do. In fact, strong plant structure makes your outdoor space sing even in January. 

• In summer, a well-placed shade tree adds dimension and relief from the heat. 

• In winter, boxwoods, camellias, and hollies bring form, greenery, and texture. 

• All year long, bold plants add rhythm and visual flow – no flowers required. 

When your outdoor space still looks good in the dead of winter? That’s when you know the design has roots (literally). 

Our Favorite Structure Plants for Zone 8A 

Auburn | Opelika | Lake Martin | USDA Zone 8A 

In East Alabama, we design with blazing summers, mild winters, and the occasional cold snap in mind. These go-to plants are more than just beautiful – they’re dependable, drought-tolerant, and made to last. 

Tried-and-True Backbone Plants We Love: 

• Holly (‘Nellie R. Stevens’ or similar)
  Deep green foliage, dense form, and winter berries. Great for privacy, hedging, or anchoring a bed. 
• Magnolia grandiflora
  A Southern staple with evergreen leaves and bold blooms. We love compact cultivars for tighter spaces. 
• Camellia Japonica
  The star of the winter garden. Glossy leaves + vibrant blooms when everything else is sleeping. 
• Japanese Maple
  Four-season elegance. Delicate in spring, brilliant in fall, sculptural when bare. 
• Distylium
  A low-maintenance evergreen shrub with soft texture and year-round color. 

These aren’t just pretty plants. They’re hardworking design elements that create privacy, guide views, and help your space feel balanced and purposeful. 

Structure is Flexible – It Grows with You 

Good landscape structure is like a thoughtfully designed home. It gives you flexibility to grow, adapt, and refresh your space without a total redesign. 

• Want more seasonal color? Add it around the existing bones. 
• Thinking of a fire pit, hammock nook, or dining zone? The framework is already there. 
• Need privacy or wind protection? Evergreen structure to the rescue. 

When you build a landscape with structure first, every other choice gets easier – and your space stays beautiful year after year.