Sloping Waterfront

Finding balance between waterview and woody plants

At this waterfront property, our task was to achieve balance between the waterview and the woody plants that surround it. Editing is the key to creating interest in the foreground, and revealing that which lies beyond. Left to grow freely, there would be no waterview from the house, and accessing the shore would be difficult. Yet the trees and shrubs provide year-round interest and botanical beauty, and actually enhance the view of the water. Careful editing of the landscape enabled both the sought-after waterview and enjoyment of the plants and trees.

The topiary, shown left in the photo above, is a large Japanese Holly, a plant well-deserving of the careful pruning it has received. An intentional dwarfing pruning practice has revealed a distinguished highlight of the garden and allows a view beyond what would otherwise be an amorphous plant three times larger than its current stature. In spring 2021, another round of intensive pruning was done to further improve the proportionality and create greater balance in the padded layers of this beauty.

To the right of the Japanese Holly shrub lies a cluster of Black Cherry trees whose canopies we have contained for over 20 years. Here, our pruning practices are inspired by the bonsai tradition, honoring the tree’s natural form and individual branches’ intrinsic flow. Without editing, these Black Cherries would be tangled with their neighboring Pitch Pines, and completely blocking the water view. The Pitch Pines, one of only two members of the Pine genus that are native to Long Island, are the pillars of the garden and tower high above the property to enjoy the best waterview. We keep a close eye on our Pitch Pine friends, as they perpetually defend themselves from boring insects.

At the shoreline, the plantings are a combination of hardy native coastal survivors, predominantly Groundsel and Bayberry shrubs, with the occasional Honeysuckle volunteers. Periodic pruning maintains an attractive vista while preserving the natural textures of the environment.