The present work investigates the influence of the packing density (lambda(p)) of a cube-based canopy on the interaction between the most energetic structures of both the logarithmic layer and the roughness sublayer of an atmospheric boundary layer. Analysis of one- and two-point hot-wire anemometry measurements shows that increasing lambda(p) leads to a change in the near-canopy flow regime for which the coherent structures from the outer layer dominate.