A suburban garden with aN existing patio, featuring both shady and sunny areas, which have been brought to life with planting

Early in spring 2025, I began working with clients in Saffron Walden. My garden design brief was to look at the planting in several areas of the garden. Over the next few months, I worked to soften their patio, rejuvenate existing borders, improve the lawn and create a wildflower area.

I revisited the garden in September, four months after planting. It’s great to see how well the planting in this suburban garden has settled in – with some attentive care and watering from my clients and their gardener Alfie.

After - 4 months after planting the borders are already filling out

Before - the garden at the time of my initial site visit in March 2025

Reusing plants in a new border scheme

A large and neglected border on the south-facing side of the garden, made by previous owners, had become congested with iris rhizomes and weeds.

Sorting through the neglected border (left) and healing in plants to be retained (right).

Lifting, dividing and replanting

However, this overgrown border contained some beautiful plants that could be incorporated into the new design.

I lifted and divided the irises, moved salvias, hibiscus, sedums, phlomis and crocosmia to reuse a lot of the plants from this old border in the new planting design.

Finding shady conditions for hellebores

I discovered a lot of hellebores there that had self-seeded themselves into the lawn, so I moved them over to newly revived border on north-facing side of the garden – they will be much happier in the shadier conditions there.

Sunny spots for alliums

I also found masses of allium bulbs, which I relocated to the new sunny borders. Once this old border had been cleared the area was ready for the new lawn turf to extend and improve the lawn.

Preparing for and laying the new lawn turf.

Adding planting to existing north-facing borders

Along with the hellebores, moved from the opposite side of the garden, I also added to the existing planting along the north-facing border. Previously sparsely planted, this border now has lots of texture and seasonal interest thanks to suitably shade-loving plants.

In addition to the Hydrangea paniculata ‘Silver Dollar’, the newly planted Ornamental Cherry Tree – Prunus serrulata ‘Pink Perfection’ – will catch the eye as soon as you enter the garden gate at the side of the house, with bountiful blossoms in spring and fiery colour in autumn.

Before - North-facing border

After - North-facing border just after planting

North-facing border four months after planting

Adding a wildflower area under the existing Apple Tree

This autumn, I returned to the garden to add a wildflower area, underplanted with 2000 spring flowering bulbs. These will naturalise over time and extend the season for pollinators.

The bulbs are a mix of crocus, scilla, chionodoxa, English bluebells, Russian snowdrops and snakeshead fritillaries. We scattered bulbs on the prepared ground and the turf was then laid over them.

As the area is in dappled shade, we have used shade-tolerant wild flower turf from Wildflowerturf

Laying and watering in wildflower turf designed for shady areas in September 2025.

I’m looking forward to seeing this garden develop as the wildflower turf blooms and the many bulbs, hellebores, hebes, clematis, roses, irises and ornamental cherry tree (Prunus serrulata ‘Pink perfection”) come into their own in the next few years.

If you’re interested in making a wildflower area in your garden, then do get in touch to discuss. I’ve worked with many of my clients to include a meadow area within their gardens – even in relatively modest spaces. You can also take a look at my meadow gardens page.

Planting design for a Saffron Walden garden