Softening a new patio: a planting design for a country house near Saffron Walden
Moodboard for planting design concept
Earlier in April, I visited some of my garden design clients at their home just outside Saffron Walden. Last year, I produced a planting design for borders around their new patio area. In the autumn, I planted it along with my client’s gardener Steve Lambert and my planting helper Lucy Smith.
Designing planting beds immediately around the house can help to tie the architecture into the garden and landscape beyond. It’s also restful to have close views of plants when inside the house and it can soften hard landscaping such as a new patio area.
Planting Design Sketch
5 months after planting the plants are establishing well
Close up of the Amelanchier tree in flower
The Amelanchier tree that we planted in November was now in full bloom. This tree is justly popular for its delicate spring blooms against bronze foliage and bountiful autumn fruit that birds enjoy. The tulips were just beginning to open, there is a lovely combination of Tulipa ‘Spring Green’, ‘Black Knight’ and ‘White Triumphator’.
My clients and their gardener Steve have done such a great job of keeping the new plants well-watered and cared for over this year’s very dry early spring.
Helleborus x hybridus (white variety) with Pulmonaria ‘Sissinghurst White’ along with the zesty lime green of Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae.
I found the hellebores were still in flower on my visit. One of the reasons I love hellebores is that they have such a long flowering period, from January right through to April, and they take the stage long before many herbaceous perennials have even emerged from the ground.
Moodboard for planting design concept
The overall planting design for the borders to the patio is predominately white themed, with the exception of the pale blue flowers of Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus Group'. The rosemary will eventually tumble over the brick retaining wall, providing scent and a handy herb for patio BBQs. Three Hydrangea arborescens ’Strong Annabelle’ will create quite a statement in this bed later in the year and will be visible as you come into the driveway.
Plant Delivery Day
The Hydrangeas just after planting
Soften the edges of your house and terrace
I didn’t design the patio itself (my clients’ builders did this), but the clients consulted me on the positioning and the design of the planting beds before they were built. I advised them to create some beds right up against the house, to soften the architecture and tie the house into the garden.
The client’s dog enjoying the new patio with new beds created right up against the house.
At one end of the patio, I also recommended the creation of a raised bed with a brick retaining wall that curves around to the steps. Previously, there was a sloping bank under the hedge. But it was always baked dry: it was difficult to grow anything there as the water and soil was constantly running off.
Planting beds at different levels around a patio
By adding the retaining wall, we were able to make a decent depth of level bed with new topsoil and ample room for the new planting. Having beds at different levels always adds interest – especially in area like a patio where you may spend a lot of time through the year.
My design interventions also included adding a section of estate fencing at the top of another new brick wall, which runs on the left-hand side of the house. Estate fencing is a familiar sight in this context and in countryside gardens. It will provide support to a rambling Rosa Félicité-Perpétue – to grow up, along and over the fencing and tumble down the wall, softening the hard landscaping here (and also helping to screen the pool house behind).
This rambling rose has small, closely packed pompon flowers of creamy white, which are flushed pink at first and have a delicate primrose fragrance.
After installation of estate fencing
Positioning patio plants for best light
The planting in the bed in front of the patio wall is designed to make the most of the low evening sun on this southwest-facing patio. Six Stipa gigantea grasses will catch the sun’s rays later this summer, providing movement with their swaying seedheads, softening the façade of the house.
Planting plan for the bed in front of the patio
Seasonal planting creates year-round interest
The Stipa’s golden oat colour will contrast with the cool blue-lilac of Perovskia spires set off against pale lemon flowers of Phlomis russeliana. The Phlomis provide winter interest through the beautiful form of its seedheads.
Grass texture and movement are continued at the front of the border with the smaller evergreen grass Sesleria autumnalis – through which alliums and spring bulbs emerge. The Sesleria contrasts with the dark hues of Hylotelephium ‘Matrona’ which keeps its form over winter (to be cut back in spring).
Repetition within planting design
The existing beech hedge is echoed through a beech dome planted as the land slopes away from the terrace, under the Amelanchier tree.
I’m delighted that my clients are enjoying the watching the seasonal interest and colour unfold as they observe the first year of this planting design in their garden.
The beech dome can be seen to the right of the amelanchier