A cottage garden is one of the easiest types of flower gardens to plant and grow. But how do you design a cottage garden? At one point I started developing an interest in cottage style gardens.
It’s a hodge-podge of color, texture, height and fragrance that looks as though it naturally grew that way.
There’s no right or wrong way to plant and grow a cottage garden. There’s only your way and the plants that you find appealing.
Learn these ideas and tips to help transform your landscape into the most colorful yard on the block!
Basic Idea
The basic idea of a cottage garden is to plant as many flowers as possible within the landscape space to eliminate the grass.
Grassy pathways between the flower beds are fine. You just don’t want to use a lawn mower in the garden.
The cottage garden is meant to be eco-friendly, easy-care and beautiful all at the same time.
Plant Choices
The only rule that applies to a cottage garden involves the plant choices.
Group plants together have the same soil, sun and water requirements, so they will grow well together.
Observe the area throughout the day to discover the sunny spots, shady spots and the in-between spots. Then make plant choices accordingly for each location.
Plant a mixture of annuals, perennials and biennial flowers, along with herbs and vegetables. In this way, something will be in bloom most of the year.
Recommended seasonal plants
For Spring color, plant;
For Summer color, plant;
- Granny’s Bonnet (Aquilegia vulgaris)
- Geraniums (Pelargonium)
- Pinks (Dianthus)
- Larkspur (Delphinium)
- Lupin (Lupinus)
- Campanula (Campanulaceae)
For Fall/Autumn bloom and foliage colors, plant;
- Chrysanthemums (Asteraceae)
- Celosia (Celosia cristata)
- Flowering Kale (Brassica oleracea)
- Asters (Symphyotrichum)
For Winter color, plant;
- Winter Berry (Ilex verticillata) Beauty Berry (Callicarpa)
* Fragrance producing plants include;
* Since the soil of a cottage garden is fertile and the blooms attract a wide array of pollinators, tuck in a few vegetable plants among the flowers also.
Color Blocks
Create blocks of floral color by planting tall flowers, like hollyhocks, foxgloves or bee balm, as the backdrop in a corner.
Then plant medium-height flowers next, followed by mounding flowers in the front of one section of the garden, all with the same bloom color.
Accessorize
Add a few surprises throughout your cottage garden for interest.
A white picket fence around the perimeter is traditional, but you can also add seating, bird houses, bird baths, or other decorative and unexpected elements.
Those who stroll through your cottage garden will find a surprise around every corner.
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