A cottage garden is something that has always been of interest to you, but now that you’ve recently moved into your first home, it’s time to take this interest and create the perfect cottage garden in your backyard. But where do you start?
There are many elements that need to be considered when creating the ultimate cottage garden, including the types of plants and flowers you want, how you want to incorporate other aspects of décor into your space (such as furniture or lighting), and even choosing the right location for your garden so that it receives optimal sunlight and other weather conditions.
So in this article, we’re going to see some essential elements for planning a cottage garden for you!
Let’s get started,
What is a Cottage Garden?
A cottage garden is a type of garden that is typically found in rural areas. These gardens are usually informal in design and contain a variety of flowers, vegetables, and herbs. Cottage gardens often have a relaxed feel and are easy to care for. Creating your own cottage garden plan can be a fun and rewarding experience. To start off, you will need to decide on the area you want to create your garden in. The spot should be shady, but still sunny enough for the plants to grow well. Next, you will need some time each day to weed and water your plants as needed so they stay healthy.
What is a Traditional Cottage Garden?
Traditional cottage gardening has existed in England since the 1700s, as people were too poor to employ gardeners, and had to do all of the work themselves. Cottage gardens are exactly what they sound like- small gardens in small spaces with simple flowers and food plants. They were home to herbs and vegetables, as well as fruit trees and bushes. Many of the flowers we see in cottage gardening are heirloom varieties that can be traced back hundreds of years, and that thrive in small spaces.
What is a Modern Cottage Garden?
In recent years, there has been a shift away from traditional cottage garden ideas and toward modern ones. This change is likely due to a number of factors, including the popularity of minimalism, the rise of sustainable gardening practices, and the increased availability of drought-tolerant plants. With these new styles comes new uses for old favourites such as lavender, thyme, rosemary, and sage. All are still essential elements in any well-designed garden but now can be used for cooking rather than just scenting the air.
Finally, we’ve got a brief introduction to cottage gardens. Now let’s know exactly how to plan a cottage garden from scratch –
1) Choose Your Plants Wisely
When planning your cottage garden, be sure to choose plants that will thrive in your climate and soil type. Consider both the sun and shade needs of your plants, as well as their watering requirements. You’ll also want to think about how tall and wide each plant will grow, as well as its blooming schedule. By taking all of these factors into account, you’ll be able to create a beautiful and low-maintenance cottage garden that will bloom for years to come. It’s best to avoid choosing perennials or annuals that need much maintenance or attention because they will require more time than most people have available.
This is why we recommend perennials such as creeping phlox, hardy geraniums, and ferns because they are easy care and don’t require much maintenance. Annuals can also work great for this type of elements of a cottage garden but remember that they need regular re-planting every year and can only withstand light frost levels.
As always, make sure to do some research before planting anything so you know exactly what your needs are! If you live in an area with sandy soil, for example, then daffodils and tulips might not be your best bet. We would instead recommend irises and forget-me-nots if you’re looking for flowers that can take on sandy soil without any trouble.
But if you live somewhere with clay or loam soils then try adding pansies and violets to brighten up your shady spots. These types of plants are easy to maintain and won’t require frequent trips to the nursery.
There are tons of different flowers out there waiting for you to discover them, so be sure to experiment with different combinations until you find one that works perfectly for your space!
2) Consider the Colours You Want in Your Garden
When planning your cottage garden ideas, one of the first things you’ll want to consider is the colours you want to include. You might opt for a classic cottage garden look with whites and blues, or go for something more modern with bolder shades. Whatever you choose, make sure you have a plan for how the colours will work together.
Add some reds, oranges, and yellows if you’re going for a traditional feel. Consider using darker hues like navy blue and plum purple if you’re opting for something more modern. It’s best to start small so that your cottage garden plan will be able to accommodate all of these new plants as they grow. Be mindful of the space you have when choosing which plants to use in your design. For example, larger trees can take up an entire side of a garden so it’s important to make room for them. If there are any aspects that seem overwhelming at this point, don’t worry!
The beauty of a cottage garden is its simplicity and it can always be updated over time. As you acquire more skill and experience, you may find yourself wanting to add additional plants, furniture, or other decorations. These additions will only serve to improve your beautiful new backyard oasis.
So why not grab a cup of tea and start thinking about what kind of retreat you’d like to create? What colour scheme are you looking for? What type of elements of a cottage garden would suit your needs? It doesn’t matter whether you have plenty of time or just a few minutes-designing a beautiful cottage garden is well worth the effort.
Think about where you spend most of your time in the garden: will it be mostly on the patio or around the pool? Do you enjoy entertaining guests outside on warm summer evenings?
Think about these factors and try to incorporate them into your design. In terms of size, a 12’x20′ plot is usually enough for a small cottage garden but if you have more space available, feel free to get creative!
3) Use Low Plants for Ground Cover
Cottage gardens are usually designed with plenty of space for growing flowers, herbs, and vegetables. But what if you don’t have a lot of space? You can still create a beautiful cottage garden by using low-growing plants for ground cover. This will give your garden a neat and tidy appearance while still allowing you to enjoy the colorful blooms of your favorite flowers.
Plus, using low-growing plants will help to prevent weeds from taking over your garden. Be sure to choose plants that do not need much water or fertilizer so that they will not require much care. For example, creeping thyme is an ideal plant for adding as ground cover because it is drought tolerant and does not need frequent watering or fertilizing.
However, even though these plants grow low to the ground, they may need some occasional pruning in order to maintain their shape. In addition, these types of plants will often spread out when planted in an area with loose soil; if this is a concern then try planting them in pots first and then transferring them into the cottage garden ideas after they are established. If you already have a garden but want to reduce the amount of work required to maintain it, think about reducing the number of rows where tall plants are grown and replace them with lower varieties.
Some people prefer this method because taller plants typically require more time and attention than shorter ones such as flowering annuals or perennials. There are many options available for replacing taller plants with lower varieties – including strawberries which produce delicious fruit without requiring too much maintenance!
Another option is to simply use mixed beds. When designing mixed beds, arrange the plants according to height so that taller plants like sunflowers and corn stalks will be situated in one area of the bed and medium-height plants like pole beans or tomato vines can be situated elsewhere.
One last option for essential elements for planning a cottage garden is to use containers instead of planting directly in the ground.
4) Use Tall Plants for Accents
Cottage gardens are all about layering, so don’t be afraid to use tall plants as accents. By adding height, you’ll create dimension and interest. Plus, tall plants can help obscure unsightly views or hide utility structures. When selecting tall plants for your cottage garden plan, look for varieties that bloom profusely and have interesting foliage.
Tall perennial favorites include delphiniums, hollyhocks, ornamental grasses like lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina), artemisia (Artemisia ludoviciana), and daylilies (Hemerocallis). Tall annuals such as cosmos also work well in cottage-style landscapes. Keep the planting open with plenty of space between each plant so there is room for growth.
You might want to add edging, such as creeping thyme or boxwood, at the base of the plantings if they’re going against a wall. If you plan on using mulch, choose an organic type such as wood chips or bark; this will help keep the soil moist and discourage weeds.
And since cottages were originally used for storage before being converted into homes, consider adding a rustic shed (think chicken coop) to house your gardening tools.
5) Know Your Hardiness Zones
Planting a cottage garden is all about filling your space with beautiful, blooming flowers. But before you can do that, you need to know your hardiness zone. This will help you choose plants that are well-suited to your climate and will survive the winter. Once you know your hardiness zone, you can start planning what flowers you want to include in your cottage garden ideas.
Some popular cottage garden flowers include roses, daisies, lilies, and lavender. You can also incorporate flowering shrubs like azaleas, lilacs, and viburnums into your design. Plants like sweet peas or clematis vines work well as filler for larger spaces between other plants.
If you have an empty corner in your yard that’s just begging for some greenery, planting an apple tree would be perfect! Apple trees come in many varieties, so it should be easy to find one that’ll thrive in your climate.
For those who love vibrant colors and fragrant flowers, there are tons of butterfly bushes out there waiting for you to plant them! Butterfly bushes come in many different shapes and sizes, but they’re all super low maintenance.
They make great additions to any landscape due to their variety of colors and textures.
6) Try at Least Five New Things
Trying new things is essential for keeping your cottage garden fresh and interesting. Here are five sub-ideas about how to plan a cottage garden –
– Plant an apple tree in the middle of the vegetable garden,
– Turn an old ladder into a trellis for roses,
– Add climbing vines to provide shade on the south side of the house,
– Replace traditional soil with topsoil mixed with compost, worm castings, peat moss and sand,
– Build raised beds from cedar or redwood instead of plain old plywood. If there’s not enough room to create large beds, use reclaimed materials like salvaged pallets to make smaller ones; – Mix it up by planting herbs alongside tomatoes or onions; – Build an arbour covered with clematis; and
– Paint parts of the exterior walls a different color than the rest of the house; – Dig out a flower bed to create more space for flowers.
7) Plant With Wildflowers in Mind
When you’re making your cottage garden plan, be sure to include plenty of wildflowers. Wildflowers are an essential part of the cottage garden aesthetic and can attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Plus, they’re easy to care for and add a pop of color to your garden. Most importantly, they’re versatile! Most wildflowers will thrive in partial shade or sun and need minimal water once established.
Roses are one of the must-have elements of a cottage garden. Roses come in so many varieties that it’s hard to choose just one!
Some favorites include pink flowers with red centers (especially good for cooler climates), yellow roses (great for hot climates), and fragrant roses like Peace that’ll perfume your yard all summer long.
8) Be Practical About Growing Conditions in Your Area
One of the most important things to consider when planning a cottage garden is the growing conditions in your area. Make sure you know what kind of climate you have and what kind of soil you’re working with.
This will help you choose the right plants for your cottage garden plan. For example, if you live in an area that has moist summers and mild winters, perennials are a good option because they are more likely to survive than annuals.
If you live in an arid region, planting moisture-loving annuals such as petunias or salvia might be the best option.
A well-thought-out plan before beginning your project will save time, money, and frustration down the road.
9) Finishing Touch to Do
Cottage gardeners are known for their creativity and love of nature, but did you know that they also tend to be very meticulous planners?
These types of cottage gardens are unique, beautiful, and tailored to each person’s tastes, needs, and desires. A successful cottage garden plan can bring life to an entire yard or patio area, so it’s important to take your time and plan the perfect space before you start planting!
Take the information from this ultimate guide on essential elements for planning a cottage garden and incorporate it into your design today!