Free-spirited and whimsical appearances are often attributed to cottage gardens. The pathways are winding rather than straight. Flowers tend to entwine with one another when they are planted in masses rather than in straight lines. The flowers overflow their pots and spill out over the pathways as well as the areas surrounding the trees, rocks, fountains, and other buildings. There always seem to be cottage gardens that have been there for decades.
The possibilities for these gardens are limited only by your own creativity and the amount of space you have at your disposal. You may plant them in the backyard or in the area close to the home. You may even bring flowers in the cottage-garden design up onto your porch or patio to combine those “rooms” on the exterior of your home into your cottage garden.
What Makes a House a Cottage?
In the strictest sense, cottage-style houses are characterized by their diminutive size, asymmetrical facades and rooflines, and steeply pitched roofs. Stone, brick, wood, or any other natural material are the most common choices for the outside siding. The appearance of a cottage may be enhanced with the addition of painted shutters, trim, and moldings, as well as rounded doors and windows. It goes without saying that a merry garden is essential to the overall image of a cottage.
The cottage style, on the other hand, is known for being unpretentious and accommodating, and it mostly reflects the preferences of the architect or interior designer. As a result, almost any house may have the “feel” of being decorated in the cottage style. A straightforward ranch may be made to seem more like a cozy cottage by using elements such as a sizable, roofed front porch or deck and cladding the building in natural materials. Even railings need to have a more traditional appearance than contemporary ones. The appearance of a cottage may be enhanced by the use of flower-filled hanging baskets and window boxes. It is recommended to arrange pieces of furniture made of bamboo, rattan, and wood into conversational groups. Side tables should be positioned at the ideal height for serving glasses of lemonade or sweet tea.
Cottage Garden Flowers
What kind of vegetation should you put in your little cottage garden? Above all else, cultivate what you have a passion for! In a cottage garden, it is possible to constantly plant low-maintenance perennials such as Russian sage, lavender, coneflowers, daisies, hollyhocks, and daylilies. Other options include daylilies. Your yard will be filled with hummingbirds and butterflies if you plant flowering plants and shrubs like rhododendrons and butterfly bushes. In addition, let climbing plants like clematis, honeysuckle, or wisteria trail over paths and around fences in your garden. If you have a shed, garage, or other structure on your property that is unattractive, you should absolutely let flowers cover it.
Petunias, pansies, zinnias, bachelor buttons, cosmos, sunflowers, and a whole host of other bright annuals are perfect for the cottage garden. Other annuals include sunflowers. Roses are a natural fit for a cottage garden and should be planted there whenever possible. However, you should choose resilient shrub roses above anything that requires more maintenance.
Designing a Cottage Garden
Cottage gardens may not seem to need a significant amount of prior planning and design, but this is not the case.
- Plants Selection
It’s easy to get the impression that cottage gardens don’t need much in the way of planning or design because of their casual appearance. However, in order to get the most desirable results, careful planning of cottage gardens is required in advance. For instance, owing to their height, hollyhocks and delphiniums, along with other tall flowers, should be placed in close proximity to a wall, fence, or other structure in order to provide support for them. A portion of a white picket fence is excellent support for tall plants while also contributing a lovely touch that is typical of cottage gardens.
It is important to avoid having smaller plants, such as coral bells and ladies’ mantle, get lost in the foliage of bigger plants by positioning them at the garden’s boundaries or along walks. In addition, flowers with a pleasant aroma, such as lavender, should be placed next to paths so that visitors may take advantage of their perfume. For those who are very creative and motivated, designing flower gardens may develop into a successful profession in and of itself.
Plants in cottage gardens are often not organized in a manner that creates straight lines or other geometric patterns. This is one of the factors that contribute to the relaxed atmosphere of cottage gardens. Instead, bunches of flowers or bulk plantings of several kinds interweave with one other. Although pathways should be broad enough for two people to stroll along hand in hand, flowers may spill over into the route or drape above it. Pathways tend to be curved rather than straight, and flowers may spill over into the path or drape above it. The use of natural materials and an informal design should characterize the pathways. For instance, instead of using concrete, you might create a more natural and carefree appearance by using stepping stones surrounded by moss or thyme.
- Hardscaping Design
When designing a cottage garden, be sure to account for the hardscaping elements, such as walks and fences, as well as seating options like benches, chairs, and other furniture. Because it encourages visitors to linger and take in the beauty of the blooms, this is an essential component of a cottage garden. If you want to eat outside in the garden, you need to make sure there is a stable base below the table and chairs so that they won’t fall over.
- Pathway Design
In a cottage garden, the pathways should often be broad enough for two people to stroll side by side while holding hands. Nevertheless, plants and flowers are allowed to overgrow the pathway, and you may even have vines such as clematis, honeysuckle, or other types of vines drooping over the walkway.
Plant lemon thyme or moss around the stepping stones if you are going to use fieldstone, slate, or any other material that has space between the individual stones. Scuffing the lemon thyme will cause it to exude an aroma similar to that of fresh citrus fruit.
You may cultivate and take pleasure in a garden notwithstanding the architectural style of your house. Perhaps you could begin by placing a couple of pots of lavender on your front porch or stairs. Then you should plant some hollyhocks close to a foundation that gets plenty of light. You could find that over time, you eventually find yourself surrounded by the carefree blossoms of a cottage garden.
- Garden Decor
The freedom to create gardens whatever you wish is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the process. If you have a preference for formal, contemporary lines, like box hedges and topiaries that have been cut, then you should definitely create a garden that incorporates such features. Use sculptures, photos, antiques, or any other things that make you happy if you want to add a touch of whimsy to your space (see our tips for garden decorating). Remember that the primary function of a garden is to make you feel welcome when you get home, no matter what garden design ideas you choose to implement.
