Forum home› Garden design
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Cottage garden feel

M118M118 Posts: 8
in Garden design
Hi team,

Having moved into our new house last summer just too late to make any changes, this is the first summer where we have made alterations. 

These two two small borders constitute most of the garden and we are trying to make a Cottage garden theme. However, from my perspective it feels like there is something missing? Does anyone have any constructive criticism on plant choice and positioning please? 


«134

Posts

  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    You've got some nice plants going on there, but from my perspective of course what you are missing - in cottage garden style - are roses, I don't see any at all, and those I think, most people would regard as cottage garden essentials..  I would even put a couple in your shady border where you have Brunnera 'Jack Frost' and Aquilegias, there is room for a couple in there - no  need to worry about the shade cast..

    Also in the bed above, I would fit in 3 roses into that mix..   you will be amazed how they turn a garden into something cottage-y and special.   
    East Anglia, England
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Yes, but, M, you would say that. ;)
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    When choosing plants for a cottagy feel you need to bear in mind that they don’t last long so you have to have other plants ready to take over from the late spring early summer ones.
    growing perennials is a full time job, you have to plan now for flowers the year after next.  That’s if you grow from seeds as I do.
    i think you need some different colours and more height at the back.
    hes a couple of photos of mine to give you an idea, although mine isn’t as good as some peoples on the site.
    this is today, there’s still delphiniums, sweet peas, Clematis and lupins still to come, but by July/August it changes into different colours,.


    This was august.

    So, plan what flowers you like, note the flowering times, and off you go! 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I would agree - height and white. Arch, pergola? I like cottage gardens that are quite riotous with lots at eye level. Perhaps sweet pea / clem tee-pees would move towards that. I like colour dripping and brushing the top of the head. A cacophony of travelling roses. Perhaps add a central feature plant,maybe on an obelisk. Something triumphant, to welcome spring and summer, when it finally arrives. Be bold!
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Roses are one plant I cannot successfully grow up here, I wonder if it’s true what they say that don’t thrive in clean air, being at a high altitude or maybe they dont like the acid soil. 
    I have got roses in that riot of mess but too small to see.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527
    Your border looks brilliant Lyn  :)  

    You haven't got any allium or spike flowers like foxgloves for early summer plants. Cottage gardens are like a organised miss mash 
  • LizzybusyLizzybusy Posts: 87
    Lupins, lupins and more lupins!! Delphiniums too. Height basically. Also phlox, golden rod and rudbekia give it the feel. Dahlias, chrysanthemums and michaelmas daisies for later colour. Structures - archway or obelisk?
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I think another week will see it at its best, the alliums are hardly out and no delphiniums or Aconitum yet. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Rudbekia and Dahlias, yes.

    Nollie grows great roses and she is way up.
  • Jason-3Jason-3 Posts: 391
    edited June 2018
    I can't add much more than the guys above. Just reiterate how important spiral plants are alongside roses

     The only advice I can give is patience. I inheried a large lawn with 3 shrubs when I moved into my house 4 years ago. But this year my "cottagy" themed garden is coming on well. The natural look associated with cottage themes takes time and I have a long way to go looking at lyns stunning borders
Sign In or Register to comment.