Traditional
Cottage Garden
Quintessentially 'English', the cottage garden has to be one of the most popular styles of gardening. Reproduced on millions of chocolate boxes, it's the image of a thatched cottage surrounded by a profusion of flowers, happy sunlit children at play, humming bees and singing birds. It's romantic, colourful and homely. So how can you create it at home?
The essential ingredients
Fortunately, you don't need a thatched cottage. You can create a cottage garden in any environment - in a narrow strip of garden behind a Victorian terrace, in the small plot of a modern house, even in a tiny patio garden.
The real key to this look are the borders. They should be wide, large and full to bursting with a mixture of herbaceous perennials, annuals, old roses, shrubs and even vegetables.
Essential perennials include delphiniums, hollyhocks, phlox, pulmonaria, achillea, acanthus, alchemilla, cranesbill, geraniums and violas. Once planted, annuals like foxgloves will self-seed indefinitely; others, like cosmos, will need to be grown from seed every year.
For more details of products and gardening advice please see Agriframes, David Austin Roses, Cottage Garden Plants, Vida Verde and Matthew Eden.
This 7ft high 'York' bower (£335.95 + carriage £11.95) is just one of many tubular metal structures available from Agriframes. For the mail order hotline call (01983) 291403.
Landscaping should have a timeless feel. This is not the place for patios and decking. Instead, lay paths made of old bricks between the borders. For old bricks, look in your local Yellow Pages under 'demolition' or 'salvage and reclamation'. Grass should be kept to a minimum.
If you want a truly authentic Victorian cottage garden then plant the lovely pale pink rose 'Reine des centfeuilles', which was first cultivated back in 1831. David Austin Roses has hundreds of rose varieties. You can also order by phone on (01902) 376377.
Put unusual varieties of hydrangeas in shady, damp spots. Hydrangea 'blue deckle', as illustrated, puts on a beautiful show. It's a classic Victorian flowering plant from the hundreds available at Cottage Garden Plants.
If your garden's hot and dry, then plant lavender, sage and phlomis. For colour, plant Cotinus Coggygria 'Grace' for its dark red leaves and tiny flowers that grow in a cloud above the foliage. Buddleias too are colourful - they'll also attract butterflies.
Plant unusual vegetable varieties you don't find in the supermarket, like these Paris White aubergines. Seed available for £1.50 + 50p p&p from Vida Verde. Contact them online and see their catalogue of rare and unusual vegetables and herbs.
This 'Warner' bench (£880) is one of a range of beautiful wirework furniture available from Matthew Eden. They also have a showroom at Pickwick End, Corsham (nr. Bath), Wilts. Phone (01249) 713335.
Fortunately, you don't need a thatched cottage. You can create a cottage garden in any environment - in a narrow strip of garden behind a Victorian terrace, in the small plot of a modern house, even in a tiny patio garden.
The real key to this look are the borders. They should be wide, large and full to bursting with a mixture of herbaceous perennials, annuals, old roses, shrubs and even vegetables.
Essential perennials include delphiniums, hollyhocks, phlox, pulmonaria, achillea, acanthus, alchemilla, cranesbill, geraniums and violas. Once planted, annuals like foxgloves will self-seed indefinitely; others, like cosmos, will need to be grown from seed every year.
For more details of products and gardening advice please see Agriframes, David Austin Roses, Cottage Garden Plants, Vida Verde and Matthew Eden.
Shaping the look
Height is important to create a sense of enclosure. The garden should feel cosy, slightly claustrophobic even. If you don't have high walls or hedges, then you'll need to create the effect with trellis, arches and pergolas.This 7ft high 'York' bower (£335.95 + carriage £11.95) is just one of many tubular metal structures available from Agriframes. For the mail order hotline call (01983) 291403.
Landscaping should have a timeless feel. This is not the place for patios and decking. Instead, lay paths made of old bricks between the borders. For old bricks, look in your local Yellow Pages under 'demolition' or 'salvage and reclamation'. Grass should be kept to a minimum.
A profusion of blooms
Roses are another vital part of the look. They should be old-fashioned varieties like this stunning white 'Rambling Rector' (price £8.95 + p&p), which crawls chaotically across walls and trellises; or the spectacular 'Buff Beauty' (see main shot), a lovely pale apricot hybrid musk shrub rose that grows vigorously and repeat flowers throughout the summer.If you want a truly authentic Victorian cottage garden then plant the lovely pale pink rose 'Reine des centfeuilles', which was first cultivated back in 1831. David Austin Roses has hundreds of rose varieties. You can also order by phone on (01902) 376377.
Bountiful borders
To get those borders chock-a-block with plants, you're going to need a mixture of roses, hardy perennials and shrubs. Shrubs give height, winter colour and 'backbone' to the borders.Put unusual varieties of hydrangeas in shady, damp spots. Hydrangea 'blue deckle', as illustrated, puts on a beautiful show. It's a classic Victorian flowering plant from the hundreds available at Cottage Garden Plants.
If your garden's hot and dry, then plant lavender, sage and phlomis. For colour, plant Cotinus Coggygria 'Grace' for its dark red leaves and tiny flowers that grow in a cloud above the foliage. Buddleias too are colourful - they'll also attract butterflies.
Tasty Textures
Plant vegetables amidst the flowers. Their leaves add texture to the border - eating them is a bonus. Also plant soft fruit like raspberries and redcurrants; they're classic cottage garden plants and won't take up too much space in your already crowded borders.Plant unusual vegetable varieties you don't find in the supermarket, like these Paris White aubergines. Seed available for £1.50 + 50p p&p from Vida Verde. Contact them online and see their catalogue of rare and unusual vegetables and herbs.
Relax and enjoy
The finishing touch for your cottage garden is the furniture. This is a garden that is meant to be sat in, to relax in on a warm summer's night, drinking in the scents of the night-scented stocks. There's nothing modern here - the furniture style should be classic, so use either hardwood or better still wirework.This 'Warner' bench (£880) is one of a range of beautiful wirework furniture available from Matthew Eden. They also have a showroom at Pickwick End, Corsham (nr. Bath), Wilts. Phone (01249) 713335.
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