Classic English Cottage Garden Design

Cottage gardens got their start as more than just flower gardens. In England during the middle ages, the cottage garden was home to flowers, herbs, vegetables and even livestock.

Today's cottage garden may not have a pig sty or a beehive, but it shares with its ancestors a sense of abundance and "controlled chaos".

Flower Gardens And More
A cottage garden should have a variety of plant types, including flowers, herbs, shrubs and vegetables. A tree, often a fruit tree, is used to add some vertical interest to the garden. Although modern cottage gardens feature plants appropriate to local growing conditions, some classics include:

• Roses. Although roses are more typical of the formalized cottage gardens of the 19^th century, they still have a place in any cottage garden layout. Shrub roses, climbers and older varieties with full foliage are all appropriate choices.
• Climbers. Climbing plants are often used to trail over a trellis, arbor or adjacent wall. Honeysuckle, clematis and jasmine are good choices.
• Hedges. A classic cottage garden features hedges used as focal points or to define borders. Historically, holly, elderberry and privet were used for their functional appeal. More recently, ornamental shrubs like lilac, butterfly bush and japonica have been pressed into service.
• Flowers. Planted in abundance, flowers in the cottage garden provide color, but many have practical uses as well. Violet, calendula and primrose are all classic choices. Annuals are often used to fill in blank spots: pansies and marigolds work well in a cottage garden design.
• Herbs. A major part of the classic cottage garden is given over to herbs. Climate appropriate herbs are the best choice, but some classics include lavender, thyme and sage.

A Formal Layout For An Informal Garden
Although the plantings in cottage gardens tend to be abundant and informal, the overall structure is well established.

• Keeping the garden in. A classic cottage garden features a well-defined border, using hedges, walls or fences to mark the perimeter. The shape of a cottage garden is typically rectangular.
• The straight and narrow. Often located at the front of a home, a cottage garden features a straight path leading from a front gate to the front door. In a "four square" design, the path is crossed at a 90-degree angle by a second path that divides the garden into smaller rectangles.
• Something to climb on. Most classic cottage gardens feature a trellis or arbor to support climbing plants. Natural or local materials will give these structures a less formal appearance.