What makes an English cottage garden?

Invented by the English in the 1400s (or so the story goes), true English cottage gardens are a mad mix of flowering plants and edibles. These gardens were originally intended to feed a family—still a good thing—but the dense mix-and-match jumble makes them just so charming, too.

How do I start an English cottage garden?

Cottage Garden Ideas and Tips

1. Start small.
2. Use a good mix of plants, including a variety of fragrant flowers, and start by planting large clumps so it’s not just a jumble.
3. Repeat both plants and colors to create a sense of flow and harmony.
4. Add some paths for access and weeding.

How do I make my garden look like an English garden?

1. Plant a hedge of boxwoods , yews, or similar shrubs to build “walls” in your garden.
2. Repeat the materials of your house in your gardens.
3. Focus on perennial plants.
4. Make sure you have an area in which to sit back and enjoy your garden.
5. Plant in layers.
6. Build a decorative structure.
7. More is more.
8. Add some whimsy.

What is the difference between English garden and French garden?

French gardens have their own romantic elements; however they borrow a lot from the English garden. Where an English-style garden may have a pond, the French garden will have a reflecting pool accented with fountains or sculptures and always following a geometric pattern.

What is special about an English garden?

English Garden Info Surrounded by tall hedges perfectly manicured, with a walkway usually leading around the lawn space, these outdoor rooms would become one of the defining features of the English garden.

What flowers would you find in an English garden?

Popular choices for cottage style gardens include lady’s mangle, foxgloves, pinks (Dianthus), peonies, hollyhocks, phlox, delphiniums, lavender, herbs, primroses and hydrangeas. Include plants that bloom at different times, so you’ll have something in flower throughout the growing season.

What is the difference between a French garden and an English garden?

How do you grow a cottage garden from scratch?

When thinking about how to plan a cottage garden, the key is to keep the layout simple, as the infill will be full and busy.

1. Start with just a single border.
2. Think about paths and walkways.
3. Add pretty garden accessories to draw the eye.
4. Create height to accentuate the vertical.
5. Test the soil.
6. Choose natural planting.

What goes in an English garden?

When designing an English garden of your own, think perennials and annuals, herbs and vegetables, roses, shrubs, and grass. Whether you’ve got an acre of garden and lawn space or just a few square feet, these design elements are your first step toward creating that English garden space.