How to Build a Cottage Garden

Historically, cottage gardens were built by farmers or estate workers who had little plots of land for their own use; they planted gardens packed with vegetables, herbs and some flowers. Today, cottage gardens are built to cover all of the yard or they can be garden areas interspersed with lawn for the children and pets. The overall feel of a cottage garden is casual rather than formal, with a variety of plantings of all shapes and colors, interspersed with interesting 'eye-catchers' and shaded seating areas.

Shovel
Compost or decayed manure
Soil testing kit
Sulfur or lime (optional)
Trees, plants and seeds
Pathway material
Seating
Eye-catching decor
Plant markers (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Determine your garden's light. There are some plants that grow in any type of light, but most need a specific light to thrive. For instance, roses need at least 6 hours of sunlight every day, while gardenias and bleeding hearts need shade to partial shade.
- 2
  Determine what type of soil is in your garden. Squeeze a handful of soil and tap it with your finger. If it's sticky and won't fall apart, it's heavy with clay. If the soil won't form a ball, it's mostly sand. If it forms a ball and then falls apart easily, it's a rich loam. You can amend any soil by digging in plenty of organic matter, such as decayed manure or compost, several weeks before planting. Use a soil testing kit before planting as you might need to add sulfur or lime to adjust the pH level for the plants you choose.
- 3
  Plant trees and tall shrubs; these will form the foundation of the cottage garden. Trees can be fruit trees or ornamental trees such as willows or magnolia. Tall shrubs include crepe myrtle, althea (Rose of Sharon), butterfly bushes or flowering dogwood. Remember as you build this garden to plant with a curving and meandering design rather than a strict, formal look.
- 4
  
  Place the larger plants in the garden. These include old garden or bush roses, gardenias, mock orange, lilacs or viburnum. If you cannot find an old garden rose, try the Double Knock Out Rose. They are disease resistant and require little care.
- 5
  
  Select taller and spiking flowers for height and visual variety. These can include foxglove, bleeding heart, hostas, delphinium, hollyhocks and all types of lilies. Height can also be created with climbing flowers like morning glories, honeysuckle or hyacinth bean pod vines. Plan something for these flowers to climb on, such as a trellis, the trunk of a tree or a porch rail.
- 6
  
  Plant shorter perennials such as lavender, dianthus, pansies, violas, forget-me-nots, marigolds, love-in-a-mist, columbines and daises.
- 7
  Intersperse herbs; even if they are not used for cooking, no cottage garden is complete without them. These can include like basil, lemon balm, rosemary, mint and thyme.
- 8
  
  Include inanimate things in the cottage garden. Stepping stones, flat rocks, gravel or sand can be used to create curved paths in the garden. (Plant low mounding thyme or phlox to grow between the stepping stones.) Place chairs, benches or old stumps under shaded areas. For added interest, include 'eye-catchers' like a rustic sign, an old wheelbarrow or water can, clay or ceramic planters, or a birdbath.

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