20 Ways to Get the Cottage Garden Look
Becky Harris
March 28, 2010
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
I am still mourning the loss of one of my favorite magazines of all time, Cottage Living. They always featured the dreamiest little cottage gardens, with yards full of wall-to-wall flowers. I'll try to fill the void a little bit with some of my favorite cottage gardens on houzz.
What makes a garden a cottage garden (you know, besides the obvious "hence the name" answer)? There really are no rules when it comes to designing a cottage gardens. They often include herbs, you can work in vegetables, roses, boxwood, gravel paths, arbors, funky gates, picket fences, hollyhocks, benches, bistro sets, sculptures, birdhouses...you name it. Charming little outbuildings like potting sheds and playhouses always have a home in a cottage garden.
What makes a garden a cottage garden (you know, besides the obvious "hence the name" answer)? There really are no rules when it comes to designing a cottage gardens. They often include herbs, you can work in vegetables, roses, boxwood, gravel paths, arbors, funky gates, picket fences, hollyhocks, benches, bistro sets, sculptures, birdhouses...you name it. Charming little outbuildings like potting sheds and playhouses always have a home in a cottage garden.
1. Don't be afraid to make your guest have a brush with lavender or lamb's ear as they navigate their way to the door. Just don't keep prickly thorns in their path.
2. Consider the critters. You can even have your yard certified as a wildlife habitat! I've seen the signs in a few yards in my urban neighborhood, where we all have about an eight of an acre or less to work with!
3. Vary shapes of plants. I love the spires of plants like delphiniums and snapdragons, the globes of alliums, the spears of iris leaves all in one space.
4. Think about color palette. Cottage gardens can incorporate every color in the rainbow, or have a sophisticated limited palette like this strictly green and white garden.
5. Don't be afraid to plant in every available plot of soil. Mailboxes and picket fences are begging for some floral company.
6. Don't be afraid to do it yourself, but if you are having trouble getting started, hire a professional, especially to prepare the soil properly. This is an old service station here in Atlanta that now houses a garden design firm, and it's just so cute I had to throw it in!
7. Mix ornamental trees and shrubs right in with annuals and perennials.
8. Consider and arbor and a gate. Here are some other ideabooks that show off these garden structures:
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/4529/list/Through-the-Garden-Gate
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/4762/list/Under-the-Pergola
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/4529/list/Through-the-Garden-Gate
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/4762/list/Under-the-Pergola
10. Crisp border edges and sculptural elements can lend a more formal look to cottage gardens.
11. Make sure you include pathways so that you can stroll through and admire all of your hard work.
12. Don't forget that you can plant on walls - certain species of creeping Thyme are good for this.
13. Incorporate rocks and gravel wherever possible. This can mean a slate patio, a gravel path, stone steps or incorporating existing boulders and exposed ledge.
14. Decorate your outbuildings. It's one place you are always safe to go for funky colors. You really can't overdo it.
15. Never underestimate the power of the trellis. Whether it's lattice covered in climbing roses or a detail on a garage roof like here, it adds charm to any building.
17. Don't think you ever have to have a lawn. Having a garden is much better for the environment than a lawn!
18. Vary heights - here they range from gourds and their vines on the ground up to hollyhocks that are seven feet tall.
Related Stories
Most Popular
What to Know About Adding a Deck
Want to increase your living space outside? Learn the requirements, costs and other considerations for building a deck
Full Story
Landscape Design
Natural Swimming Pools: More Beauty, No Chemicals
Keep your skin and the environment healthy with a pool that cleans itself, naturally
Full Story
Edible Gardens
How to Grow Your Own Sweet Summer Crops
This guide will help any gardener get started on growing the freshest warm-season veggies and berries for summer
Full Story
Most Popular
How to Start a Cool-Season Vegetable Garden
Late summer and late winter are good times to plan and plant cool-season crops like salad greens, spinach, beets, carrots and peas
Full Story
Simple Pleasures
Simple Pleasures: Savor a Starry Evening
See how magical moonlight can be by relaxing outdoors after the sun goes down
Full Story
Standard Measurements
The Right Dimensions for Your Porch
Depth, width, proportion and detailing all contribute to the comfort and functionality of this transitional space
Full Story
Feel-Good Home
The Contemplative Garden: A Place for Quiet Reflection
These 10 elements can bring a meditative quality to your garden
Full Story
Landscape Design
5 Ways to Make Your Concrete Patio More Attractive
These design ideas can liven up your paved outdoor space
Full Story
Porches
10 Ideas for Decorating Your Summer Porch
Watch the world go by from a porch decked out with comfy furniture and inspiring accessories
Full Story
Front Yard Ideas
10 Ideas for a Front-Yard Edible Garden Your Neighbors Will Love
Choosing attractive, well-mannered plants and sharing the bounty will go a long way toward keeping the peace
Full Story
Don't throw seeds! I planted a neat 20 foot double line of morning glories from some packets I bought at Lowe's, intending to cover a chain-link fence, and got a neat 20-foot double line of bindweed. By the time the flowers opened and I realized I'd been had, the roots had spread everywhere, and I'm still battling it five years later. So are my neighbors, to their tight-lipped displeasure. The packets were a name brand; the company vehemently denied responsibility without proof, which I'm still at a loss to provide, so I just don't plant anything from seed anymore. I keep a close eye on nursery plants too, because the weed seeds in the containers can get out of control (I got giant hogsweed once and pokeweed another time, both from Lowe's -- I don't shop at Lowe's anymore). I agree that the concept of those meadow mixes is charming, but you don't really know what you'll get, and you could introduce plants you'll regret forever.