If there’s a failing in cottage gardening, it’s the idea that the garden can take care of itself. That is definitely not the case. In fact, a cottage garden can be high maintenance. Some flowers will become thugs, squeezing out others. Self-sowers can quickly get out of hand. Perennials will still need periodic dividing, or they will die out. With so many flowers, deadheading becomes time-consuming, but the alternative is a lot of past-prime flowers.
Advantages of a Cottage Garden
If you’re still deciding whether or not you’re ready to embrace the serendipity of a cottage-style garden, consider these advantages:
Cottage gardens are personal: No two gardens will be the same. Indeed, no cottage garden will be the same two years in a row. The plants will keep moving around and the balance between them will ebb and flow.A cottage garden is less expensive than its more formal counterparts: Although you won’t get an immediate impact, you can start a cottage garden with a few packs of seeds and some patience. Even if you splurge on some anchor plants, like rose bushes or flowering shrubs, you can temporarily fill in with less pricy plants. Self-sowers will quickly fill in and you can divide and multiply perennials each year. Find a friend or two with similar tastes and swap plants to expand your palette.Cottage gardens don’t have to be perfectly maintained: While you will want some order in your garden, it does not need to be immaculate. There is less chance of anyone noticing a couple of weeds or a plant that needs staking.
Cottage Garden Ideas and Tips
The appeal of a cottage garden is apparent: an abundance of flowers and fragrance welcomes you home and greets you every time you open your door. If you’d like to surround your home with a cottage feel, you can start simply by putting a small bed on either side of the path or drive to your house and continue to expand it over the years. From there you can add additional paths and seating areas and other personal touches. Although the whole point of a cottage garden is that there are no rules or guidelines, these tips can help as you get started: Finally, don’t expect your cottage garden to look the same year after year. Allow the plants to be active partners in the creation of your garden.
