Your Backyard can be an Elegant English Garden

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The beauty of an English country garden is such that it has inspired not one but a number of songwriters and poets. These gardens are known not for their layout and size but for the abundance of flowers blooming in them. English country gardens are usually grown next to cottages and hence are also known as cottage gardens. This being said a cottage garden would look out of place next to a minimalist styled house and is best suited to traditional independent houses. Though these gardens are usually small and look informal, they are not low maintenance. One of the characteristic features of an English country garden is that it is always in bloom. If you have a basic idea of gardening, then you will agree that given the different seasons flowers bloom in, this is not an easy task. However, it isn’t impossible and a garden in bloom is an avid gardener’s delight. If you’re planning to design a cottage garden for yourself, keep these tips in mind.

Familiarize yourself with the plants

Topiary and Cloud Pruning in an English Country Garden Niwaki Jardin original

The heart of a beautiful cottage garden is the plants grown in it. To balance the garden pick a selection of small flowering trees, shrubs and flowering plants. Along with these plants also pick a selection of vegetables and herbs for your garden. Familiarize yourself with the plants, their nutritional needs, flowering seasons etc before planting them. This will help you plan a layout for your garden. Along with flowering plants that will be the focus of your garden, also, select fillers and anchor plants that will create a backdrop for your colorful canvas. Since flowering plants are mostly seasonal, pick a few evergreen plants as well. A common gardening tip most landscapers will suggest is to pick plants that are local to your area and avoid importing exotic species.

Include classic flowers

Some flowers such as roses and carnations are classic choices when it comes to English country gardens. These plants can easily adapt to most climatic conditions and hence should be included in a cottage garden. Both carnations and roses are available in a number of colors and varieties. An archway covered in climbing roses is the ideal focal point for a cottage garden.

This beautiful arrangement has been done by Berlin-based Neuegaerten-Gartenkunst.

Plant a herb garden

Palets&Deco, Palets&Deco Palets&Deco Jardin rustique Pots de fleurs & vases

A herb garden is an essential element of a cottage garden. Demarcate a small section of your garden that is ideally close to the kitchen for herbs. However, herbs don’t always have to be grown in the ground and can thrive in containers as well. If your space is limited, plan a container herb garden that will fit on your windowsill. Most herbs are easy to grow and will adapt to any environment. Pick herbs according to your style of cooking and the flavours that you like.

Plant a vegetable garden

Seeing how an English country garden was designed to be linked to a home or cottage, vegetables are a core element of these gardens. You can choose to a section of an area to grow vegetables or intersperse them with the other flowering plants. As with flowers, pick vegetables that are local to the area and suited to the soil and climate.

Repeat colours

Growing plants in clusters is a gardening tip that is not restricted only to cottage gardens. A single plant can get lost in the melee of colours while a group of plants will make an impact on the landscape.  Repetition in terms of colour also helps create a theme for a garden and brings about a sense of balance and harmony. However, maintain a balance between repeating a colour or flower and showcasing a variety of plants or your garden will look monotonous and boring.

Install a bird bath

Floriana Bird Bath Solar Powered Water Feature Primrose Jardin rustique Accessoires & décorations

Flowers in bloom are an invitation to butterflies and birds. Welcome them into your garden with a bird bath. Given the hot Asian summers, the birds will be very thankful to you. Along with the birdbath, also put out some bird food. You’ll soon see that this is enjoyed not only by the birds but also by squirrels. Building small birdhouses will further encourage birds to nest in your garden.

Set up a trellis

An important gardening tip to follow when planning any style of garden is to layers plants against each other by varying their heights. An interesting way of creating an anchor or backdrop for your plants is with a trellis. A trellis can be used to grow a number of plants ranging from rambling roses to green beans. A trellis can also be used as living dividers to break your garden into separate areas. Creating sections in a cottage garden helps create interest and lets each area feature something unique without disrupting the overall harmony of the garden.

Add quirky details

The essence of an English country garden lies in its informality. This makes it the ideal platform to showcase your vintage bicycle or something you found at a flea market. DIY planters like old gumboots and car tires are perfect for a cottage garden. Wheelbarrows and old farming equipment is also ideally suited to a cottage garden. Place planters on tree stumps to create a vibrant focal point. Tree stumps can also be used as stools to complement mismatched chairs in a cottage garden. White picket fences are a quirky detail often associated with English country gardens.

Include a rough winding path

10m² Barbecue Cabin in a Derbyshire garden. Arctic Cabins Jardin scandinave

To complete an English country garden, you must have a path that takes a visitor through the garden as they traverse from the gate to the entrance of your home. Create a soft winding path that showcases the different elements of your garden. There are no rules to creating a pathway n a cottage garden except that the path should not be made of concrete or tiles. The idea is to romanticize the garden. Pebbles, bricks, rough cut stones and wood are ideal materials to create a path in a cottage garden. Allow plants to grow onto the pathway as this softens the path. Additionally, you can grow ground cover plants between stones in your path.

For more ideas read Turn your backyard into an elegant English country garden

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