Cottage Garden Ideas to Add Charm

A cottage garden is nature’s way of self-care – flowers are left to clamber rambunctiously instead of confined by man’s dominion. It is also one of the loveliest elements you can integrate into your garden. Roses tumble over antiquated, crumbling stone facades; flowers grow in romantic drifts at the height of summer. Everything, from the gothic wrought-iron to the meandering paths, is intended to work harmoniously with the natural world. 

Although cottage gardens conjure up quaint manor houses adorned with sprawling acreage, you don’t need to be part of the English aristocracy to own one. Here are a few cottage garden ideas for a heavenly, dreamy retreat. 

1. Choose an Antiquated Color Scheme              

Flowers in cottage gardens are known for their frilly, theatric blooms, but that is where the drama ends. Grown for low-maintenance functionality as well as appearance, these plants will allow you to spend summers lazing around on the deck instead of engaging in back-breaking labor. Some, like herbs, are edible, while others, like jasmine, are fragrant. 

Then there’s the topic of color. Most wouldn’t admit that black roses belong to a cottage garden (even if they’re real) unless you’re Wednesday Addams. For a quintessential cottage look, choose flowers that exude Old World glamour, like this replete pink daffodil, whose peachy pink centers contrasts wonderfully with its eggshell cream petals. Antiquated, faded colors like the blue in this Rose of Sharon work fabulously in cottage gardens. 

2. Install Raised Garden Beds 

The Victorians certainly didn’t have raised garden beds, but they have likely embraced this innovation. Raised garden beds offer structure while still blending in with the rustic wildness inherent in a cottage garden. Use raised garden beds to define paths or reserve them for flowers with specific soil requirements. 

3. Create a Cascading Look with Arched Trellises  

One of the mystical properties that flowers are endowed with is their ability to hide eyesores, such as chain-like fences and ugly sheds. If elaborate arbor systems are too prohibitive, trellises are a simple way to create impact without draining your bank account. Divert attention with an arched trellis laden with climbing plants. Many climbing plants, like roses, wisteria, and jasmine, naturally lend themselves to a charming, romantic atmosphere, vastly enriching gardens with their presence.  

4. Cloak Surfaces with Morning Glories  

Even after more fragile flowers have died on you, morning glories will continue to battle by your side – their vigorous growth and tenacity are why gardeners admire them so much. Though often associated with the much-maligned and less attractive bindweed, they are not one and the same. While morning glories readily self-seed and can be aggressive, they are more manageable than bindweed, tediously twisting themselves into a decadent tapestry of color. When planting morning glories, breaking the outer coating and soaking for 24 hours can aid in germination. 

5. Add in Wildflowers to the Mix 

There are no set rules to a cottage garden, which means you can technically have roses as dark as midnight. Another more plausible element is wildflowers. Wildflower meadows and borders are seeing a resurrection due to their ethereal nature and ability to attract pollinators – they tower several-feet high, lifting the palette. Popular wildflower mixes include poppies, cornflowers, chamomile, and lupines, which will complement the flouncy, pretty look of classic, cottage-garden plants. However, it does take careful preparation to create a swathe of wildflowers, tailoring each mix to its specific conditions. 

6. Add Ferns and Big-Leaf Plants 

While a full, effusive look is embraced, though that doesn’t mean filling every available space with flowers. Imagine looking through everything with rose-tinted glasses – that’s the effect you’ll want to aim for: everything integrates together cohesively, and nothing is gregariously flamboyant or out of place. Cinnamon fern and other plants with dense foliage provide a grounding balance to the otherwise riotous clamor of blooms, blurring the landscape. Lacy plants like the Tuscan Blue Rosemary help add softness to hard edges.  

7. Dress up Fences Lines with Plants 

Planning a cottage garden is like playing dress-up in many ways. Sparse fence lines benefit from a multitude of flowers. Plant a panel of lush plants near fences, whether to disguise them or convert awkward spaces of lawn. For architectural height, dahlias are recommended, while hydrangeas or ornamental grass are preferred for a more traditional look.   

8. Plant Berries 

While many focus on aesthetics and design, some gardeners strive to augment their garden with a medley or edible ornamentals, and one way to do so is to add berries. Create a dense planting with a carpet of herbs and strawberries, and consider growing lesser-known varieties such as mulberries. 

9. Inject Your Own Character 

Cottage gardens are very much a borrowed aesthetic, but rather than imitating it to a T, it’s better to adapt it to your climate and personality. This can include implementing regional hardware, planting natives that have adapted to the environment, or choosing tough substitutes in place of more exotic blooms. 

Cerinthe major, or honeywort, is a striking plant that attracts pollinators. Some types of plants will be more agreeable to your hardware. For example, ornamental grasses, which conjure a rustic, New Americana flair, work better with split rail fences than with chain-link or picket fences. Wreaths festooned with dried peppers, lawns that follow an overwhelmingly yellow scheme, and lush gardens flush with red daylilies may not appeal to the sensibilities of a British aristocrat, but they are very much in line with the unplanned, abundant plantings that are hallmarks of cottage gardens.