How to Begin the Planning Stages of your Cottage Style Garden
Step1
The best place for your "cottage" style garden will typically be a smooth flat area wherein the soil will be somewhat easy to turn. Additionally, observe the area you have chosen before the arrival of fall. Take special note as to the sun and or shade within the area. This will be helpful in determining what plants are most appropriate to grow in the location. Also, you should begin your garden, ideally, in early fall.
Step2
The second step is to till the soil in the area. Make sure to take up any large rocks as well as weeds. This portion of the project takes place as indicated above in the early fall months. You are preparing the soil for planting in early spring.
Step3
Lay out several beds within the garden. Allow for walking paths around your plant and flower beds. Even if the area is small, assure there is room to move around the flower beds. If you are fairly good at drawing, you may want to illustrate the entire concept of your garden before beginning the process. Use a simple design. In this way, you will be certain your garden will look sensational.
Step4
It is suggested you use the following design plan found in Section Two if you are not sure where to begin. You may make modifications where you see fit once you have the "hang of it." After you have reviewed Section 2 return to Section 1, Step 5.
Step5
The time to prepare your soil for the upcoming spring is in the fall (as stated earlier in this article). You will need to use compost and planting mix in your garden so that the mixture will be more mild by the start of the spring. Assure that your beds are somewhat raised so the area where the planting is to take place and walking path is apparent. You may want to border your plant beds with medium size stones.
Step6
Later you may like to enclose your garden area with some type of fencing appropriate and complimentary to the style of your house and the surrounding area or simply border the garden with more plants. The preceding is something you might like to take into consideration while you are in the planning stage.
Step7
It is suggested that you plan a color scheme for your garden before your spring planting. You may wish to forgo such planning and plant what you prefer; however, it stands to reason you will be, in the end, more satisfied with an aesthetically simple treatment complimentary to your simplistic-styled design. The end of the garden may be comprised of shrubs and the flower beds comprised of annuals.
Step8
Choose colors that are most appealing to you as well as the colors' associated hues. Add one non-related color in each bed for contrast. The orange/red and yellow color grouping might include Dahlias and Sunflowers. The pink and purple group could include Asters and Felicias, and the White grouping might include Dahlias, and Spider Flowers. Remember, certain types of flowers come in various colors and have sub-classifications. The "sub-class" will determine the color of the flower. Therefore, dahlias for instance come in different colors-the color dependent on the type of dahlia (in this example) or flower you are planning to buy.
Step9
Go to your greenhouse in the spring and look for flowers/annuals keeping in mind the color scheme you have selected for each of your prepared flower beds. Make sure you select plants that are hardy enough to endure to early fall. If you need assistance, discuss the location of your garden as to whether it is in bright sun or high shade and ask for recommendations. It is preferable that the area is mostly in a sunny area with moderate shading. If there is a distinct amount of sun or shade discuss this with your green house representative. Check plant labels and assure you are purchasing the right plant for the environment.
How to Put Together a Design Plan for Your Cottage Style Garden
Step1
Take a sheet of paper and at the bottom indicate where you enter the garden. Mark this as Area 1 and set up a legend on your sheet indicating Area 1 as the entrance.
Step2
On each side of the entrance, illustrate the location of the entrance beds. Entitle the beds that you have indicated on each side of the entrance as Area 2a and Area 2b, respectively and record likewise on your legend.
Step3
Draw a horizontal walking path directly in front of the entryway and entrance beds. Also extend another walking path vertically in front of the entryway and its adjoining beds to a center point within your garden. Allow a circular pathway at the center and then extend the vertical pathway from the circular path to another horizontal pathway at the end of your garden. In the end, you should have a rectangular pathway surrounding the entirety of your garden. The pathways inside the garden itself should be comprised of one vertical pathway, cut off by a circular pathway at center. A horizontal pathway will be found on each side of center where the circular pathway is located.
The best way to describe it is to visualize wrapping a Christmas present. Your ribbon extends vertically as well as horizontally intersecting the center of your package wherein you tie your knot or place your bow. Your inside walking path follows the same pattern as the ribbon on your package with the bow being the circular portion of your path. The circular center path is designed so once you reach the center of your garden you may access either path running horizontal to center or running vertical to center. One vertical path leads to the entrance/exit of your garden while the second half of the vertical path, cut off by the circular center, leads to the end of your garden. Each of the horizontal paths, beginning at center, lead to the left side and right side of the garden, respectively.
Step4
Now visualize your package once more. When you tie your ribbon, the top is comprised of four squares of wrap. If the top of your wrapped parcel was a depiction of your garden plan, your flower beds would be on each side of your secured ribbon. Therefore, on your diagram, indicate the position of four beds on each side of your vertical path. The outside of your package represents the outside perimeter of your garden.
Step5
Illustrate the area of the four flower/plant beds within your rectangular diagram. Label the gardens within the diagram as areas 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d and entitle the areas "inside gardens" on your legend noting the corresponding area numbers.
Step6
At the end of your garden, you may want to place a variety of plants. Label this area as Area 4 and on your Legend Label Area 44 as "End of Garden-Plants." Now return to Section 1 and Step 5.
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