How to Make an Enclosed Cottage Patio Garden

An English cottage garden

English cottage gardens have been in existence for hundreds of years. They are gardens overflowing with colorful, old-fashioned plants like roses, pansies, hollyhocks, daisies and delphiniums, along with fruit trees and herbs. Long ago there would have also been vegetables, bee hives and a cow or two wandering through the garden. You can make an enclosed cottage garden in your own backyard or patio using fruit trees, trellised flowers, stone pathways, focal points, edibles and herbs. If your finished cottage garden starts to look a little overgrown, you are doing it right.

Things You'll Need

• Hoe
• Shovel
• Spade
• Potted fruit trees
• Flowers
• Trellises
• Flower boxes
• Herbs
• Stone pavers or mulch (optional)
• Water fountain (optional)
• Small statues (optional)
• Gazing balls (optional)

Instructions

1. Draw a diagram of what you would like your cottage garden to look like. Include flower types, colors, fruit trees, herbs, other edibles and pathways. Clear the areas you will use for planting, removing weeds, stones and unneeded grass using your hoe, shovel and spade.

2. 

   Arrange flowers from tall to short.

   Enclose the garden with potted fruit trees and trellised flowering plants. Allow flowers to grow on buildings, fences and trellises around the border of the garden. Plant your flowers in varying heights of tall, medium and short. Plant groupings of 7 to 8 of the same type and color flowers together. Add herbs, fruit trees and other edible plants.

3. 

   Flower boxes

   Fill flower boxes with soil, and plant with trailing flowers. Place boxes along pathways or under windows.

4. 

   A stone pathway

   Use stones or mulch to define pathways on the grass.

5. 

   Garden statuary

   Choose fountains, statues or gazing balls to add as focal points for pathways.

Tips & Warnings

• Cottage gardens usually have less weeds because the overgrown plants block out a lot of sun.

• Research all plants you use in your garden including annuals and biennials to find specific planting times and growing tips.

References

• plantthis: Cottage Video
• cottage-garden: Build Your Own Cottage Garden
• gardeningknowhow: Learn to Plant a Basic English Cottage Garden