Growing up in the Northeast, I’ve always enjoyed the casual look of the cottage style garden. The charming and informal flow that invites the eye to discover the various plants and garden accessories. Here are five helpful tips to help you create a cottage style garden at your house! (Note, these tips are useful in areas where you already have a bed started. To give you some visual ideas of various features in a cottage styled garden, click here to view my Garden Idea book on Houzz.
1. Create a Garden Path or Walkway
Walkways or paths through a garden offer a visual break and a way to get around your garden to weed and water. There are many unique ideas that you can create yourself, click here for some beautiful ideas from House Beautiful. Also, have you ever been out in your garden watering and realized the hose is laying over one of your favorite flowers? I found the perfect product to prevent this; they are garden hose guides that come in various shapes, click here to view an example of a Fleur-de-lis pattern.
2. Add a Trellis or Arbor
Add a trellis or arbor to your garden offers a feature or backdrop to your climbing plants. Here is a list of resources to help you decide if this is a project you would like to take on yourself or purchase:
- Make A Twig Teepee
- Instructional Video on How to Make a Bent Wood Trellis
- Trellis options from Gardener’s Supply Company
- Garden Trellis Ideas from Lowe’s
3. Add a Fence or Gate
In a cottage style garden, the gates are low and have a weathered or old look. Add an item that will add interest or character to your garden. I recently discovered Carson’s in the Cornfields in New Holland, PA that sells architectural finds, antiques, collectibles and old and new hardware – what a find! If you are in the PA area, it’s worth the drive! Click here to find out their location.
4. Plants to Use
What makes these gardens unique are their soft romantic look that comes from the type of flowers used. To view the best plants to use in this sort of garden, click here for the best plants to use and zoning information from This Old House. If you are unsure of your location’s plant hardiness zone, click here to view the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map. Also, consider using some evergreens that can supply a “structure†to your garden and offer year round green.
5. Add Garden Accessories
As you would add accessories in your home decorating, the same rules apply to outdoor decorating. Add a birdbath, gazing ball, or garden fountain to give the eye a focal point.
For all your home decorating, interior redesign, home staging, or color choice needs contact Debbie 610.955.8202 for a consultation!
By Debbie Correale, founder and owner of Redesign Right, LLC. You can learn more about her at www.RedesignRight.com. Find her on Facebook.com/RedesignRight, Twitter @RedesignRight, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Houzz and Google+.