What Is A Cottage Garden?

Introduction to Lainey’s Garden

Before I answer the question let me tell you a bit about me and my garden. My name is Lainey. I started my gardening journey as a backyard gardener and then later as a lavender farmer. I ran a small, 300 plant, lavender farm for about 9 years. This past summer I removed our lavender field. It was time for some of the older plants to be replaced and also time for the weed barrier to be redone. That is a big job! I decided to refocus my business into a cottage garden. It’s more manageable for my husband and I to maintain and I love cottage gardens. Last year, I changed my business name from Lavender Rose Farms LLC to Lainey’s Cottage Garden. Lainey is my childhood nickname. So now to the question at hand – What is a Cottage Garden?

A cottage garden is a whimsical and informal style of gardening that incorporates florals, herbs, and other edibles. It has a mix of perennials and annuals. A cottage garden uses soft lines and classic flowers often found in “grandma’s garden.” I put a bit of a twist on the traditional cottage garden style by incorporating an expansive wildflower meadow into mine. A wildflower habitat incorporates some of the florals associated with cottage gardening, but it also uses native plants that are pollinator friendly to attract birds, butterflies, and bees. It is part garden and part wildlife habitat.

Types of Flowers Found in A Cottage Garden

These are just some of the plants I think of when I hear cottage garden. Obviously, there are more to add to the list. Some of the plants are annuals and some perennials. Plantings are packed densely together and in “drifts.”

Maintenance For a Cottage Garden

Cottage gardens are low maintenance due to the dense placing of the plants and the use of perennials. Perennials will occasionally need to be divided. Cottage gardens do not have to be perfectly maintained and manicured. You will want to keep it somewhat orderly, but due to the denser plantings no one is likely to notice a stray weed or plant that needs staking.

Garden Size and Spacing of the Cottage Garden

It can be big or small, but a typical American Cottage Garden is more compact, usually under a quarter of an acre It’s most important to create the size you feel comfortable with maintaining. Starting out small and later expanding as you learn is a good way to start.

I have 2.5 acres of land to work with but that does not mean it’s all garden by any means! The majority of our property is park-like with some pines, spruces, oaks, and walnut trees and an open field in back that gives way to river access. My goals is to keep my cottage garden pretty compact and together with the wildflower field area being separate because it’s already established in place where it is.

The Edibles and Herbs in a Cottage Garden

Historically, cottage gardens came from necessity and the need for self-sufficiency. The gardens were informal and a bit haphazard. The emphasis of early cottage gardens were on vegetables, herbs, fruit trees and even some livestock and beehives. Flowers filled in the spaces in between. Eventually, flowers began to take more of a centerstage as the gardens became more stylized. Today with the renewed interest in self-sufficiency and homesteading, cottage gardening is a perfect mix for many backyard gardeners and homesteaders alike.

A great way to start with vegetable, fruit, and herb gardening is by utilizing raised bed gardening. As I transitioned into cottage gardening over this past year, I have focused more time and attention into my raised beds area. I am growing vegetables, strawberries, herbs and flowers in my raised beds. I definitely will do some posts about how to create raised bed gardens in future posts.

As far as the type of edibles, the sky is the limit honestly. Obviously, all the great summer veggies we all know and love can be a part of the plan. Herb gardening is great fun too. Many herbs make great companion plants for the vegetables. In the past i had a soecisl elevsted raised bed fir my herbs right outside my back door. I love being able to just run out and grab a sprig of rosemary, a bunch of parsley, thyme, or oregano while cooking.

What Climate does a Cottage Garden Need?

Cottage Gardens originated in the English countryside and are now popular all over the United States. Keep in mind your hardiness zone to determine the best plants to use. I am in Southern Michigan, close to the Ohio border, zone 6a. We do get cold winters and snow cover. Most of the plants do well in our area. Remember what grows best in your area and feel free to subsitute and add in plantings that fit your climate.

Interesting Add-Ons For your Garden

If you are really thinking of adding some striking details add in some stone or natural elements. Add in a birdbath or birdhouses on stakes or hung from the trees. Think about adding some pretty garden ornaments. A bench just screams for someone to come sit down in the garden and enjoy the flowers. Stone, wood, or wrought iron benches look lovely against the backdrop of a cottage garden. A fence to enclose your garden is wonderfully whimsical and also practical as far your edibles are concerned to keep the critters out! Fencing I like for cottage gardens are a traditional white picket fence or even old weathered unpainted fencing. Heck, deer netting, cattle panels, and chickens wire even work to protect your plants and give it that quaint enclosed feel. A cute she-shed, small gazebo, a porch swing, are other idea that bring charm and hominess to the garden. Make it your own whether you like wicker furniture or old rocking chairs. We have even incorporated a little faur garden for our grandchildren.

Coming Up Next to Lainey’s Cottage Garden

I will go into detail over time about how to design a cottage garden more specifically and what I am doing here on my piece of land. We have dismantled our lavender fields, but I still have lavender in my gardens. I plan to incorporate it more into my design as we go. I hope you will follow and learn along with me.

Lainey

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