As a symbol of floral life and fertility, the classic cottage garden has lost none of its fascination. Flowers, fruit and vegetables grow side by side here. What appears at first glance to be a motley hodgepodge is actually based on a well thought-out concept. These instructions sum up how to create an authentic cottage garden.

The planting sequence is of great importance in cottage gardens

Floor plan follows ancient traditions - overview of the basic elements

The magnificent monastery gardens of the Middle Ages served the farmers as a model for their own garden design. The surviving St. Gallen monastery plan from 826 shows a concept with four supporting pillars: orchards, herb and vegetable gardens are arranged around a large cloister. Since the rural population had less fertile land than the well-heeled monks, the elements of the monastery gardens are combined in the cottage garden to form a unit. The resulting floor plan with the following components is still valid today:

  • 4 square or rectangular beds with edging form the basic framework
  • 3 beds are reserved for vegetable plants, 1 bed accommodates local useful plants and herbs
  • A wayside cross serves as access to each bed
  • The centerpiece is a fruit tree, fountain, rose rondel or pavilion

A circular path and an enclosure mark the demarcation to the outside. A distance of 60 to 100 cm between the path and the fence creates space for additional planting areas on which berry bushes traditionally thrive. If space allows, decorative elements made from natural materials give the cottage garden a true-to-original appearance. A bench made of natural stone or a fountain made of burnt bricks and paths made of bark mulch or gravel fit perfectly into the historical concept.

Ideas for bed borders and enclosures

In the farm garden, which is true to the original, the mixed culture reigns in a particularly distinctive form. The bed borders (€12.90) and the enclosure of the property ensure order in the colorful appearance. Natural materials and robust perennials fulfill this task with flying colors. Browse through the following ideas to create your cottage garden true to the original:

bed borders

  • Bergilex (Ilex crenata)
  • Dwarf Privet (Ligustrum vulgare)
  • Lavender (Lavender officinalis)
  • thyme (thymus)
  • marigolds
  • Blue Cushion (Aubrieta)
  • Alternatively: small wattle fence, wooden posts placed on edge or low dry stone walls

enclosure

  • Picket fence made of untreated chestnut wood
  • Wicker fence made of willow
  • Hunting fence made of unstained spruce or pine
  • Wooden fence with fence-catchers, such as hollyhocks, clematis or dahlias
  • Evergreen or deciduous hedge shrubs

The formal, geometric floor plan and the enclosures shown create an unobtrusive order in the lively appearance of the cottage garden. This opens up ample scope for designing the planting plan within the individual beds, as the following section explains in more detail.

Planting plan for the decorative cottage garden - recommended plants

Properly laid out, a cottage garden benefits from the advantages of a mixed culture with crop rotation. Specifically, ornamental and useful plants are socialized here, which promote each other's growth and protect against diseases. By gathering plants with similar nutrient requirements in each bed and moving to the next bed every year, the garden soil stays healthy. The following planting plan is a representative example of how the proven concept works:

Bed 1 (heavy feeder)

For the first year in your cottage garden, plan for Bed 1 vegetable plants with high nutrient requirements. All types of cabbage are included, such as cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis), Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera) or broccoli (Brassica oleracea). Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) and tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) also belong in this category. Foxgloves (Digitalis), sunflowers (Helianthus) and delphiniums (Consolida ajacis) ensure beautiful flowers.

tips

The art of planting in the cottage garden consists of correctly combining mixed cultivation and crop rotation in terms of cultivation technology. Potatoes and tomatoes are among the heavy consumers. Of course, the mixed culture forbids a neighborhood in the bed due to the high risk of infection by late blight.

Bed 2 (medium feeder)

A wide range of medium-consuming vegetables brings variety to the local menu. From crunchy lettuce, such as lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and endive (Cichorium endivia) to juicy beetroot (Beta vulgaris) to extremely healthy spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and hearty carrots (Daucus), you are spoiled for choice. Colorful flowers like to join in, such as peonies (Paeonia), purple bells (Heuchera) and columbines (Aquilegia vularis).

Bed 3 (weak feeder)

Plant weakly consuming vegetables in the third bed, which move into bed 1 of the heavy eaters in the second year, because they are content with the nutrients that potatoes and cabbage left over. With peas (Pisum sativum), lentils (Lens culinaris) or purslane (Portulaca oleracea), goose cress (Arabis caucasica) and pansies (Viola) harmonize wonderfully. Onion flowers such as snowdrops (Galanthus) or crocuses (Crocus) ensure a blooming start to the garden year. At the end of the garden year, autumn crocuses (Colchicum autumnale) and saffron (Crocus sativus) shine in their blooms.

Bed 4 (loyalty)

Beet 4 is predestined for long-lived, local vegetable plants such as rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) or strawberries (Fragaria). Of course, all kinds of herbs like sage (Salvia), wild garlic (Allium ursinum) and parsley (Petroselinum crispum). Symbolic cottage garden flowers adorn the bed with their pretty blossoms, such as Madonna lilies (Lilium candidum) or Mary's flowers, known as daisies (Bellis perennis).

tips

Can't decide between an English garden and a cottage garden? Then simply combine both garden concepts, as is celebrated in the legendary Sissinghurst Castle. In addition to the world-famous White Garden and Rose Garden, another garden room is dedicated to the historical concept of the cottage garden.

Category:

Garden design