Gardening
Creating an
English Cottage Garden
By Patricia Collins
A
visit to gardens in England
or Europe can make us covet
the lovely English-style
cottage garden, brimming
with colorful flowers and lush foliage.
Several things make it a challenge to
duplicate these beautiful gardens in
our area. With some adaptations, a
charming mixed border in the cottage
style is not only doable but can be
breathtaking even in Georgia.
It’s All About Location
As with all gardens, soil preparation is
an important starting point. Of course,
choosing the right location is crucial.
For a typical mixed border, the goal is
to have a lot of flowers and color for as
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long as possible; therefore, plenty of
sunlight is important. If you have your
‘druthers’, an ideal location is one which
receives morning sun and afternoon
shade. This is especially true in the Deep
South. If you already know your property,
you may also know which areas are more
susceptible to early frost or seem to stay
wet. Again, if you have a choice, pick a
spot that is not an early ‘frost pocket’
and does not hold water for long periods
of time.
Another thing to consider is when
and how you enjoy your garden. Do you
want it where you enter and exit your
home daily? Do you want the garden
as a backdrop for entertaining friends
and family, to be enjoyed while relaxing
in the evenings and on the weekends?
Do want the garden easily accessible
so you can step outside to enjoy an
early morning cup of coffee or an after
work glass of iced tea? If you want to
impress the neighbors and passersby,
your garden should be front and center.
Perhaps you prefer a more private
and secluded spot? All of these are
things to consider in the placement of
your garden.
Just Add Water
Georgia’s weather can be fickle. Some
seasons we have too much rain, some
not enough. If you are away from home
for a week or more at a time, especially
during the summer or fall, then an automatic watering system is most desirable.
That being said, irrigation systems that
are on a timer should be used carefully.
Having water faucets close by is also
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important. A mixed border is just that.
All of the plants in your border will
not have the same water requirements
so watering plants individually with a
water hose may be the way to go unless
you are away from home for extended
periods. Hand watering accomplishes
two things: the gardener waters each
plant according to its needs and the
condition and health of each plant is
observed. Does the plant have any
disease or pest problems that need to be
addressed? Does the plant need to be
staked, dead headed, or fertilized?
If you have a spot that does not drain
well, you may wish to install a drainage
system. You may need to add sharp sand
or shale chips to the bed, followed by
compost/organic matter. What you add
depends on what is available in your
area. Stay away from typical potting
soil. You can check with your local
garden center or landscaping company
to see what is available in your locale.
Buying in bulk rather than bags is often
more economical if you are creating a
large border.
Perfect Your Soil
After choosing the ideal location (don’t
we all wish we had that?), soil testing
is next. Your local Georgia County
Extension Agent can give you the
specifics. There is a nominal fee but it is
a necessary step. You’ll learn the soil pH
fertilizer recommendations for a mixed
border. Most Georgia soils are acid, and
mulching your beds each year keeps
the soil acidic, so adding lime is often
suggested when growing perennials and
annuals. Make sure you use pelletized
slow-release lime and remember that
adding lime in the fall is best.
Time and Space
A lot of cottage garden plants are
perennials, with some woody plants
interspersed, so the best planting time is
fall or late winter. The goal is to get good
root growth established before your
first growing season. Plant spacing is
important, so keep in mind the spacing
recommended for the plants you select.
It may seem as if they are spaced far
apart but the plants need room to grow;
there needs to be room for some air
movement between plants; and you need
some space to get into the bed to weed
and groom the plants when necessary.
Take it Easy
There is no such thing as a ‘no-maintenance’ garden. Start small to see how
much time it takes for maintaining a
beautiful mixed border. A narrow border
is easier to sustain than a wide border
and you get better air flow through the
plants. Starting small can help determine the ultimate size of the border and
perhaps the mix of lower maintenance
plants or woody ornamentals are an
option. The border will take more time
during the first year or so, so don’t be
discouraged. Also, think about working
in your border a little each day. That
way, you are not overdoing it physically
or emotionally. You will be surprised
how much fifteen to twenty minutes a
day can accomplish. Working all day
on a weekend can sometimes be overwhelming, not to mention tiring.
Setting the Scene
Hedges or fences often back Englishstyle borders. Remember that most
hedges mean pruning and trimming
so, unless that is your dream job, some
type of fencing may be the way to go
for your backdrop. Fencing frames the
picture, so to speak. If high humidity is a
problem in your area, and that includes a
great deal of the Southeast, fencing that
allows for some airflow rather than solid
fencing is much preferred.
Choose the Best Plants
Plant selection is an individual choice.
You might consider woody shrubs to
define the ‘bones’ of your border. Most
garden books and experts remind us to
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put taller plants in the back of the border
and shorter plants toward the front. This
is a good rule of thumb, however if you
have more space it is interesting to bring
some taller plants to the front occasionally to add some variation. The plants
you see in England are probably not the
best choices for our hot summers. Not
only do the colors seem to fade in our
bright sunlight, the varieties that bask in
the cooler English summers often seem
to melt in our climate.
Interspersing plants that peak at
different times helps deflect the eye
from those that may not have reached
their prime or have passed their glory.
Choosing a variety of flower and foliage
types keep the
border interesting.
Planting a few
annuals is also a
possibility to bring
in seasonal color.
Planting bulbs in
the flower border
adds interest. Try
to use spring bulbs
as well as summer
and fall-blooming
ones. Remember that as the bulb foliage
dies back it should not be removed until
it dies. Spent foliage can be camouflaged
by positioning bulbs near plants with
attractive foliage and/or flowers.
After planting, mulching is important.
It not only gives a finished look to your
border, but it also cuts down on weeds
and helps reduce watering. If there are
plants with basal foliage close to the
ground, be careful not to cover the crown
and leaves of the plant with mulch as
this can be detrimental to those plants
and may cause their early demise.
Visiting established gardens like
the Sibley Border Garden at Callaway
Gardens to observe what plants do well
Vegetables & Fruits
Ferns
• Organic & Heirloom Seeds
• Bonnie Vegetables
• Plants
• Fruit Trees
• Blueberries
• Grapes
• Blackberries
• Raspberries
• Figs
• Boston
• Macho
• Kimberly Queen
Southern Living Plant Collection
We’re really good at this!
• Any Size Container
• Hanging Baskets
• Troughs
• Miniature Gardens
• Sunshine Ligustrum
• Lemon Lime Nandina
• Southgate Rhododendron
Encore Azaleas
• Repeat Bloomers—Great Selection
Knockout Rose Collection
• Double Reds
• Double Pinks
• Sunny & Drift
Annuals & Perennials
is advisable. Also, think about visiting
at different times of the year to observe
how things really look early, mid-season,
and in the fall. Every plant can’t look its
best all year long.
The most important part of the
English or Cottage Garden is enjoyment. The process of gardening and
immersing yourself in continuing beauty
are rewards of a job well done. The
beautiful border will attract birds and
butterflies as well as friends and family
so all can take pleasure in your creation.
Patricia Collins,
Director of Gardens
at Callaway
Gardens, is a native
of South Carolina, a
graduate of Agnes
Scott College, and
has completed
graduate courses
at the University of Georgia. She and her
husband reside in Pine Mountain Valley,
GA. They have two children and two
grandchildren. When time allows, she fights
kudzu and honeysuckle on their twelve acres
of “natural” woodland.
Services
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706-295-0299
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