00:01There is just something appealing about an English cottage style garden.
00:05This popular aesthetic is both romantic and charming, with its abundance of
00:10brightly colored flowers, bold textures, and its free-flowing, carefree look.
00:15Hi, this is Amy from Gardening Know How, and I invite you to join me as we take a page
00:20right out of Claude Monet's Handbook to create a whimsical cottage garden
00:24with colorful perennials and shrubs.
00:27While cottage gardens are trendy these days, they did provide a solution
00:31to those with a lack of garden space in the days of Old England.
00:35Many of the workers in the villages owned small homes with even smaller gardens.
00:41These gardens would have to supply the family with fresh produce.
00:44Many families would have gone hungry if they had not had the benefit of home-grown food.
00:49Their garden would consist of vegetables and mixed fruits, and amongst this array of produce,
00:54they would also grow flowers to help attract pollinators to their crops.
00:58As time went on and the era of romance evolved, these particular plants were considered to affect us emotionally,
01:05and what we know today as the cottage garden was born out of this movement.
01:09One of the most famous cottage gardens was designed by the French Impressionist painter Claude Monet.
01:15The informal design of a cottage garden lends itself well to both large gardens and small spaces.
01:21Don't be afraid to add plants close together or intermix shrubs with perennials.
01:26Plus, the closer you plant, the less of a chance that weeds have a chance to germinate and grow.
01:31Go for a variety of shapes, textures, and flower colors, just keeping to the best rule of thumb to plant
01:38tall in the back and short in the front.
01:40For a more aesthetic look, try planting the same type of plant in groupings of odd numbers such as threes
01:45or fives.
01:47Hardscaping elements may also be added to a cottage garden.
01:50This type of garden is often walled off by a fence or a tractive stone wall.
01:55You could also add bird feeders, walkways, arbors, or a bench for seating.
02:02The most important part in planting a cottage garden is, of course, the plants.
02:06You will need to select plants that accommodate the garden's light conditions, soil type, and moisture levels.
02:12The plants are generally grouped closely together, so it is best to choose plants that will work together in unison.
02:19Flowers, without a doubt, are the most known feature of cottage gardens, and perennial plants are featured most prominently.
02:25Let's take a look at some of the most popular options.
02:29Starting in the back of the border, these tall perennials provide a nice backdrop for their shorter growing neighbors.
02:37Boxglove, Delphinium, Hollyhock, Tall Bearded Iris, Baptisia, or add vertical interest with a sweet pea vine.
02:48One step down are those perennials usually growing 18 to 36 inches tall.
02:53Bee Balm, Lupins, Peony, Lavender, Black Eyed Susan, Butterfly Weed, Yarrow, Purple Cone Flower, Shasta Daisies, Garden Phlox, and Daylily.
03:09To edge the border, these low growers are all good choices.
03:13Dianthus, Catmint, and Campanula.
03:17While perennial plants are most common, some annuals grown from seed and some fall planted bulbs can also be a
03:23part of the design.
03:25Zinnias are bright and colorful, make terrific cut flowers, and easy to grow from seed.
03:29Check out our video on how easy it really is to grow zinnias from seed.
03:33Other flowers include cosmos, daffodil, the large globe allium, tulips, and for a true cottage garden, grow produce or herbs
03:43amongst all of the flowers using whatever space is available to you.
03:48If you have a bit more space to work with, there are a few traditional shrubs to use in a
03:53cottage garden.
03:55The most popular cottage garden shrub is the rose.
03:58Whether a shrub rose or climber, the heavy petal count of an English rose is right at home in this
04:03space.
04:05Hydrangeas come in many different shapes, colors, and varieties, making them a good choice as well.
04:09Their big flowers are romantic and make perfect plants for a cottage garden.
04:15The butterfly bush is also a lovely addition to add color, fragrance, and butterflies.
04:21Climbing vines such as clematis, wisteria, or sweet peas will add bloom power and vertical interest.
04:28Whether you have a small space or just do not have the time to care for this type of garden,
04:33then a container garden will allow you to capture the essence of this look without a lot of fuss.
04:39Use a variety of pots that will offer bloom succession from spring to fall.
04:43Select one cottage garden plant to play the center role in each container and fill in with smaller plants.
04:49Do not be afraid to pack the plants in tight as you need a tight mix of color and texture
04:54to get that cottage garden look.
04:58Now you have the know-how to grow a classic, charming cottage garden right outside your back door.
05:03For more information on the plants I discussed today, please visit us at gardeningknowhow.com
05:08and subscribe to our free weekly email newsletter with the link below.
05:12Thanks for watching and Happy Gardening!
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