The opulent, romantic cottage garden is the perfect counter-concept to the elegant, modern garden design. Anyone who can't get used to the deliberately barren look of stones and grass can transfer the lavish plant splendor of historic monastery gardens to their front garden. You can find out which components make the plan successful here.
What elements belong in a cottage garden style front garden?
A cottage garden-style front garden consists of four rectangular or square beds with evergreen or flowering borders, paths of the cross and a central element such as a small tree or fountain. Typical plants are perennials, flowers, fence peepers and decorative vegetables.
Basic elements in the historical floor plan – an overview
The concept of the cottage garden has undergone many developments since the Middle Ages. These were primarily reflected in the contemporary planting. In contrast, the historical floor plan still exists today. These components turn your front yard into an authentic cottage garden:
- Basic structure: 4 rectangular or square beds with an evergreen or flowering border
- Pathway as a cross to get to the entrance and the beds
- Center: small tree, bush, fountain, rose circle or garden sculpture
A picket fence, a low dry stone wall or a green picket fence can be used as a barrier to the street. Path surfaces made of gravel or bark mulch complete the stylish appearance. Integrate natural stone slabs into the entrance to the front door as stepping stones.
Characteristic plants for the cottage garden
If you design the front garden as a cottage garden, decorative aspects and fewer criteria of self-sufficiency dominate. This change finds expression in the correspondingly modified planting plan. Vegetable plants are only included here if they have a beautiful flower or shape. We have put together typical plants for the modern cottage garden for you below:
- Picturesque perennials: peonies (Päonia), bearded carnations (Dianthus barbatus 'Nigrescens') or sun bride (Helenium)
- Flowers: Levkoje (Matthiola), gladiolus (Gladiolus), marigolds (Calendula officinalis), lupins (Lupinus)
- Fence peepers: hollyhocks (Alcea), marshmallow (Althaea cannabina), dahlias (Dalia), clematis (Clematis)
- Decorative vegetables: common chicory (Cichorium intybus), Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, red cabbage ((Brassica oleraceae ssp.)
Symbolic Marian flowers are very popular and give your front yard authenticity as a cottage garden. The milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is one of them, as is the Madonna lily (Lilium candidum). Above all, the columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) should not be missing in this round, because the perennial symbolizes the seven sorrows of the Mother of God.
Tip
Boxwood is in decline as a border plant due to the boxwood borer and leaf drop disease. The Japanese holly (Illex crenata) has proven to be a good alternative for bordering beds in the cottage garden, as it looks very similar to a Buxus sempervirens and therefore does not contradict the historical concept.
