What is Cottage Gardening?

Cottage gardening is a type of gardening that utilizes an informal design and incorporates ornamental, edible, and functional plants. It's also known for its use of whimsical accents such as colorful trellises, arches, garden structures, containers, birdbaths and benches.

Originating in England during the 17th century, cottage gardens often combined flowers with herbs and vegetables to create a pleasing combination of aromas and colors. Cottage gardens are also renowned for their romantic air – with blooms spilling out of winding pathways and cheerful notes filling the air.

Today’s modern cottage garden continues to utilize a diverse variety of plants in a wild but carefully designed layout. As long as all the elements in the garden harmonize with each other aesthetically, there are no hard-and-fast rules about which species you should plant in your garden. Cottage gardeners love playing around with combinations of trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials and even herbs – from beautiful roses to delicate dahlias to hearty spinach. 

When designing your own cottage garden there are several things to consider – such as soil fertility, sunlight exposure, water availability, how many hours you want to dedicate to gardening and whether you plan on incorporating ornamental or edible elements into your garden space. Once you have taken all these factors into consideration then you can get started on building your very own cozy oasis!