It’s that wonderful time of year for a gardener.
The time when a bit of planning and imagination can make such a difference to your summer borders.
If you are planning a new cottage garden border from scratch, there are many things to think about. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Your soil type –
Figure out whether you have acid or alkaline soil and make sure the plants you choose will thrive in your soil. You can change the PH of soil by adding lime to acid soil or ericaceous compost to alkaline soil, but from experience it is easier to figure out what you already have and work with it. Also, you will need to know if your border has good drainage or if it’s boggy. This will have an impact on the plants you choose, so always read the labels well before you buy.
The direction of the sun –
It’s very important to know where the sun rises and sets in your garden. If you are north facing it’s a little more problematic to grow a stereotypical cottage garden border. You would need shade loving plants, which are a little more limited than sun loving perennials. But with a little forward thinking you could try to place your border where it gets the most sunshine.
Do you have a specific colour scheme –
This is a personal choice and one I always ask my clients. We all have colours we love and colours we don’t. So, thinking about your colour scheme beforehand will help you to choose the correct flowers for your cottage garden border before you buy them.
What sort of border are you aiming for –
There are many different options here and some choose to mix it up and add a bit of everything. Some have the privilege of having a few different borders so will want something more specific. Have a think about what is important to you. Do you want cut flowers? Plants that attract wildlife? A border with evergreen shrubs or grasses for all year-round interest? When you know what it is you want, google it and make notes.
Make a list before you buy –
In my experience it is far easier and cheaper to write a shopping list, than wandering round a garden centre aimlessly trying to figure it out as you go along. If you have followed the above and done your research, you will know exactly what it is you want and how many you need. Stick to it.
Don’t overcrowd your cottage garden border –
It’s very easy to get into the habit of buying plants because you want a beautifully full and vibrant border quickly. But please remember these plants will grow! Within a year or two they will be crowding each other out and have limited space to bloom. Always check the measurements on the label before you buy. If you buy too much it will be wasted money in the future…. Or you could always split them and give to friends and family, find out how here.
More than anything have fun planning. Gardening is a wonderful pastime which will benefit your mental health, especially when you get to sit in your garden in summer and admire the space you have made.
Comments