So, I’ve wanted to build a cottage/English garden for some time now and started a larger project than I anticipated. In doing research I wanted to understand what attributes make up this type of garden, and what features I wanted to include. There are really two main kinds of English Garden: the rolling estate/park and the cottage garden. The rolling estate is lush with broad expanses of green, and has a park feel broken up by “rooms” or areas of diverse planting. The cottage is your typical loose, flowing and colorful garden.

Key Attributes of an English Garden

So here is a collection of English/cottage garden traits I compiled:

• Abundance – in the garden there is always a feel of slight overgrowth and abundance. Bare spots are not allowed, paths should be slightly crowded with blooms. There needs to be a “full” feeling.
• Natural – plants should always look like they are in their natural habitat.
• Weaving – using a variety of plants, vines and containers there should be a woven feel throughout the garden.
• Variety – there should be a variety of bloom types,, sizes and colors to create a visual texture.
• Informality – There is always a main theme of informality on the verge of organized chaos.
• Layers – using height and plant types, there should be a layering of foliage and blooms.

Stay tuned for more on my Cottage Garden project.