The Cottage Garden for People Without Cottages

"Cottage garden" connotes a rustic English countryside and cozy area behind a small home, a lifestyle very few people now have. This form of garden, which originated as basic and practical way to grow necessary food in a small area behind one’s cottage, has evolved into a style of gardening that mixes flowers, shrubs, vegetables, and herbs in a compact area.

Gardeners who have very little, if any, land can create the same effect by using containers to grow a variety of plants. Container gardening, where plants are grown in ceramic pots or other containers, allows the gardener to put flowers beside vegetables even on a patio or deck.

Planning the Garden

Whether you will be gardening directly in the soil or using some kind of container, you need to consider light and drainage factors. Putting the containers on some sort of brick or other support allowing drainage is recommended. Ceramic pots are probably the most durable form of container, but many other varieties can be used.

You can plant your perennials closely together with the other plants and allow the garden to become a bit untidy. This is not a formal garden, after all. Close plantings will squeeze out weeds, reduce maintenance, and encourage a collage of varied colors. The garden will seem full even when the plants are young.

There are numerous resources available for the gardener who is interested in either the cottage style or container garden. Besides books and magazines, there are on-line forums and websites dedicated to these styles of gardening, and university extensions are a great resource, as they are with most gardening info. With the right research, even apartment dwellers can have a small container garden that brings color, beauty, and fresh herbs or vegetables into their life.

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