Why Choose Cottage Garden Plants from Carbeth Plants
How to Choose and Grow Cottage Garden Plants
Frequently Asked Questions
The 70/30 planting rule is a simple way to keep a garden feeling full without becoming overwhelming. Around seventy percent of the space is planted with dependable shrubs and perennials that give structure year after year. The remaining thirty percent is left for seasonal flowers, pops of colour, and trying something new when inspiration strikes.
A low-maintenance cottage garden starts with plants that are happy to look after themselves. Choose hardy perennials and shrubs that come back each year, group plants with similar needs, and mulch the soil in early spring. Letting some plants self-seed naturally also helps the garden fill out with very little effort.
Roses, salvia, verbena bonariensis, nepeta, and many reblooming perennials offer long flowering periods. Mixing these with seasonal bulbs helps keep colour flowing from spring through autumn.
Cottage gardens are naturally wildlife-friendly. Plants such as lavender, verbena, foxglove, and anemone provide nectar and shelter for bees and butterflies throughout the season.
Spring and autumn are ideal times for planting, as cooler temperatures help roots establish. Container-grown plants can be planted most of the year as long as the ground is not frozen or waterlogged.