Cottage Backyard Ideas – 25 Ways To Bring A Rural, Rustic Feel To Any Garden Plot
When researching cottage backyard ideas, it's easy to get swept up in the romance of cultivating overflowing borders. However, be careful of making too much work for yourself – especially if you aren't an experienced gardener.
'You will be kept busy mulching, watering, feeding, deadheading, cutting back, dividing, planting and tweaking the design,' says Clapp.
'Start small so that it doesn't get out of control; learn how to keep the plants fed and looking abundant, then gradually increase the size.'
To ensure success, Hensel advises to choose easy-to-grow plants. 'Old-fashioned lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis), mountain bluets (Centaurea montana), peonies, all kinds of hardy geraniums, daisies, Siberian iris (Iris siberica) – mix them up and plant them close together.'
It's a good idea to include thoughtfully placed low-maintenance evergreen shrubs as they can act as a backbone, adding structure and year-round texture and keeping things looking green in every season.
'Every gardener learns from their successes and mistakes, so don't be afraid to make mistakes and experiment,' adds Hensel. 'There are no set rules for cottage gardening. Most importantly, have fun.'
Cottage Garden Ideas: 22 Ways To Create A Character-filled Outdoor Space
Our favorite cottage garden ideas are all about creating a beautiful space that's packed with soft flowers and scent. From overflowing borders filled with cottage garden plants to pretty accessories and seating that adds instant charm, there are plenty of ways to create a cottage-style vibe in your own plot.
A cottage-style garden is basically a very informal and traditional type of plot, where flowers steal the show. We're talking voluptuous borders full of color and texture, amidst traditional materials such as stone walls and red brick edging.
Often thought of as the opposite of clean-cut, contemporary gardens, cottage gardens are romantic, whimsical, and have more of an 'anything goes' attitude. Traditional cottage gardens would have been full of edible plants and even livestock. You'll still find the odd ornamental vegetable in cottage-style borders nowadays, but less chance of cattle!
And, if you're the owner of a small, urban garden, don't be discouraged. You don't have to live in a picture-postcard thatched cottage in the English countryside for this type of garden design. The look can work just as well on a smaller scale for a flower-filled city garden.
Whether you want to create winding pathways, design a pretty seating area, or introduce more cottage garden plants to your space, there's plenty to inspire you in our selection.
By Pippa Blenkinsop. Contributions From Holly Crossley
These Techniques For Landscaping With Roses Will Show Off These Flowers To Perfection
roses planted around a garage door, in borders and in a patio container
From letting them ramble over trellises to making them the focal point of a cottage garden, landscaping with roses is a wonderful way to add beautiful color and fragrance to your backyard. Everyone wants to include a classic rose or two in their garden as these gorgeous blooms are an all-time classic flower.
It's easy to see why they're so popular. With so many different varieties and colors to choose from, roses are one of the most versatile shrubs to work into your landscape design. They can be used in a multitude of ways, but whatever the planting combination they are always sure to be the star of the show.
It doesn't matter what the size of your yard or whether it's sunny or shady, roses can easily be worked into your backyard landscaping ideas, even if it means planting them up in patio containers if space is tight. Here's how to get more of these stunning blooms in to your outdoor space now.
orange rose in container 'Roald Dahl'
8 inspirational ideas for landscaping with roses'Roses are lovely flowers to grow,' says Jac Semmler, horticulturalist and author of Super Bloom, available from Amazon. 'They are the reigning monarch of ornamental gardens. They can be grown for their individual beauty and the blooms are a cut flower classic. Yet there are so many ways you can grow them in a garden and enjoy them with other plants.'
We've brought together all the inspiration you need if you're designing a rose garden, whether you're looking for ways to cover a fence or wall with pretty blooms or simply want to enjoy some fragrant flowers in your seating area.
1. Let roses relax in a naturalistic planting designrose 'Olivia Rose Austin' in a garden border
If you let roses do their own thing they will look more spontaneous as part of a naturalistic planting design. Shrub roses like many of the old varieties can be integral to an informal scheme, thriving in mixed borders, intertwined with some of their favorite partner plants.
What to choose? 'Feathery purple and blue-gray catmint offsets any pale pink rose beautifully, and its wispy spires gracefully camouflage any blemishes that may occur on the rose's foliage,' says the experts at the New York Botanical Garden. 'While the tops of roses are lush, the bottoms can become leggy and sparse. Good companion plants are those that hide their bare legs. Traditionally, lavender, catmint, lady's mantle and tall growing pinks all make good partners.'
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Roses are available as shrubs, ground cover, climbing plants and ramblers, and with this range of forms available there are many different ways to experiment if you love the look of landscaping with roses.
2. Make roses the star of a formal designformal garden design with roses and urn
Neatly delineated rose bushes come into their own when partnered with smartly clipped topiary and manicured hedges as part of a formal garden design that favors a symmetrical layout. You'll definitely need to find out how to prune roses for this landscaping look.
If you're aiming to create more formal rose garden ideas, rugosa roses and hybrid teas are ideal choices. 'Their upright growth habit and profusion of blooms lend a regal and well-structured appearance to any setting,' says Diana Cox, founder of The Gardening Talk. 'Consider rugosa varieties like 'Quietness' for their low maintenance requirements, and indulge in the captivating fragrance of 'Peace' or 'Kathleen Harrop' for scented borders.' You can find everyone's favorite heirloom hybrid tea rose 'Peace' at Nature Hills.
You can also choose roses as hedging plants. Plant a single favorite variety along a well-defined line to create a simple color block effect. Why not give a small urban garden a pretty boundary, or hide a fence behind a rose hedge, to bring a linear style with a flowery touch to your formal garden design.
3. Create a scented seating area with rosesseating area with 'Princess Anne' roses
Every garden needs an enchanting place to sit, somewhere you can enjoy being immersed in nature. The planting can add a sensory experience to the enjoyment of the garden, somewhere that offers a restful interlude for your outdoor seating ideas. Scented plants come into their own in spaces like this and none more so than the best fragrant roses.
If you love the idea of being surrounded by containers planted up with fragrant roses, try the English shrub rose 'Princess Anne' by David Austin Roses. But there are so many more to choose from.
'The rose variety that I would recommend both for climbing and for scented purposes in a seated area is 'Zéphirine Drouhin,' says Miguel Camperos, VP of operations at SunVara. 'These roses are a dark pink in color and climb really well, making them a great addition to pergolas or arbors. They are known for being highly scented, with a really pleasant sweet/fruity fragrance.'
An old-fashioned variety, Zephirine Drouhin (available at Nature Hills) puts on an incredible show when in full bloom.
4. Add a whimsical arbor or archarch covered in pink climbing roses
If you want to squeeze in a rose but your borders are already planted up to the max or your yard is on the small side, why not think vertically and utilize the space above your garden by adding an arbor or arch that will accommodate an abundance of blooms without taking up too much floor space.
'By bringing the blooms up and over, you can walk under them, fully immersing yourself within the roses,' recommend the experts at David Austin Roses. 'Create a cottage style garden with a painted wooden arch. There is no need to be too formal. Arches allow roses to span areas where there is high traffic, as well as those which are not suitable for planting below.'
5. Disguise a fence or wall with climbing roseswhite climbing Iceberg rose
By training a fabulous, fragrant climbing or rambling rose up a wall or garden fence, you can transform a dull area into a stunning feature. This will draw your gaze up, providing color and blooms at eye level. Similarly, if a rose-covered wall or fence is at the back of a border this increases the impact and visual depth of the planting.
Training climbing roses on a fence or wall is easy and the result is always beautiful. Roses are a good choice for every kind of wall and fence, from chain link to wooden picket, and work whatever the style of your backyard.
'One of my favorite roses is 'New Dawn' as they are great performers,' says Michael Derrig, a registered landscape architect and founder of Landscape Details, who is based in East Hampton. 'As far a climbing rose goes I prefer 'Iceberg' and 'White Eden'. I have created beautiful wall coverings with them for some of the outdoor dining spaces I have designed.'
'Iceberg' comes up time and again as a favorite with designers for landscaping with roses. It has two flushes of beautiful soft-white blooms with the faintest pink tinge, one in late spring and another towards the end of summer. It's easy to train too and the stems go where you want them to. Another plus is that the foliage doesn't die back in winter, so the fence stays looking 'green'. 'Iceberg' is available from Nature Hills.
6. Add roses to patio containersLady of Shalott patio rose in a containerses
Roses can be used in containers to create a stunning focal point as part of your patio planting ideas. You can buy special patio roses too, which are in between miniature and normal size roses, and often have charming rosette flowers and neat, bushy growth.
For a modern look, try planting one variety of rose in the same color in boxy contemporary-style planters as a patio border. Other varieties of patio roses to try include peach-orange 'Flower Power' and scarlet 'Marlena', both available from David Austin Roses.
'If you'd like to bring an incredible rose aroma right up the patio, consider planting an 'Apricot Drift',' says Rebecca Rouse, the home stylist and garden enthusiast behind Rouse in the House. 'The maximum size is less than 2 feet tall. As it's so compact, it's the perfect option to plant in a container on the patio.
'The fragrance of 'Apricot Drift' is, hands down, one of the most beautiful roses I've smelled. It's lightly sweet, yet very subtle and not overpowering. Another bonus is that these roses are repeat bloomers, so you can have blooms from spring all the way through to your first frost.' You can find 'Apricot Drift' at Nature Hills.
7. Focus on roses in a cottage gardencottage garden with rose 'Crown Princess Margareta'
Old-fashioned, fragrant varieties of rose evoke a romantic charm that's perfect for cottage garden ideas. With their big, blowsy blooms and glorious scent, they add a touch of magic.
Plant them amongst old favorites like lavender, delphiniums, and foxgloves for a charming, informal look that's bursting with flowers. Try to locate your roses near a seat or bench so you can sit nearby to enjoy their fragrance.
'To achieve a charming cottage garden aesthetic, opt for shrub roses planted in clusters,' suggests Diana Cox. 'These roses have a spreading nature and do not need staking. You might find 'The Fairy' captivating with its abundance of small pink blooms. 'Alternatively 'Bonica' is stunning with its profusion of coral-pink flowers.' 'Bonica' is available at Nature Hills.
8. Frame an entrance or doorway with rosesgarage and gate with roses in front yard
A rose in full bloom makes a stunning welcome home as part of your front porch ideas. If you're looking to frame your front door, give your entrance personality or add curb appeal then choose a rose. You can use one to frame an entrance, pot it up for the porch or use as a pretty detail in borders.
Roses smarten up any entryway and give it the standout factor. If you want to plant roses in a container choose one that complements your exterior aesthetic for a seamless look.
If you're adding roses to garden borders as part of your front yard landscaping ideas they are a good choice as they will soon settle in and look like they have been there for ever.
If you're looking for more ideas for landscaping with shrubs, here's one final tip from Diana Cox of The Gardening Talk. 'Overall, roses contribute beauty, fragrance, and structural elegance to any garden space. For maximum visual impact, consider planting them in mass groupings, using them to strategically emphasize key focal points in your yard.'
