Good morning, green thumbs!
My new cottage garden is amended and ready to accept new plants. This weekend I mapped out plant placement on graph paper -- primarily to prevent having everything bloom at the same in one corner of the garden while nothing happens all season anywhere else. I am wondering, however, if my plan will produce the most natural results.
The new plot is perpendicular to an existing, long (30') shrub border and parallel with a fence, forming an L shape. It is approximately 15' wide x 12' deep, in an almost rhomboid shape. I left a 2.5-foot strip of grass (later to be a stone path) on the left and rear sides so I can easily weed and water from all sides.
The rear side (parallel to a chain-link fence with ivy and clematis growing on it), is that determined my design: tallest plants in the back (hollyhock, coreopsis, anemomes, delphinium), then medium-tall (phlox, achillea, iris, monarda), then medium (campanula, aquilegia, daisies, lupine, digitalis, poppies, lavender, heuchera), and then the shorts (alchemilla, helleborus, geraniums, viola).
I purchased plants in groups of 3 and will intermingle them so there are not just singular blocks of same-plant color, but I am curious if anyone thinks this "step" design will look staged I've researched online and looked through as many books as I could get my hands on, but I haven't been able to swipe anyone's cottage garden design.
As long as I place same-time bloomers and complementary and/or contrasting colors together, does it matter where I place the plants? It is very difficult to envision because most of the plants will be in 2-inch grower pots, and I have never seen any of the taller plants (aside from anemones) at their mature height.
Should the tallest plants should go in the middle and step down from there on ALL sides? It's worth noting that I'll get to enjoy the view from primarily two sides unless I am in the front yard (not often unless I am weeding/watering). Sure, I want neighbors and passersby to enjoy the view, but this garden is for me.
Seek advice on plant placement for new cottage garden
Mapping on graph paper is great (I do it) because it lets you figure out spacing... otherwise, it's hard to remember that the plant in the 2 inch pot needs a 2 foot diameter spot!
Your plan sounds good, as long as you're not putting plants in straight lines. Let them meander a little, even if your bed is fairly straight in its outlines. Put an occasional taller plant further to the front, as a focal point.
I plant in 3's, but I usually don't scatter them too widely... I go for more of a "V" shape, sometimes a wide enough "V" that I have other (usually lower growing) plants between. With some plants (phlox, for instance), I plant 2 of one color plus 1 of a complimentary or contrasting hue (2 spaced a little further back, then 1 more to the front, in the middle).
Since the garden is 12 feet deep, you may want to incorporate additional pathways or stepping stones, or you will not be able to "weed & water from all sides." I tend to overplant, trying to fit everything in, and then I have no places to put my feet!
I plant in 3's, but I usually don't scatter them too widely... I go for more of a "V" shape, sometimes a wide enough "V" that I have other (usually lower growing) plants between. With some plants (phlox, for instance), I plant 2 of one color plus 1 of a complimentary or contrasting hue (2 spaced a little further back, then 1 more to the front, in the middle).
That's exactly what I did last night! If I had, for example, three white campanula and three lavender, I'd group the six in a W, but throw a white in the middle of the purple and a purple in the middle of a white.
Do you have pictures of your gardens posted anywhere? I'd love to see them.
And thank you for the tip about putting a path in there. I discovered last night that I can water from the edges and reach the center. Buying a 30-inch waterfall wand definitely helped, but you're right, weeding will be a challenge.
I might have to move some plants around to install the path. I'm thinking a few slate stepping stones. Or I can go on an expedition in the woods and, if I am lucky, find some nice (free!), flat granite.
I'm not posting "group shots" until I get some more of the weeds outta there! LOL
I've got a little pile of "free" rocks that's gradually turning into a pathway through my back perennial bed. Slate stepping stones wouldn't be quite as heavy, though -- most of the rocks I'm using are large-ish.
I love those watering wands... just got a new one that telescopes to an even longer length! No problem reaching anything on the deck or patio now. I use soaker hoses in most of my beds, though.
I should get some soaker hoses. Sometimes I think a big gush from above isn't what the plant wants.
And ... shhhhh! Do NOT say the weeds word. My new garden bed is presently weed free! LOL.
No problem, you can come get some w**ds from me any time!
Plants do like soaker hoses, especially things like herbs and roses that like to be watered but don't love wet foliage. And without soaker hoses and my irrigation timer, I'd spend most of my garden time just watering!