The Cottage Garden Essential That Creates A Beautiful Oasis

Many would consider a whimsical cottage garden, with its informal design and quaint decorative accents, a backyard paradise. If you're cultivating such a space, choosing plants perfect for an English cottage garden, like daffodils and roses, is vital. But even after you've selected just the right perennial blooms, you may feel like your cottage garden is missing that finishing touch. Beyond characteristic plants, you need to think about landscaping materials — and chief among them in a cottage garden is natural stone.

Features made of natural stone are grounding elements in a cottage garden. They draw everything together into a cohesive whole. Stone features also give a backyard design a sense of permanence — they stay looking good even during the cold months of fall and winter, when the plants fade away. Some stone features to think about adding to your cottage garden include paths, fountains, and borders.

When you're learning how to design and plant the perfect cottage garden, remember to consider these sorts of timeless elements. That may include rustic or moss-covered stepping stones with asymmetrical borders and an aged patina. Stone borders softly enclosing flower beds are ideal — no hard lines in sight. Natural stone, either cut or in its wild form, is also an excellent material for framing a cottage garden. Originally, cottage gardens sat between the home and an expansive lawn. Stone paths or other architectural features, like stairs, help define this informal garden style, giving it shape and purpose.

One of the most important parts of a cottage garden is the path that runs through the middle of it. Traditional cottage gardens have a path that leads to the front door of the home, but your path can lead visitors wherever you want it to. It could take them directly to a rambling rose-covered arbor or pretty pond, or it could encourage them to meander through the flowering shrubs. Cobblestones, flagstones, or riven stone slabs best match the relaxed countryside aesthetic of a cottage garden. Or, if you're looking for something a little simpler, whimsical stepping stones will transform your garden. Create a path of stepping stones through your entire garden or have them lead to a cozy and discreet garden nook.

Stone features are excellent focal points in a cottage garden design, especially in one that adheres to tradition. Place an intricately designed stone fountain or a carved statue that has meaning for you near a metal bench to create a hidden garden oasis. Then create a stone path leading straight to it. Alternatively, it could become a bold centerpiece that draws the eye away from all the pastel-hued flowering plants. You could also install a charming yet functional stone birdbath — the splashing, flitting birds it attracts will give your garden a carefree vibe. Be thoughtful when selecting a fountain, statue, or birdbath; choose features that suit the overall personality and energy of your specific cottage garden.