Basic elements in the historical floor plan - an overview
Since the Middle Ages, the concept of the cottage garden has gone through various developments. These were mainly reflected in the contemporary planting. In contrast, the historical floor plan has survived to this day. These components shape your front yard into an authentic one Cottage garden:
- Basic structure: 4 rectangular or square beds with an evergreen or flowering border
- Route as a cross to get to the entrance and the beds
- Center: smaller tree, Shrub, fountain, rose circle or garden sculpture
also read
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- How to design a path in the front yard - tips for beautiful effects
A picket fence, a low dry stone wall or a green picket fence act as a demarcation to the street. Road surfaces made of gravel or bark mulch round off the stylish appearance. Integrate natural stone slabs in the entrance to the front door as stepping stones.
Characteristic plants for the cottage garden
Design the front yard as a cottage garden, decorative aspects and fewer criteria of self-sufficiency dominate. This change is expressed in the appropriately modified planting plan. Vegetables are only included here if they boast a beautiful flower or shape. We have put together for you typical plants for the modern cottage garden:
- Picturesque perennials: peonies (Päonia), barnacles (Dianthus barbatus 'Nigrescens') or Sun bride (Helenium)
- Flowers: Levkoje (Matthiola), Gladiolus (Gladiolus), marigolds (Calendula officinalis), lupins (Lupinus)
- Onlookers: Hollyhocks (Alcea), Marshmallow (Althaea cannabina), Dahlias (Dalia), Clematis (Clematis)
- Decorative vegetables: Common chicory (Cichorium intybus), Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, red cabbage ((Brassica oleraceae ssp.)
Iconic Mary's flowers are very popular and give your front garden authenticity as a cottage garden. The milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is one of them, as is the Madonna lily (Lilium candidum). Especially the Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) should not be missing in this dance, because the perennial symbolizes the seven sorrows of the Blessed Mother.
Tips
Boxwood is on the decline as a border plant due to the box tree moth and leaf fall disease. As an alternative for the Border The Japanese holly (Illex crenata) has proven itself in the cottage garden, which looks like a Buxus sempervirens and therefore does not run counter to the historical concept.
