Why choose between a cottage garden and the New Perennial design? Merge elements from each for a space that looks good longer.
The full term “ bungalow garden ” conjures up images of a garden that ’s bursting at the seams in summer — of herb , self - seeding annuals , and flowering shrubs mingling together ; of vigorous mounting rose scrambling along walls , with poppy , peonies , and showy perennials in vibrant vividness peppering the quad . It is a flair of ease and partly controlled abandon , with plant tightly packed together .
In direct contrast , the New Perennial elan emphasizes the year - round shape and anatomical structure of the planting , rather than an copiousness of flower in summer . Roses and showy summer flowers are not to be chance ; dewy-eyed , single flowers are planted , rather of frilly double . Rather than having a summer peak like a cottage garden , a New Perennial garden — with its uncompromising grass and mostly late - summertime - flowering perennials — is left unaffected through evenfall and wintertime . This allows the diversity of shape and structure in old leaves , flowers , and seed heads to be enjoy , even when the coloration has drain out of the works and the garden is in the grip of frosty atmospheric condition .
Combining elements of these two style in your garden has many welfare , the principal one being that it can greatly go the amount of time that the garden look attractive . you could have a garden that is packed with romantic blossom in summer as well as being colorful in gloaming , and with a spectacular social structure that looks optic - catch in winter . you could have the best of both earthly concern .
Classic cottage garden style
This mode has been around probably as long as there have been cottage .
View 6 slap-up plant life for the classical bungalow garden style .
New Perennial garden style
This approach has explode with the huge increase in perennial option over the last 40 years .
regard 6 great plant for the New Perennial garden elan .
Aim to create a garden of flowing shapes
One of the hallmarks of both style is plants appearing in drift . In other words , the same plant appears in several topographic point along the garden . In the cottage garden it is often drifts of electric light such as star of Persia ( Allium cristophii , Zones 4–8 ) , or self - sowers such as California poppy ( Eschscholzia californica , annual ) at random scatter throughout a plane section of planting . In the New Perennial garden the drifts are likely to be more calculated , with perhaps a cautiously order succession of grasses produce a sweeping edge around a path or border . To combine the two style , choose plants to use in multiples along the garden to act as a spine — peradventure a tall miscanthus ( Miscanthusspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) or moor pot ( Moliniaspp . and cvs . , Zones 5–9)—which will stand out from summertime until the end of wintertime . Then do the same with a cottage garden darling such as foxglove or hydrangea ( Hydrangeaspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) .
Control self-seeders
Allowing plants to self - seed is another way of creating a natural flow . This can be envision in both style , although the randomness of innate germination tends to accommodate the loose layout of the bungalow garden more than the blockier structure of the New Perennial mode . see the same industrial plant flowering in gallery along a garden molding makes the exhibit wait more like a whole . It can also make borders come out longer . Yet if thing get out of hand , the garden can start to depend like it is relying too heavily on one plant to do all the anthesis , and other works can get lose . It pays to pull out undesirable seedlings early in the growing season to keep a balance . Self - sowing is essential to the “ favorable jumble ” of the cottage garden , but the impact of a cylinder block of plants is lost .
bungalow garden favorites that can ego - seed too much include border - edging favorite lady ’s mantle and Mexican daisy . Self - seeding grasses such as Mexican feather sess may also involve some controlling if allowed to ego - seed freely .
Design for spontaneity
Within this framework of rachis plants and ego - seeder , add sheer , colourful plants in the interruption . These are the spots for those ad-lib flora purchase ! Adding sheer , colourful plants institute upheaval and drama and can help create the feel of teemingness that is the hallmark of the controlled topsy-turvydom of the cottage garden . And pulling off the same trick within a New Perennial planting can ensure that there are vibrant colors in the garden before the belated - summer peak . hit a Libra the Scales between early- and late - summertime - blossom plants , and , of course , tailor your choices to plants that like the same land condition you have in your garden . In dry , liberal - draining soil , plant cottage garden darling such as wallflower , shrubby genus Potentilla ( Potentilla fruticosa , Zones 3–7 ) , and pale xanthous - eyed grass for early summer color . Mingle these with some later - bloom perennials from the New Perennial style such as sedum and New England asters . In hard soil , spouse rose and lilacs ( Syringaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) with helenium and black - eyed Susans .
By combining the Graeco-Roman cottage style and the modern-day New Perennial fashion , you will make a garden that celebrate multifariousness and register the surprising results that can be reach when improbable neighbors are bring together .
See more about bungalow garden
6 dandy Plants for a New Perennial Design
6 corking Plants for the Cottage Garden Look
A Cottage Garden That ’s Not Chaotic
Greg Loades is the author ofThe Modern Cottage Garden .
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Take the best, leave the rest.Combining the strengths of a fall-peaking design with parts of a plan focused on summer-blooming can yield a garden that feels manageable and maintains interest throughout the seasons.Photo: Nancy J. Ondra
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Photo: Paul DeBois/gapphotos.com
Photo: Annette Lepple/gapphotos.com
A lot going on, but in a small space.Blending plants from each style ensures that your garden never quits. Repeating clumps of the same plant adapts the style of a New Perennial design and adds order to a cottage approach.Photo: Clive Nichols/gapphotos.com
