Classic Herb Garden Designs: Cottage Design
The last three gardens all had specific and formal structures which defined them. Cottage gardens are defined by their lack of structure. They are “messy” looking when compared to any of the other three designs because they allow plants to grow relatively unrestrained. Plants can cascade over walkways and seemingly mesh into each other.
Classic cottage gardens are small compared to the other three, and are usually walled in by a structure like a part of the house or a fence. It is usually situated near the kitchen. The only “structure” for many cottage gardens is that medicinal herbs are separated from edible ones. This is done more out of convention than for any growing purpose.
Cottage gardens tend to look very lush because of how the plants are allowed to grow. Flowering herbs look wonderful in a cottage garden, and in this type of garden the color scheme doesn't really matter. If you want this type of garden, it is recommended that you plant your smaller plants near the outer areas of the garden and taller plants closer to the wall or fence. This assures you that the small plants will get a good amount of sunlight and will thrive despite the fact that large plants are being grown near them.
You may also want to space out some of your plants so that the roots have room to grow. Don't worry about your garden looking like it has gaps. Cottage gardens need very little pruning, and the plants should fill in the gaps in no time.
To make sure all your plants are within reach, you can create informal walkways or little paths that weave through your cottage garden. Do this if its is rather large. If not, most plants in your garden should be an arm's length away from you, or is within reach as soon as you acquire proper positioning at the border of the garden.
