A cottage garden is a charming and traditional style of gardening that brings together a variety of plants in a relaxed and informal layout. With its mix of colourful flowers, fragrant herbs, and lush greenery, a cottage garden is a perfect escape from too much screen time or too many dull days.

Additionally, I have new plans to turn much of the greenness of our front lawn into a magical garden filled with flowers.and bees. As a child growing up in Co. Meath, we visited my Nana in Dublin regularly. Her front garden was a riot of rosebeds, and the back garden had a vegetable garden that you stepped up into with a little sunhouse resplendent with a swing seat where she used to drink tea of a warm afternoon..

As we are now in early March, I mention in my book Half Light Half Dark about taking the time to plan your garden and order any seeds or plants to get them in the ground in good time.

Let’s.explore the steps to create a cottage garden, focusing on the seeds to plant in March, the best annuals to choose, the ideal shrubs for structure, and how to garden design on a quarter-acre size garden space, without forgetting those important preparations for the soil.

Seeds to Plant in March

March is the ideal time to start sowing seeds for your cottage garden. Some of the popular flowers and herbs to consider are:
- Sweet peas: These fragrant climbers add a touch of romance to any garden.
- Delphiniums: Their tall spikes of blue, pink, or white flowers create a stunning display.
- Nasturtiums: These vibrant annuals come in a range of colours and are perfect for adding a pop of colour.
- Cosmos: With their delicate, daisy-like flowers, cosmos adds a whimsical touch to your garden.
- Calendula: Also known as marigolds, these bright orange or yellow flowers bloom throughout the summer. It is also worth noting that these are marvellous partners to dahlias as they detract the earwigs from climbing into all the dahlia petals (something that has detracted me in the past from growing any dahlias at all!)

Best Annuals for a Cottage Garden

Annuals are an essential part of a cottage garden, adding bursts of colour and variety. Consider including these annuals in your garden:
- Poppies: Their vibrant red, pink, or white flowers create a stunning focal point.
- Zinnias: These colourful flowers come in a variety of sizes and are loved by butterflies.
- Sunflowers: These tall and cheerful flowers are a classic choice for a cottage garden.
- Nigella: Also known as love-in-a-mist, these delicate flowers have a unique charm.
- Larkspur: These tall spires of blue, pink, or white flowers add vertical interest to your garden.

Selecting Shrubs for Structure

Incorporating shrubs into your cottage garden adds structure and form. Roses are a classic choice for a cottage garden in Ireland due to their hardiness and beautiful blooms. Consider planting the following varieties:
- David Austin English Roses: These roses combine the charm of old-fashioned roses with the repeat-blooming nature of modern hybrids.
- Hybrid Tea Roses: Known for their iconic shape and large blooms, hybrid tea roses come in a wide range of colours.
- Climbing Roses: These vigorous climbers are perfect for adding height and vertical interest to your garden.

Image from IAN LAMOND / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO via House Beautiful

Designing A Garden on a Quarter-Acre Size plot

When designing your cottage garden on approx quarter-acre size plot (an average garden lawn in rural areas), it's important to create a layout that maximizes space and creates a harmonious flow. Here are some tips:
- Divide the garden into distinct areas: Consider creating sections for flowers, herbs, vegetables, and seating areas.
- Use paths and walkways: Incorporate winding paths or stepping stones to create a sense of discovery and guide visitors through the garden.
- Create focal points: Place eye-catching elements such as trellises, arbors, or decorative containers strategically throughout the garden.
- Mix heights and textures: Combine plants of different heights and textures to create visual interest and depth.

- Include native plants and shrubs to encourage the bees and other insect populations to thrive.

Preparations for Soil

Before planting your cottage garden, it's important to prepare the soil for optimal growth. In March, you can begin the following preparations:
- Clear the area: Remove any weeds, rocks, or debris from the garden bed.
- Test the soil: Conduct a soil test to determine its nutrients and requirements before you start.
- If it is to be a new bed from a lawn, you will need to plot out the area using string or similar and turn the top layer.

Where to start

…..with a pen and paper. Draw a to-scale plot of the area that you would like to plant. Write a list of your favourite plants and research what condtions they like, when they flower, when to plant them and any other details about them.

….keep a diary notebook dedicated to your garden so that you can remember from year to year, month-to-month, what you have planted and when, what has done well and what has failed, and ideas and plans for the future that you don’t want to forget.

… plan which are your favourite colours of flowers and stick to a theme for a really elegant garden.

… Without fail, I turn to Beverly Nichols Down the Garden Path for witty garden tales to keep me motivated!

Planting a Cottage Garden in Ireland: A Guide to March Planting and Garden Design