Watch your wallet when heading to the local nursery for your first set of plants, because it’s far too easy to overindulge. As soon as you know how much you need to spend, go for it. Find all the colors, sizes, shapes and scents that interest you and try them. Different types of foliage will add texture to your garden, and think of all the delicious scents you can include. Rose, honeysuckle, sweet pea, gardenia – all of these are perfect for an English cottage garden.
When you start planting, avoid straight lines. You’re not here to build an even-topped hedge or a precisely spaced border; in fact, you should aim for as little exposed soil as possible. Garden Answer (via YouTube) suggests planting large groups tightly together.
Seasonal layers are an important consideration. You are working way too hard in this dying garden for everything to bloom at once and fade after only a month. To do this, incorporate flowers that bloom at different times of the season to extend the life of your garden throughout the year. Spring, summer and fall blooming flowers should be planted next to each other with evergreen ground covers to fill in the gaps. That way, as soon as the crocuses and daffodils start to wilt, the petunias will pop up and carry the color until it’s time for the dahlias and mums to say hello.