How to Grow a Self Seeding Cottage Garden

Planting a cottage garden from scratch can involve a lot of time plants, and cost more money than you have in your budget. Instead, try growing a self seeding cottage garden, which is a different style of gardening because it does allow for volunteer plants to take root wherever they may fall. This type of garden is bound to be very unique, with no exact design principles to follow and floral surprises popping up in every corner.

If you like the idea of a self seeding cottage garden that is filled with charm and a burst of color, follow these steps to get started. The following plants are also the best self seeders that you will want to invest in now in order to save you plenty of money on plants in the future.

Develop the Background of the Garden

Even though plants will look like they have taken over, and the idea is to let plants grow where they may, it is important have a well structure background. Cottage gardens fill in small, enclosed spaces very well, giving homes a very intimate feeling. If there are not already garden borders, fencing or hedging in place, use one of the three to establish the boundaries of the garden. If you already have hedging in place, make sure that it is trimmed and well defined before planting.

Ensure Year Round Interest

One of the most important aspects of any garden is to ensure that there is something of interest all year round. Most self seeders are annuals so come fall they will die back, leaving very little in the garden. This is where the bones and backdrop of the garden come to the forefront, living hedges add greenery and shrubs and vines leave interesting patterns and designs through winter.

More Color is Better

The more color you can pack into your cottage garden the better, and make sure that the color can be enjoyed from the inside of your home as well. The garden display is as much for your enjoyment when inside your home as it is for others passing by. pAir up strong color combinations when planting side by side to really bring out all the colors.

Fill in At the Beginning

While most gardens call for leaving plenty of space for plants to grow and fill in, a cottage garden is meant to be filled in from the beginning so that every nook and cranny has something growing in it. This serves two purposes in a self seeding garden. First, there is little work for you to do throughout the growing season, both in planting and weeding. Second, the more self seeding plants you add now, the more seeds they drop in the fall the less you have to plant in the garden the coming year.

Best Self Seeding Plants for a Cottage Garden

Cornflower and Larkspur are among some of the most popular flowers for a cottage garden, and they sprout up nice and tall with bold flowers. California Poppy, Morning Glory and Sweet Pea plants are great early spring options, filling in parts of the garden right at the beginning of the season.  Calendula and cosmos add bold color wherever they bloom and are reliable self seeders. Finally, for delicate blooms try Alyssum and Coreopsis plants, which are also great border plants.