Right then, settle in with a cuppa! I was just having a lovely chat with Daisy, a fellow gardening enthusiast, about the joys – and, let’s be honest, the trials – of creating a truly charming cottage garden here in the UK. We were specifically nattering about how to keep that gorgeous, overflowing, slightly chaotic aesthetic looking healthy and happy, rather than, well, a bit of a disaster. You know, the kind of place where slugs have picnics and powdery mildew reigns supreme!
Daisy’s Deep Dive into the Delphiniums (and the Dangers!)
Daisy’s a real cottage garden queen, specializing in those quintessential cottage plants – think roses cascading over archways, towering delphiniums reaching for the sky, and foxgloves dotted amongst everything else. But, like all of us, she’s had her fair share of battles. Her big one? Slugs. Apparently, they are particularly fond of her young delphiniums, seeing them as a gourmet meal.
Her solution? A multi-pronged attack. Firstly, she swears by copper tape around her pots and the base of vulnerable plants. Apparently, the slugs don’t like the feel of it, giving them a mild electric shock and turning them away. Secondly, she goes on regular slug patrols, armed with a torch, in the evenings. It’s a bit grim, she admits, but incredibly effective. She collects the slugs and relocates them… far, far away (to a neighbour with a less desirable garden, she jokingly added, though I suspect she wouldn’t actually do that!). Thirdly, she uses organic slug pellets as a last resort, scattering them sparingly around the base of the most susceptible plants. The key, she stressed, is to choose pellets that are safe for wildlife and pets.
Powdery Mildew Woes and Winning Strategies
We then moved onto the dreaded powdery mildew, which, let’s face it, can plague roses and other cottage garden favourites. Daisy had battled this on her roses for years before finding a strategy that really worked. She now prioritizes preventative measures. This starts with good airflow. She makes sure her roses are pruned regularly to allow air to circulate freely, reducing humidity around the leaves. She also waters at the base of the plants, avoiding wetting the foliage, especially in the evenings. Water droplets left overnight create the perfect breeding ground for the fungus.
If powdery mildew does appear, she tackles it early. She uses a homemade spray made from baking soda, water, and a tiny drop of liquid soap (as a surfactant to help the solution stick to the leaves). The proportions she uses are roughly a tablespoon of baking soda per gallon of water, with a couple of drops of soap. She sprays this on affected areas every few days until the mildew clears up. She also removes any heavily infected leaves and disposes of them carefully. Prevention is definitely key, and starting early makes a big difference.
Overcrowding Conundrums and Clever Cures
Finally, we talked about overcrowding. Cottage gardens are meant to be overflowing, but there’s a fine line between charmingly full and a tangled mess! Daisy’s advice? Don’t be afraid to be ruthless! Regular thinning is essential. She digs up and divides perennials every few years, replanting some back in the garden and potting up the rest to give away to friends (or sell at the local plant sale). This not only prevents overcrowding but also rejuvenates the plants and encourages them to flower more prolifically. She also makes sure to consider the mature size of plants when planning her garden, allowing enough space for them to grow without completely smothering their neighbours. She adds to her garden every year, but keeps a close eye on the plants and how they are growing to make sure they are not outgrowing their spaces.
Thinking Ahead: The Orangery Addition
We briefly discussed her dream of adding an orangery. She envisions it as a space to nurture seedlings early in the season, extending the growing season and giving her a head start on tackling pests and diseases. She sees it as both a practical tool for managing her garden and a beautiful space to enjoy the fruits (and flowers!) of her labour, even on the dreariest of British days.
In Conclusion:
My chat with Daisy served as a fantastic reminder that a beautiful cottage garden requires a little love, effort and knowledge. By implementing preventative measures, tackling problems early, and not being afraid to thin out overcrowded plants, you can keep your cottage garden blooming and healthy. A little care in selecting the right plants and how they are growing will also help to keep any issues to a minimum. Finally, it is important to remember to enjoy all aspects of the garden from the wildlife that visits and to the colours and scents that fill the garden, a great experience to be shared with others.
