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English country garden ideas

Garden

Tips for planting an English country garden – from how to a create a well-planned herbaceous border, to achieving a romantic country look whether you have a cottage garden or a rambling farmhouse.

The dream of a country garden is an enduring one – who wouldn’t want a soft heaven of tumbling flowers and verdant lawn to dwell in. Even if you aren’t lucky enough to have an idyllic cottage or farmhouse there are ways of getting the look, even within small city gardens. Whether you want effortless drifts of perennials in herbaceous borders or manicured topiary, let us show you how to transform your garden into a place of beauty and delight.
COVER THE WALLS IN WISTERIA

If you’re lucky enough to have a brick wall, cover it in wisteria. If your wall is moderately tall the vines will quickly scale it and each year you will be rewarded with the most beautiful spring display.

CREATE A TRADITIONAL VEGETABLE GARDEN

Dedicate a corner of your garden to a traditional vegetable garden. Rhubarb plants are not only delicious but rather beautiful – we recommend investing in terracotta forcers for the sweetest rhubarb and aesthetic satisfaction.

SOFTEN A WALL WITH CLIMBERS

A tangle of climbers is always a soft romantic look. Here at Bowood House in Wiltshire a combination the gardener has used a combination of of Clematis armandii and red roses.

EDGE YOUR LAWN WITH BOX BALLS

Edge your lawn in manicured box balls – here at Tania Compton’s Wiltshire home they provide a formal border to looser border planting beyond.

EMBRACE THE WILD

Encourage wild flowers such as foxgloves and don’t over-manicure your trees. If you don’t have hours to spend on topiary go for a loose and effortless look.

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BECOME A TOPIARY MASTER

Topiary is the perfect way to add structure to your country garden. In this Cotswolds garden box hedges, beech trees and walls of topiary yew lead to a gothic window.

CREATE MANICURED BEDS WITH HERBS AND TOPIARY

The Oxfordshire garden of art dealer, writer and broadcaster Philip Mould, has an array of small formal beds with little box topiary shapes intersperced with herbs such as lavender and sage.v

DOT YOUR BORDER WITH ALLIUMS

At Bluebell Cottage and Nursery borders of soft grasses, geraniums and phlox are dotted with the purple globes of alliums.