COURSE  CONTENT

 Start Date: Start at any time - study at a pace that suits you, and with full tutor support for the duration of your studies.

Lessons: The course comprises 8 lessons as follows:

1.  Introduction to Cottage Gardens.

• What is a Cottage Garden
  
• Components
  
• Guidelines for Using Cottage Plants
  
• Plant Naming
  
• Principles of Landscape Design
  
• Preplanning Information
  

2.  History of Cottage Gardens

• 19th century Cottage Gardens
  
• History of Cottage Gardening
  
• Case Study
  

3.  Design Techniques and Drawing Plans

• Garden Rooms
  
• Positioning Garden Features
  
• Framing Views
  
• Drawing the Plan
  
• Design Procedure
  

4.  Plants for Cottage Gardens

• Mixing Plants
  
• Designing a Garden Bed
  
• Perennial Plants
  
• Designing a Perennial Display or Border
  
• Bulbs
  
• Scented Geraniums
  
• Lavender
  
• Other Cottage Garden Plants
  

5.  Planting Design in Cottage Gardens

• Using Colour in the Garden
  
• Shade Trees
  
• Repellent Herb Plants
  
• Companion Planting
  
• Planting Design
  

6.  Hard Landscape Features and Components

• Walls and Fencing
  
• Pickets
  
• Woven Wire Fencing
  
• Stick Fencing
  
• Stone Walls
  
• Garden Art: sculpture, pottery, architecture, wall plaques, sundials, weather vanesfeature tiles, etc.
  
• Furnishing; outdoor furniture
  
• Paths, Gravel, Coloured Gravels, bark, brick, cobbles, etc
  
• Guidelines for Path Design
  
• Seating
  
• Arches
  
• Barriers and Walls
  

7.  Cottage Gardens Today

• Where are Cottage Gardens Appropriate
  
• Making a Courtyard More Exciting
  
• Planning For Perfection
  
• Old (disappearing) Garden Skills
  

8.  Special Assignment

• Coherence and Contrast
  
• Evaluating Cottage Garden Designs
  
• Design of A Complete Garden.

COURSE AIMS
On successful completion of the course you should be able to do the following:

• Explain the concept of a cottage garden.
• Adapt the cottage garden concept to develop cottage style gardens in different situations (various climates, small and large gardens, both private and public garden areas, etc) 
• Draw concept plans for cottage gardens.
• Create planting designs for cottage gardens.
• Plan for incorporating appropriate non-living landscape features in a cottage garden.
• Prepare a detailed design for a cottage garden.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU WILL BE DOING:

• Explain the concept of a cottage garden, both in historical and modern contexts.
• Explain the influence of one famous landscaper on cottage gardens.
• Explain the relevance of garden design concepts to cottage gardens, such as: *Unity  *Balance  *Proportion  *Harmony  *Contrast  *Rhythm  *Line  *Form  *Mass  *Space  *Texture  *Colour  *Tone.
• Use a sequence of illustrations, to show the various steps involved in planning process for a cottage garden.
• Develop a checklist of pre-planning information required for a proposed cottage garden.
• Compile pre-planning information for a specific site, for a proposed cottage garden, through an interview with a potential client, and surveying the site.
• Prepare drawings to represent landscape features on a cottage garden plan, including trees, shrubs, herbs, walls, rocks, buildings and other landscape features.
• Prepare different cottage garden concept plans to satisfy given design specifications and pre-planning information.
• Review a variety of different cottage garden plants
• Prepare a planting plan for a garden bed in a cottage garden style.
• Design a perennial border  in an appropriate cottage garden style.
• Design a garden bed, which incorporates companion planting principles.
• Visit and evaluate the companion planting design in a cottage garden.
• Design a colour themed garden, such as a white garden, to suit a proposed garden redevelopment.
• Describe briefly, different non-living features that may be included in a cottage garden, including:   *Seating alternatives  *Bird baths  *Sun dials  *Fountains  *Statues  *Pergolas  *Gazebos  *Fencing  *Ponds  *Weather vanes.
• Determine criteria for inclusion of different landscape features in a cottage garden, including:   *Gazebos  *Ornaments  *Arbors  *Tub plants  *Water features  *Paths.
• Compare the characteristics, including: *Suitability for a cottage garden    *Cost       *Availability   *Longevity  *Appearance  *Maintenance, of different landscape materials.
• Explain the use of plant sculpting, including topiary and hedging, in cottage garden designs; including references to: *Ways of creating it  *Ways of using it  *Maintenance.
• Prepare a report that analyses a cottage garden that includes photographs, and comment on the use of different structures as features.
• Prepare cottage garden concept plans, which incorporate different types of features sympathetic to cottage or heritage gardens.
• Develop a brief for a cottage garden design, for the redevelopment of an established garden around an old building in your locality.
• Analyse the designs of different well established cottage gardens.
• Compile pre-planning information for a specified cottage garden development.
• Prepare detailed plans for a cottage garden (following industry standards), including: *Detailed plans  *Materials lists  *Costings.
• Explain the reasoning behind a cottage garden you design.

   

HOW THE COURSE WORKS
You can start the course at any time.

It is studied by distance learning, so you can study in the comfort of your own home. But this doesn't mean you are all alone in your studies.  Our highly qualified and friendly tutors are there to help you every step of the way.  If you have any questions at all, they are always happy to help.

Learn What a Cottage Garden is and How to Apply the Principles of the Concept

Learn to design a cottage garden, applying broad concepts and principles loosely or rigidly to create a landscape sympathetic to a period in history or style of architecture. This course involves using heritage or old world plants and features (i.e. formal to semi formal designs with an emphasis on flowers, vegetables, archways, arbours, statues, gazebos, picket fencing, sundials and rustic elements).

Hone your design skills

• Understand how to apply the principles of the cottage garden concept to garden design and garden renovation.

• Study cottage garden design, the principles of cottage garden design, garden renovation, the History of Cottage Gardens, Planting Design for Cottage Gardens, Features and Components of Cottage Gardens (eg. Arches, furniture, lattice, sundials, barriers and walls) and more.

• Learn about the history, components and design of cottage gardens.

• Develop your landscape skills to design a cottage garden.

• Expand the range of plants you can identify and use in your designs.

Develop skills to apply cottage garden design principles

Develop the skills to feel confident offering cottage garden design or restoration as part of your landscaping service.

Study this course to:

• Determine what true cottage garden is.
• Learn how to apply the principles of this concept to garden design and garden renovation.
• Discover the history of cottage gardens.
• Learn planting design for cottage gardens.
• Understand features and components of cottage gardens (e.g. arches, furniture, lattice, sundials, barriers and walls) and more.

Traditionally cottage gardens were a random mixture of useful and ornamental plants, with more emphasis being given to the useful plants which for instance; could be eaten, used for medicinal purposes, or as animal forage. The ornamental plants were an afterthought, using colourful and easily grown annuals, herbaceous perennials and small shrubs to brighten the garden, space permitting.

These days the best cottage gardens are carefully designed to give a pleasing arrangement of ornamental plants, herbs, vegetables, garden ornaments and accessories. Cottage plants are generally chosen with more forethought, although colour and abundance are still the most important features. Anyone can throw down a handful of seeds and within a few weeks have a wildly profuse and colourful bed of poppies, hollyhocks, nasturtiums and the like, but it takes rather more planning to create a cottage garden that looks charming throughout the year.

Opportunities After Study

This course may be studied by itself or along with other modules as part of a higher level qualification.
It is of value to people wishing to work in:

• Garden Design
• Landscaping
• Garden Maintenance
• Parks & Gardens

Enrol with us to start your journey into mastering cottage garden design.

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