Straight to the hart Create a cottage garden and let it go – and grow – free

Co age gardens are ever-so-cheerful places because you plant what you love, then let it go – and grow – free!

There are no rules to follow when you establish a cottage garden – no right way or wrong way, as there is when you’re planning the shape of a formal garden where order, symmetry and perfect tidiness reign supreme. A cottage garden such as Hartvale is relaxed, colourful, fun and a little bit messy. The informal crowding of flowering perennials and annuals, with dollops of fat shrubbery, creates an intriguing tangle of colour, texture and shapes. You can create a profusion of flowers with their haunting perfumes and exploit the romance of their dainty prettiness. Indulge in the imbalances of height and movement, and revel in the allure of their wanton wildness. It’s a place of real freedom – and one where you’ll absolutely want to linger!

A slightly elevated position allows you to claim views of the landscape beyond your own patch.

1 Pack ’em in! Mass plant with all your favourite blooms. 2 Disguise your airconditioning unit, or any other eyesore, with lots of plants. 3 For height in your beds, choose lovely linaria – it flowers from summer to autumn. 4 Frame views of your garden with large picture windows. 5 Underplant your po ed fruit trees to lush effect – try strawberries and nasturtiums.