Garden Design Archives - Simply Gardening

August 30, 2026

12 Must-Have Flowers for a Classic Cottage Garden (US Favorites)

A flower cottage garden thrives on three elements: soft billows of perennials packed shoulder-to-shoulder, self-sowing annuals that pop up in charming chaos, and a rotating cast of blooms from spring through frost. This isn’t the kind of garden where plants stand at attention in military rows. Instead, foxgloves lean into roses, catmint spills over pathways, and bee balm crashes the party wherever it pleases.
Key Takeaway: Successful cottage gardens combine layered heights (tall to low), embrace generous self-sowers for effortless abundance, and prioritize plants that feed pollinators …

christopher Garden Design 0 15 min read

June 14, 2026

Chaos Gardening: The Wildly Creative Way to Garden Without a Plan

Forget perfect rows and meticulous planning. Chaos gardening flips traditional gardening on its head by throwing a wildflower seed mix (or whatever leftover packets are cluttering your shed) onto a patch of soil and letting nature sort out the details. Think of it as the gardening equivalent of abstract art: beautifully unpredictable, surprisingly functional, and far more forgiving than those precision-planted tomato cages gathering dust in your garage.
The concept couldn’t be simpler. You scatter seeds across prepared soil, water them in, and watch what thrives. No transplanting seedlings at exactly the right spacing. No …

christopher Garden Design 0 11 min read

May 27, 2026

Build a Stunning Garden Archway That’ll Make Your Neighbors Jealous

Measure your garden pathway width and add 18 inches on each side—this gives climbing roses and clematis room to cascade without smacking visitors in the face. A standard 4-foot-wide arch works perfectly for most gardens and won’t require special-ordering materials from three different hardware stores.
Choose between pressure-treated lumber for a rustic 10-year lifespan or rot-resistant cedar that’ll outlast your neighbor’s opinions about your landscaping choices. Metal arches offer longevity but require welding skills (or a very persuasive friend with a workshop). For beginner-friendly success, go with simple …

christopher DIY Garden Structures 0 11 min read

February 22, 2021

Hardy Tropical Plants Worth Growing

Tropical plants are great additions to gardens. That is because they give an exotic vibe and an amazing blend of different colors and textures. Here some good hardy tropical plants ideas.
Palms
Palms are often seen in hotels located in tropical areas. The Windmill Palm is the coldest hard palm that is planted in the US. It is a challenge to plant it in zone 7. Therefore, precautions in frigid weather should be done. It often grows 10 to 20 feet…

christopher Garden Design 0 54 sec read

February 10, 2021

Good Cottage Garden Plants to Plant in Gardens in the US

Cottage gardens in the US are as great as English cottage gardens. Nevertheless, only a few places in the US outside of the Pacific Northwest have the ideal weather to grow plants for a traditional English cottage garden.
We have here some of the famous cottage plants and the season they bloom. Just remember that you need to water them regularly in the first year so that you can establish their root systems. After that, these plants become resistant to drought and can have beautiful blooms.

Yarrow (all summer)
Purple Coneflower (July onwards)
Boltonia (late summer)
Perennial Sunflower (all …

christopher Garden Design 0 45 sec read

February 3, 2021

Desert Garden and Landscape Inspirations

Do you dream of having an oasis in the comfort of your own home? This could be a problem if you live in a desert environment. Here are some ideas on how you can design, plant, and grow your desert garden.
Know Your Zone and the Type of Desert Garden
All places have various zones and weather conditions. A desert is simply not only a desert. Therefore, it is important to determine your area and pick out your plants from there. You can do this by visiting your local nursery. You will have a better understanding of your zone and the quality of soil there. Moreover, they can advise you on how to grow your chosen plants.
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christopher Garden Design 0 49 sec read