Updated 2021. The cottage garden eschews rigid guidelines: it rambles, it is personal, defined by the garden space and how it is used. Cottage gardens are sensuous, tumbledown, colourful, eclectic, productive spaces piled full of riotous flowers, fruit and vegetables.

How to cultivate a garden full of flowers, herbs, trees, fruit, vegetables and livestock, with 300 inspirational photographs. Cottage gardens are sensuous, colourful spaces and can be used with any type of house and size of garden. The book starts with a history of the cottage garden and then introduces design options, from the herb garden to the meadow garden. Familiar features are covered, such as hedges, fences, paths and topiary, and then advice on growing flowers and shrubs, and fruit and vegetables, all including practical step-by-step features. A fascinating section shows how to care for poultry and other livestock, and attract wildlife to your garden. A plant directory gives ideas for annuals, perennials, bulbs, climbers, trees and other plants to give the cottage garden its classic appeal.