Look forward with a vintage garden

When life gets uncertain we often look back to the golden days because nostalgia offers us positive feelings. 

The themes of nostalgia and vintage have become some of the biggest trends in recent months – not only in the fashion world but also for interiors.  

But vintage style doesn’t just work in your home – you can extend the look to your garden. With selective planting, time-worn furniture and some nostalgic touches it’s easy to create a beautiful old-world garden.

Vintage gardens aren’t defined by any set of rules; rather, a lack of rules and structure seem to characterise them.  There is often an air of informality, which is associated with organic, curved and irregular forms. Planting is more free and easy. Borders are mixed and climbers scramble up and over vertical structures and surfaces.

Use lots of plants, especially bedding plants to give that wonderful vintage feel. When it comes to plant selection pick ones that are robust and tough as there is lots of competition for space in a vintage cottage garden and don’t forget to add in scented plants like honeysuckle, roses and lavenders. 

Vintage gardens look amazing in summer but tend to be more quiet later in the year so be sure to plant winter and spring bulbs to give colour all year round. 

Classic vintage plants include ones that provide a bit of height such as delphiniums, lupins, foxgloves and hollyhocks, usually scattered through the borders.  Roses are also essential – both bush and climbers – and the more scented the better.

Try using perennials rather than annuals. Perennials come back each year and are much less work – which is why roses, geraniums and lavender are popular choices.

You can also be creative with containers … pansies in metal pots, geraniums in teacups and rambling roses in old tin baths or barrels growing up over an arch. Place marigolds and petunias in old patterned jugs or use old kettles to plant up lobelia and impatiens.