When it comes to cottage gardens… simple and overfilled go together.
And those two words don’t necessarily usually go together.
But cottage gardens are filled with beautiful blooms all mingling together and creating a beautiful spot to delight the senses.
Right now we are in the middle of working on adding several new garden areas to our property.
I mentioned before that the cottage garden areas we had in years ago have stopped coming back and so, while we have tons of ivy and green plants that are there and growing well- we have been missing those whimsical cottage blooms.
So this spring- with all the rain California has been getting after so many dry years- we decided to get those gardens back blooming.
I have a fairly simple color palette that I am focusing on- and that includes white roses.
And a lot of them.
I am huge fan of roses- and white roses in a garden are just incredible.
Plus- these smell amazing.
While cottage gardens are filled with lots of pretty faces- I also love to plant a few whiskey or wine barrels with something for some height.
I haven’t had a chance to plant all of our barrel planters yet… I did get 2 planted with those pretty white roses…and they are waiting for some thyme and bacopa for underneath.
But honestly, my grand gardening ideas were squashed a bit this week with that muscle spasm in my neck and shoulder that forced me to chill for a bit.
So… I thought instead of sharing some ideas for planting those planters- I would share a tip.
Because… the other day, I wandered out to one of the garden areas and found something…
Do you see it?
One of my rose trees was basically nibbled down to the bare branches.
Leaves, blooms, buds- you name it.
Yes. Roses are a favorite food for deer.
And I don’t mind sharing honestly,
but the whole tree looking a bit bare-
made me a little sad.
So, I picked up something that we used to use several years ago when they would make their rounds through the cottage garden beds every day and nibble away… and it works like a charm.
Liquid Fence.
In full disclosure- it smells terrible.
But it does work.
In full disclosure- it smells terrible.
But it does work.
Simply spray your roses and any other plants that the deer are enjoying a little too much-
and it will keep them from nibbling. The smell will go away after a little bit as well- so even though it is not so great when you first spray it on-
you won’t keep smelling it- but the deer will.
you won’t keep smelling it- but the deer will.
And that means that these climbers
are looking good and blooming away
even with our deer friends wandering through everyday.
🙂
I am joining several friends sharing garden and outdoor inspiration and ideas today
and does anyone else have any other tips for keeping your roses blooming beautifully?
I would love to know them!
Happy Friday everyone
Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things says
Your gardens are so pretty. How long does that smell last? A few hours or days? Thanks!
Courtney says
Mostly just a few hours I think. I haven't really noticed it smelling much after that- but I would think if you went over to smell the flowers right away- you might notice it.
Anonymous says
Alaskan Fishing Fertilizer works great too. Spray on plants and again after it rains. Double duty fertilizes and keeps the deer away.
Courtney says
Sounds like another good option for a similar product- thanks for sharing the details!
mariondee-designs says
YOur gardens are gorgeous! I love white roses and have them all down my driveway! My problem is with my neighbours goats that keep coming in my yard.. lol
Courtney says
Thanks so much! And goats!? Oh my gosh.. not sure if this spray would work for them lol. Good luck!
pamela says
Your garden is so sweet looking love the colors. Thanks for the tip about the bunny and deer repel ant.
Courtney says
Thank you Pamela! It definitely helps!
Julie Blanner says
Your gardens are SO beautiful, I love white roses as well. Love the tip about keeping deer away from your blooms!
Courtney says
Thanks Julie!!
Joanne says
The foxgloves are very lovely with your lavender and roses. They are one of my favorites!
I will forward this post to a friend who has been discouraged by the deer that have stormed her rose gardens. She may learn some tips she hasn't tried.
I give my roses manure tea two or three times a month, and they have nearly continuous bloom from March/April to December.
Can't wait to see the fruit of your efforts with your garden projects!
Unknown says
Ok a few tips for roses. Start fertilizing in April (I start on the 15th) and once a month after that (around the 15th) until September. Rose Tone is a good all purpose fertilizer. I live in MD so CA may have a longer growing season so you may want to start and end sooner or later. I grow knock out roses so sometimes I do have to spray for black spot. If the beetles come I just cut off all the blooms. Keep the roses trimmed. Bayer three in one is also good for black spot and bugs but not all states carry the product. I had deer come and eat my roses and tomatoes a few years back so I purchased a Scarecrow Motion Activated Animal Repellent. It is a motion water sprinkler and worked like a charm (I did get hit a few times myself so watch out). The roses and tomatoes grew back stronger. Mother natures trimmed for me. Good luck and keep up the great gardening.
ezgi says
It is so peaceful place and I like your Photos..
Shirley@Housepitality Designs says
I have a major deer problem. We eventually put a decorative fence around my hydrangeas and planted rosemary around the roses. I have used Liqiid Fence and switch off using I Must Garden. It has a nice minty smell. I have also used the pellets when I know I will be out of town and not risking possible rain washing away the spray. But in the end the only for sure thing that they will not eat is concrete!
Lana says
Great article, Courtney! I love your garden, the photos are beautiful!
Danny Rose@GrowWeedEasy101 says
Like you, I am a huge fan of roses, but the red sort. The aroma and the beauty is something I cannot get enough of. That liquid fence idea sounds great and the plants look really beautiful. I would love to learn more about how you take care of them to get such incredible results.
Eleanor says
One of my favorite things to do, no matter where I am in the world, is to spend an afternoon in a garden, Your garden is very beautiful.
jessie says
Extraordinary article, Courtney! I love your nursery, the photographs are delightful! Much obliged for the tip.
Courtney says
Thank you Jessie!
Erika says
SOrRy, but LIquid fence never worked fOr us nor for our neighbor!! It was a waste Of money!! We’ve tried everything even cut human haIr – All to no avail. The deer walk up and dOwn our streets and in our Yards, etc. We live in pittsburgh, pa.
Courtney says
Really? Sorry it didn’t work for you. We have used it for years and have found one of the keys was that we had to use it often- and give the plants another spray after watering overhead. It seems once we used it often for several weeks- it seems to change the path that deer were coming through and grazing on things. We have a family of deer who live in a little meadow on our property and they have stayed away from what we spray with it. Hopefully you can find something that might work.
Tamara L Vanagtmael says
I also have a connection to this style of gardening, if the flower speaks to me I plant it. I NEVERask if its English or french..just that it is unique or beautiful. My questions is this, how do you clean up the petals of the peonies after they are done blooming or do you just let it be? it tends to get ucky looking in my yard
Sherry says
Love your garden plans. i FOUND AN EASY WAY TO DISUADE DEER FROM FEASTING ON MY PLANTS. bUY A FEW BARS OF iRISH sPRING SOAP. CUT THEM INTO CHUNKS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A MARSHMALLOW, PLACE IN A PIECE OF NET(E.G. PIECES OF ONION BAGS) AND STAPLE THEM TO SMALL STAKES. PLACE THE STAKES AROUND THE PERIMETER OF YOUR GARDEN. tHEY’RE UNOBTRUSIVE SINCE THE SOAP IS GREEN, LAST A COUPLE OF SEASONS AND THE DEER DON’T LIKE THE SMELL. tHE SMELL ISN’T APPARENT TO PEOPLE AND NO CHEMICAL TO WORRY ABOUT.