Kate's cottage garden springs to life

The vision of a cottage garden planted the seed that grew Kate Brignull’s passion for gardening, going on to transform her outdoor space head to toe with floral colour.

After moving in a year and a half ago, it was clear the backyard needed a facelift, with plants on top of plants Kate said she first began with removing the foliage.

“The elderly couple we bought it off weren’t able to maintain the garden as you could tell when we moved in,” Kate said.

“Everything was in need of some love and care to bring the plants to life again.”

Kate said after researching how to achieve a cottage style garden, it set her soul on fire and the passion continued to grow.

“I have spent a lot of time and money at Bunnings, trialling plants, different fertilisers, compost and soils,” she said.

“So much stuff was beyond a good prune back, there were lots of weeds, rocks and old irrigation systems that no longer worked.

“We found about five garden hoses amongst our travels within the gardens, that’s how random it was.”

Kate said the soil changed throughout the property which required a lot of compost, potting soil, and mulch to add the much-needed nutrients.

“There is red clay on one side and then very moisture retaining clumpy soil in other parts of the gardens,” she said.

“I have started exploring seed sowing recently and had some fails and some success.”

The inconsistent soil was not the only hurdle Kate had overcome.

She said her love of hydrangeas had led her to learn they were difficult to keep happy.

“Lots of research on different species and their wants and needs, I’m hoping by next season they would have sprung back to looking stunning,” Kate said.

The colourful blooms do not go to waste, as Kate likes to experiment with flower pressing and make flower arrangements to gift to friends and family.

The Bundaberg green thumb said that all the perennials should be right at home and happy by next season and the annuals added that seasonal interest.

“It’s fun playing around and trying different hanging baskets and pots,” she said.

“It’s an inexpensive way to add colour and happiness to the garden that’s for sure.”

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