Of all the theme gardens at our demonstration site at Capel Manor College, the most admired is the cottage garden. So, how do you create this charming, informal look without it descending into total anarchy? Here's our top tips:

* Simple layout. You need deep borders, crisply defined with paths and edging. A simple geometric layout can be very effective.

* Rustic materials. Keep hard landscaping to a minimum, use bricks or small, weathered paving slabs, plain or painted wood and other

natural materials such as willow and terracotta.

* Winter structure. Neatly-pruned fruit trees, clipped evergreens and winter-flowering shrubs help create a backbone to be clothed with summer colour. Urns, obelisks and archways all give year-round interest but occupy little space.

* Mixed planting. Bulbs, border perennials, vegetables and fruit should all be combined to create a rich, layered look. Cottage gardens usually look their best in early summer, but do include plants that peak at different seasons such as early bulbs, wallflowers and violas for spring, plus penstemons, fuchsias and asters which flower into autumn.

* Add fragrance. Scented climbers are ideal as they make use of vertical space and bring the fragrance up to nose level. Honeysuckle, sweet peas, jasmine and roses are all favourites.

* Country-style accessories. Avoid too much clutter and only add objects that are useful, not merely decorative. A simple wooden or wrought iron seat will blend in beautifully, keep an old metal watering can on hand for newly planted seedlings and protect vulnerable plants with glass or bamboo cloches.

Jobs of the week:

Sow sweetcorn, french and runner beans and, in all but very cold areas, courgettes and squashes.

Buy and plant conifers, evergreens, grey-leaved shrubs, cordylines and phormiums.

Cut back overgrown specimens of spotted laurel, bay, box, fatsia, skimmia and evergreen cotoneaster.

For the secret of good gardening, subscribe to Gardening Which? For a three month free trial Freephone 0800 252100 or visit http://www.gardeningwhichfreetrial.co.uk

April 22, 2003 11:30