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Gardening in France

CONTENTS

Gardening in France

Elaine Jarvis
Hello and welcome to gardening in France. For many people, a French garden presents new challenges such as looking after an old orchard of apple trees, creating a garden from a one acre field or improving your soil.

After previously co-founding Abacalys International, a Normandy landscaping company, I created www.jardinjarvis.com, and now work as an online garden designer and landscape project manager with selected contractors whose work caters to the unique preferences of each client.

My belief is that a garden should be eco-friendly, naturally beautiful, full and lush but above all sustainable and inspired by nature. Here in France, where I have lived and raised my 3 Franglais children, the concept of sustainable gardening only just begun to take root in 2008.

I offer design suggestions, draw borders, and suggests plants for a site as well as including tips about where to find plants and products. I have always made low maintenance green solutions which bear in mind that the garden is there to be enjoyed a priority. More about me.

Elaine Jarvis, Topic Host

If you have any questions for Elaine, whose expertise lies in eco-gardening, or our Poitou-Charentes Gardening Topic Host Sheilah Kennedy, whose expertise lies in, among other things, organic gardening, growing under plastic and nursery work, or if you would like to make a contribution to the zone please get in touch.

Gardening Glossary

gardens tools illustration
Common gardening plants, tools and terms translated more...

30 Wildlife Friendly Plants

butterfly
Want to encourage more birds, butterflies and bees into your garden? Here are plants that should do the trick more...

Planting a Hedge

Yew
What to plant and when more...

Books & Catalogues

orange flower illustration
More help and advice - plus useful French plant catalogues more...

Editor's picks

"The French love English roses!" says the Liddell family, who started their own flower company after moving to France more...

Holiday watering problems solved

Keep your pot plants perkyA Yorkshire company has developed a solution to the age old problem of keeping your plants watered while you are on holiday. more...

Green roofing - what are the benefits?

Green RoofThere are numerous good reasons for considering the landscaping of flat roofs. To start with it offers an effective and practical use of space, whilst helping to sustain and replace lost habitats in the process. more...

Growing under polythene and glass in France

Sheilah's tunnelGardener Sheilah Kennedy provides us with her top tips for growing vegetables in a tunnel, discussing the best times of the year to plant certain seeds, including beans, brocolli, peas and spinach... more...

Grow your own vegetables

Raised Kitchen Garden BedFew experiences can match the pleasure of savouring your own home grown vegetables. The process is almost magical, especially when raised from a seed or seedling. The flavour and texture of varieties you can grow far exceed anything you can buy in a shop. Growing vegetables is also a pleasurable activity in its own right, giving you an excuse to spend time outdoors. more...

Grass cutting mulch, slug control and bulbs

tulipsThere's no need to waste your grass cuttings - here's how to use them in your garden. Also, natural control for slugs and snails and advice on the care of bulbs during dry summers more...

How to tell if your apples and pears are ready to be picked and taking cuttings

pear on treeAugust is when apples and pears start to ripen. Here's how to know if they're ready to eat. Plus what cuttings can be taken now and other seasonal tasks more...

More mulch, fruit trees and caterpillar and aphid control

leavesWhat do do before you use your grass cuttings as mulch, re-flowering fruit trees, and an eco solution for leaf munching bugs more...

Large gardens and old apples trees

applesBack in the UK you had a garden the size of a postage size - here's it's a couple of acres (or more!). Here are a few suggestions on what to do, plus advice on cleaning up old apple trees more...

Feeding after torrential rain and planting hedges

red leafIf you've had lots of rain in your area, here's what you need to do now to help your plants. And advice when planting a hedge
more...

Improving top soil; how to deadhead roses; what to do with sick apricot trees

roseA less back-breaking way to better soil, plus expert advice on how to dead-head roses. And if your apricot tree is ill, here's what you must not do more...

Smallholdings in France

SheepTry our Smallholdings Topic! - Guidance on starting out with livestock, and other indispensible tips and advice for smallholders in France... Smallholdings in France Topic

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