Grass clippings: what to do if the tip does not accept them in France Rennes metropole is the first to bring in a ban - and has ended door-to-door pick ups - but other areas have followed
Can I burn trimmings from my French garden in spring? Regular upkeep of your garden can result in a lot of déchets verts
Spring into plant swap season and visit a local French ‘TrocPlantes’ Columnist Sarah Beattie discovers the community spirit of swap events where gardeners exchange cuttings Are there restrictions on building garden walls in France? Open Gardens France: Vibrant borders and crisp hedges in Mayenne Grass cuttings are no longer accepted at some public tips in France
How to keep boars off land in France: natural ways or electric fence? Homeowners are seeing more damage each year as numbers of the animals increase
What are the rules for collecting and using rainwater in France Indoor use in particular is subject to strict rules
Must I remove ivy growing on my French second home? Ivy can be attractive but can also be viewed as damaging
Land clearance in France: rules, fines and tax credits for garden work Spring is coming and neglected gardens will soon get out of hand
How to keep hunters out of your garden in France They can enter your land unless you take steps to explicitly state that you do not want them to
Can our neighbour in France force us to replace a hedge with a fence? Position, height, age are all factors which will need to be considered
Is home composting now mandatory in France? New rules revolving organic waste came into force earlier this year
‘French gardeners love the Britishness of the Open Garden scheme’ Sue Lambert president of Jardins Ouverts talks afternoon tea, No Dig method and finding solace in her garden after losing her son
What to do if you cross a boar while out walking in France? The animals can be aggressive but generally only if they feel threatened
Can I put up a privacy shield in my French garden? Barriers may have additional requirements for installation, particularly if installed at the border of your property How to keep hens as part of a self-sufficient life in France Obligatory new home waste rules in France: items not to compost ‘Dangerous’ trees, scams, vineyards to buy: French property round up
Family may have to move as cannot uproot ‘dangerous’ tree in France 100-year-old cedar could destroy home, says family, but local authority officials at standstill over rules Gardening in France: New Year’s resolutions and jobs for January Snowdrop display is perfect showcase for French Open Gardens charity Rats are not attracted to compost heaps, assures French waste expert Can we build a natural pond at French home if cannot have a pool? Best plants to add a pop of winter colour to your French garden
Are you (and your council) ready for obligatory compost law in France? Different areas have different policies - we take a tour of some
Do not put biodegradable plastic bags with compost in France Many contain chemicals that can only be decomposed by industrial means
French gardens to delight visitors in the bright, cold days of winter Where to see frosty topiary, magical light shows and tropical glasshouses for a December gardening fix
French gardens to delight visitors in the bright, cold days of winter Where to see frosty topiary, magical light shows and tropical glasshouses for a December gardening fix
How to build a snake hotel in your French garden as population falls Jonathan Kemp makes snakes welcome in his garden in spite of his phobia
Checks, fines, help: rules for clearing undergrowth around French home Both property owners and tenants must clear their land all year round
Who must cut overhanging branches in French garden? France’s civil code is strict and can be confusing to navigate
13 tree fairs and arboretums across France to visit this November No matter where you live, there are events, exhibitions and markets centred around the cultivation of trees - we have listed several for your diary
What can I do to stop my French neighbour’s regular garden bonfires? Burning garden waste is normally illegal in France. We look at what you can do if your neighbour breaks this rule
Can we claim on house insurance if boars damage our French garden? It is important to specify what cover is required when buying insurance
Man fined €6,000 for cutting down neighbour’s tree in northern France He claimed the 70-year-old tree impaired his sea view
Visit epic Terra Botanica - France’s magical biodiversity theme park Like the Eden Project on steroids, glow-in-the-dark plants and environmental ideas with a Disney twinkle
Discover the aesthetic joys of a super ‘dry’ French Occitanie garden Cathy Thompson visits a stunning garden in the Aude where layering, minimal watering and constant evolution are wonderfully combined
When and at what times can you mow your lawn in France? We look at the rules surrounding grass cutting and other garden-related noise
Visit: stunning dry garden in Aude wakes up like spring in Autumn Two horticulturists experimented with minimal watering and created a beautiful garden packed full of the toughest plants
French law: Can I cut an overhanging branch from neighbour’s tree? France’s Code Civil includes specific rules on encroaching branches and trees
Plea to plant local flowers in your gardens in France Gardeners can play a significant role in helping to maintain the country’s biodiversity, a new study suggests
How often must I empty my septic tank in France? There are regular checks to ensure septic tanks are being maintained and kept in good condition
What can I do about weeds growing from French neighbour’s garden? There are a number of options which can be explored
Orioles, butterflies, broom: see all things yellow in France Golden orioles brought enchanting melodies while facing challenges and successfully raising chicks
France garden tips: try agapanthus, it is hardier than you think The evergreen types are ideal for a Mediterranean climate, coming as they do from the western and eastern cape in South Africa
‘Solid metal fences hiding French gardens are a mystery to me’ Attitudes to fencing might highlight a difference in French and American culture, ponders Peter Wyeth
French town’s drought ‘solution’: painting its dried-out grass green! Grass in Mandelieu-la-Napoule near Cannes is being coated with an organic dye that also helps to replenish it with nutrients
Major road and rail delays as wildfires are sparked in southern France A blaze at Cagnes-sur-Mer, near Nice, saw rail services suspended between Cannes and the Italian border
French vegetable gardens offer fresh job prospects The Restos du Cœur charity is known for distributing food to people in need in France, it also runs a network of community gardens
Discover the splendid gardens at Chenonceau, France We talk to the man responsible for the gardens about what work goes into their planning and upkeep
Follow your nose on a scent-sational tour of France’s spring flowers Explore the national and regional floral specialities of France, and sniff out the best flower festivals and horticultural events taking place around the country this spring
Progress on French DIY tortoise house is slow and steady... Nick Inman charts the ups and downs of renovating an old French farmhouse
French garden diary: Sweet William the superpower We look at the origins and aesthetics of these trouble-free perennials
Jardins Ouverts: Visit a Dordogne chateau and an English-style garden Green-fingered enthusiasts are spoilt for choice this summer the Open Gardens scheme gives access to stunning gardens and their creators
Homemade garden fire protection system in France A Connexion reader shares their solution to the threat of wildfires to their garden this summer
French garden diary: New roses bred for resistance We examine the floral options available to gardeners in France
France wildfires: Does mandatory garden clearing apply to nearby land? Many parts of France require property owners to clear undergrowth to prevent forest fires from spreading
Fine increase for not clearing your French garden to prevent wildfire As fines rise for non-compliance we explain who is affected and how to claim a tax credit for the work
Why the French government wants you to clear up your garden In some areas of France, the clearance of garden undergrowth is mandatory and refusal to comply can lead to a fine
France wildfires: MPs vote to hike fines for not clearing your garden We recap the rules for cutting back vegetation to prevent wildfires - mandatory for homeowners in some parts of France
Can I get help meeting France’s mandatory garden clearance rules? While there is no financial aid, tax credits can be used to reduce bills for hiring people to clear your garden
Tax, gardens open, property form, strikes: Key dates in France in June From neighbourhood parties to the annual music festival, we look at what is happening this month in France
Lovely Limousin gardens to visit in June with Open Gardens scheme Gardeners across France throw open the gates to their private paradises - we explore two gems in Creuse and Haute-Vienne
Can we decorate our French balcony with plant pots? Balcony use will depend on apartment block rules but these are usually quite liberal
Dream of a detached house with garden fades in France Rising building materials is one of the factors identified in the reduction of newly built detached houses
France beekeeping: are there rules for installing a hive in my garden? The regulations include making an annual declaration to the Agriculture Ministry
Can you mow your lawn on a bank holiday in France? Restrictions are always in place for ‘noisy’ activities but are stricter on holidays
France building laws: Do I need planning permission for a treehouse? Much will depend on the size of the structure and whether your property is in a protected area
Garden parties in France: Do I have to get permission to host one? The law is fairly relaxed but there are some precautions to take, particularly if you do not want to create a rift with your neighbours
Three garden gems to visit in May: Vienne, Mayenne, Loire-Atlantique We meet the gardeners throwing their gates open to visitors this month and raising money for charity
Gardeners in France told to stop cutting hedges in bird nesting season Bird experts share the best time to trim hedging in the north and south of France
Temperatures in France set to plummet: protect your plants Fruit trees that have already begun to flower are among the crops most at risk with frost and ice forecast across much of the country
Homeowners in France urged to help ease drought and forest fires We explain the yellow, orange and red drought warnings and what action to take to prepare for restrictions
How can I keep wild boar away from my property? From fencing and other deterrents, we take a look at some of the tips for keeping the animals away from your garden
Drought damage, septic tank dispute: Five French property updates We also look at a free online tool to estimate your home’s energy efficiency, a unique chance to sleep at the Paris opera and more
Snowdrop obsession and hellebore heaven - two French gardens to visit Two British gardeners in Haute Vienne and Creuse open their plots of paradise to share their passion for spring blooms
Snowdrops for hope and salvia for colour in a February French garden We look at propagating and pruning sage and how to buy reliable snowdrops in France
Gardening hardiness zones in France and how plants adapt to the cold Almost two thirds of the country’s plants wither below -12C
What is a ‘ville fleurie’ in France and how is this label attributed? We take a look at the rules and criteria behind France’s ‘cities and villages in bloom’ competition
The French gardener inspired for 40 years by British winter planting Visit Jardin du Bois Marquis, near Lyon, to see a garden tailor-made for colder months
January flowers in your French garden with scented viburnum We explore the shrub that gives long-lasting winter displays and the importance of Latin names
Mediterranean garden in south of France is a winter paradise When most gardens lie dormant, the Domaine du Rayol comes to life in the winter months
How to keep your Christmas cyclamen alive all year in France We talk to a French breeder who has been growing cyclamen since 1919. Their plants are winter hardy and summer heat resistant
France’s finest chateaux gardens and parterres are magical in December Without flowers the structural beauty shines through, so wrap up warm and visit these gardens from the Loire Valley to Versailles