Gardens

Get that tropical garden feel with some trompe l'oeil planting

Expert tips on the best hardy exotic plants, with big leaves and layered greenery for an exotic touch

Turning a blank canvas into a garden for all seasons

Le Grand Bagnol in Haute-Vienne is a beautifully designed all-season garden with colourful borders, rare trees, hydrangeas and winter flowers

Firefighter in protective gear oversees low flames in smoky woodland

French wildfires: are undergrowth clearance laws strong enough?

Clashes with environmental regulations and lack of compliance leads to questions over efficiency of anti-fire rules

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Jardin des Cinq Sens: Yvoire’s magical lakeside garden

A brief history of a special French medieval garden on the banks of Lake Geneva in Haute-Savoie

How to grow biennials: best flowers for a long-lasting cottage garden

You will wait for your efforts, but you will be richly rewarded

Explore a magical plant garden in Indre-et-Loire

Dominique and Marie-Odile Birault's garden is devoted to the unique properties of many species

Yellow-flowered water primrose common in French gardens is illegal to plant

Once established, it spreads rapidly in water systems, with even small fragments capable of forming new plants

Can I cut down tree in my French garden without permission?

Hundreds of trees have protected status in France

Why is my French tip no longer taking green waste?

Several communes including major cities have recently changed rules

Edible flowers: discover the best blooms for cooking

Discover how to grow edible flowers in France, from calendula and nasturtium to elderflower, roses and saffron crocus

'Roses are my passion, I love them,' says Lot gardener

Garden near Figeac is opening for charity in June with plant sales, cakes, crafts, resident peacock and a piano concert

Rendez-vous aux jardins 2026: visit over 2,800 parks and gardens across France

Many participating sites are often otherwise closed to the public

Why people in France are advised not to mow their lawns in May

'No Mow May’ has been gradually gaining in popularity in France in recent years

'The magical day I saw an otter in my Aude garden'

Jonathan Kemp on the otter conservation efforts that have led to their return

More homes in south of France must clear undergrowth or face fine

Homeowners reminded of obligatory land clearance rules prior to forest fire season

January flowers in your French garden with scented viburnum

Our gardening columnist explores a pretty pink shrub that gives long-lasting winter displays

All wrapped up for Christmas: how to protect your plants in France this winter

Discover effective methods to shield your garden plants from winter frost and cold, ensuring their survival and health through the chilly months

Preparing your French garden for the festive season and the year ahead

Christmas veg harvest, sustainable Christmas tree options and great deals on outdoor furniture for next summer

Open Gardens: celebrating success in 2025 and welcoming new volunteers for 2026

Discover the gardens charity's triumphs this past year and learn how you can offer support by joining the community

French gardens to delight visitors in the bright, cold days of winter

Where to see frosty topiary, magical light shows and festive castles this December

Asian hornet nests increase in France this autumn

Several deaths have been recorded in France from Asian hornet stings

Must you clear fallen leaves from your garden outside your home in France?

In most cases it is not legal to burn leaves once they have been raked up

My French garden: practising patience with handkerchief trees

Find out how this flowering tree was discovered in China by a French priest

French gardening tips for November: bird feeders, potager tasks, and sustainable gifts

Seasonal advice to enhance your garden's beauty and productivity

Step back in time for some ‘dinosaur’ planting in your French garden

Captivated in the garden this month by one species of plant that dates back 200 million years, and another which is one of the oldest flowering plant families on the planet

French ‘Memory garden’ commits couple’s love and travels to stone

The project celebrates the boundless imagination of an extraordinary pair

French MPs back tax credit for mandatory garden undergrowth clearing

The tax credit would help with costs of annual débroussaillement in affected areas

‘I want to share our gardens – to be able to help charities is wonderful’ says Charente gardener

The Connexion meets two friends whose contrasting gardens that are part of the Open Gardens scheme

Undergrowth clearance rules now in place across Var

New regulations affect most of department but aim to protect biodiversity

November gardening: tips for the perfect 'hot bed'

Great advice for adding some fiery colour to your garden this autumn and beyond

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What you need to know when collecting rainwater in France

The rules are complex and depend on what you plan to do with it

Can I install a small structure for work use on my land in France? - Partner article

'Garden shed tax' can be levied in certain circumstances

Duo create stunning garden on an expanded horticultural canvas in Lot-et-Garonne

Visit this colourful gem where a passion for salvias meets sustainable gardening

French gardening tips for October: from fruit picking to potager jobs

Discover how to safely harvest apples and pears, plus great gardening gift ideas for Christmas

October gardening tips: sow hardy annuals for a vibrant spring in France

For a colourful spring bloom, learn the best practices for seed planting and preparation this month

French garden notes for September

Jobs in the potager, hedge trimming and French gardening boots to buy

Chocolate and coffee-coloured plants for a unique French garden aesthetic

From chocolate-scented cosmos to coffee-hued dahlias, find the perfect plants for your garden

Photos: discover this stunning super ‘dry’ French Occitanie garden

Cathy Thompson visits a garden in the Aude where layering, minimal watering and constant evolution are wonderfully combined

Open Gardens plot in Mayenne has 'something for everyone'

This lovely Pays de la Loire garden, part of the charity scheme Open Gardens, can be visited in September

Jardins Ouverts: explore this beautiful French garden in Pays de la Loire

Briton Angela Rowlands' Mayenne garden is open to the public in September

Vision of a princess: spectacular and pioneering garden in Normandy

Le Jardin de Vasterival, located on the coast not far from Dieppe, is considered to be one of the most beautiful gardens in Europe

Beautiful Loire Valley château gardens celebrate their patron saint

Famous château potagers specialise in the conservation and collection of old vegetable varieties and offer walks and tasting sessions

What are the restrictions on lawn mower usage in France this summer?

Aimed at reducing noise pollution, the rules can result in limited periods when grass can be cut

Floral and solar ways to light up your French garden after sundown

As summer comes to an end, now is not the time to start planting. Instead, turn your outdoor space into a jardin de nuit

A manor looking onto large grounds with trees

Visit this 'remarkable' chateau garden in France

We speak to the owner of a castle in Nouvelle-Aquitaine with an extraordinary history and beautiful gardens

The best fruit trees to plant in your French garden

Columnist Sue Adams outlines the perks of growing your own

Photos: mini swimming pools are trending in France

Budget constraints, tax exemptions, and changing homeowner preferences explain the popularity of small pools

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

Invasive Japanese beetles detected in eastern France

Residents are being asked to report beetles

Gardens in France: from dog kennels to swimming pool maintenance

Tips and tricks for keeping cool in your jardin this month

Rules for garden barbecues in France

Avoid problems with the law - and with your neighbours

Five things they don't tell you about… gardens in France

From the classic French style to the wild English one

Grow beautiful hydrangeas in your French garden

Sarah Beattie loves the unfashionable mopheads and has several favourite varieties

Remarkable summer gardens to see in France

Sarah Beattie says gardeners’ downtime presents the chance to enjoy other gardens

Why French gardeners prune and plant trees differently

Columnist Sue Adams reveals the role of history in France's relationship with its trees

Can hedges in French garden be trimmed over summer?

Gardens must be cleared of undergrowth and debris to reduce risk of fires in summer months

Why your garden in France may look unusually ‘yellow’

Crops in northern France have been harvested early due to warmer temperatures

Must authorities be informed over Japanese knotweed infestation in French garden?

Plant is known to cause harm to local ecosystems in France and cannot be bought or sold

A Jardin Ouvert to visit in the Loire Valley: ‘I want it to be a proper garden fête’

Musical performances, flower bouquets, a tombola, art exhibitions and donkeys... Sarah Beattie hears about how a chance twist of fate led to this lovely Beaugency hideaway being part of the Open Gardens charity

Photo: Connexion reader spots rare blue frog in her garden in France

This condition is estimated to impact one in 10,000 frogs

French garden: choose drought tolerant daisies and echinacea

Cathy Thompson tells us why she is hooked on the grassland plants of the North American prairie

Mid-season filler flowers for your French garden

Test these colourful tips for replacing victims of winter rot or frost

Rendez-vous aux jardins: over 2,200 French parks and gardens to visit

The annual event will take place from June 6 - 8, inviting the public to discover rare sites across France and Europe

Embrace the summertime blues in your French garden

Sarah Beattie loves a blue flower – here she provides tips for growing your own

Important rules for property owners with a garden in France

Bonfires, undergrowth clearance, water usage… check you are on the right side of the law

Two superb French gardens to explore - just five minutes apart

Meet two Open Gardens hosts in the Auvergne department whose stunning gardens are open to visitors on June 1 this year

‘Peach walls’ of Paris suburb offer glimpse of its horticultural past

Montreuil may not be the obvious place to house orchards of Mediterranean fruit, but it has supported a booming industry and an unlikely man-made microclimate for nearly 400 years