Take a little inspiration from the gardens of France and create your own beautiful Gallic-style garden. Whether you have a small courtyard or large backyard, it’s easy to bring a touch of France to your outdoor area. Our resident gardening expert Suzanne Pryor says that most French gardens fit into one of two styles: formal and informal. The most famous, the gardens at the Palace of Versailles near Paris, has many characteristics of both types, with its beautiful fountains, parterre garden, orangery and potager garden.
Elegance all round
“Formal style involves the use of intricate designs of parterre (hedging),” Suzanne explains, “as well as coloured gravel, topiary and patterned planting using annuals, with plants for parterre kept pruned low to best display the design. These are best viewed from a vantage point that allows you to look down on the garden.” To create your own parterre, look for low-growing plants with a structured shape. Hedges are ideal as they add to the formal look of the garden, especially when carefully maintained with a hedge trimmer. Topiaries in feature pots are also a good choice as they can be easily moved around and suit smaller spaces such as courtyards. Formal French gardens are usually designed to be symmetrical with paths and walkways evenly laid out and lined with ornamental trees. With their relaxed, Mediterranean feel, citrus trees are perfect for the job, so put orange, lemon or mandarin trees in terracotta pots or plant them straight into the garden – you could also use other fruit trees such as pears. Water is also essential for creating a quiet, calming atmosphere – an ornate fountain or shallow reflecting pool will do the trick – while elegant statues have a classic look and make great features too.
Laid-back living
If you’re looking for a more laid-back feel, Suzanne suggests a garden incorporating the above elements, but in a more user-friendly way. “This style would include the potager,” she says, “which literally translates to soup and refers to gardens that have everything home owners need to make their staple food source – soup. Plants would also be less structured and don’t require the regimented maintenance of formal garden plants.” To give your outdoor area a relaxed French look, line garden beds with fragrant herbs and plant fruits and vegetables in raised rows. For privacy, plant roses on trellises to line fences and walls. And don’t forget to finish off your French-style garden with a beautiful outdoor setting, with wrought-iron chairs and stone table for formal gardens or simple rustic furniture teamed with outdoor cushions for an informal one. Now all you need to do is sit back and enjoy!
Plants for formal french gardens
Box (Buxus spp.)
Roses (Rosa spp.)
Kale (Brassica oleracea)
Orange(Citrus sinensis)
Rosemary (Rosmarinus spp)
Assorted annuals for colour
Bay (Laurus nobilis)
Plants for informal french gardens
Lavender (Lavandula spp)
Box (Buxus spp)
Roses (Rosa spp)
Herbs
Vegetables
Espaliered trees against garden or house walls
Story by Lauren Broomham