French strawberries: the best varieties and when to eat them Columnist Sue Adams gives her tips on how to get the best out of the long season in France
France’s wild garlic season is here – but foragers should beware toxic lookalikes Spring brings the fragrant plant to woodlands nationwide. We explain what to look out for
practical Let your lawn grow, water for birds: how to help wildlife in your French garden ‘It is acceptable to have untidy hedgerows,’ says biodiversity spokesperson.
How to help hedgehogs in your garden in France Follow these tips to create a healthy ecosystem for this protected species
How to pick and cook asparagus in France Columnist Sue Adams explains how to make the most of the vegetable's short season
French DIY stores reorganise as people reduce home projects Several factors, including cost, have been blamed
Gardens in France: stylish rainwater collection and April vegetable patch plans Tips and tricks for your jardin from sunloungers to swimming pool inspiration
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
What you should do to your garden in France in spring Weeding, pruning, sowing, preparing the lawn…here is how to welcome sunnier days
Gardening in France: how to overcome daffodil dilemmas Expert solutions for daffodil 'blindness' and 'lively' composting techniques to try
Now is the time for people in France to ‘scarify’ their lawn The practice, which should be done twice a year, enables the grass to thrive
Garden clearing obligations to be extended in south of France Owners who fail to clear undergrowth face fines
What are the rules for installing an electric fence on French property? Electric fences are not solely for agricultural purposes
Gardening in France: get set to be dazzled by dahlias March is the perfect time to plant these sun-loving tubers
How to buy, eat and store the best French strawberries As spring approaches and strawberries come into season, here are top tips for achieving optimal fruity flavour, according to experts
Meet the volunteers vital to the growth of Open Gardens, and find out how you can join too The association, which raised €22,000 for children’s charities last year, is seeking help with various roles
Why pampas grass is forbidden in French gardens There are sanctions for offences including introducing the plant into the wild or even owning one
Help scientists this weekend by counting birds in your French garden France’s largest scientific programme relaunches for the avian wintering season
Now is the time to act against this garden pest in France Remove processionary caterpillar cocoons before they hatch in spring
Can a mobile home remain parked in French home garden? Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader query
How should garden waste be disposed of in France if bonfires are not allowed? Some areas have also banned disposing of green waste at waste centres
How to deal with snails in your French garden - and can you eat them? Some harvest the unprompted visitors for food but this can be dangerous - and potentially illegal
Mairie offers grants for electric leaf blowers to reduce noisy gardening in south of France Residents can receive up to 30% of total cost of tools including lawn mowers and hedge strimmers
How do tax credits work for hiring a gardener in France? Some homeowners can benefit from a 50% tax credit on gardening work
The trees in your French garden have a worth - here is how to value them online Owners of properties can see values rise thanks to trees, similarly to garages or barns
Bees protected from Asian hornet attacks by award-winning French device Frédérique Ripet has won a top business award for creating a device that protects hives from deadly attacks
Photos: ‘How we prepare our garden in south-west France for winter’ Part-time paysanne Sue Adams on protecting your precious plants
Do sit-on lawnmowers require insurance in France? Larger gardens may require tractor-mowers to keep on top of grass
EU faces legal challenge from French lawyer over weedkiller sale decision Corinne Lepage fighting decision to allow glyphosate to be sold in Europe for another 10 years
Garden waste disposal is free in Dordogne until November 9 Seven Dordogne déchèteries are offering green waste drops that do not count towards residents’ total
How to identify and destroy toxic plants that grow in French gardens Some can cause illness or even be fatal if eaten
Obligatory garden clearance in France: New campaign clarifies who is impacted New residents will be told of rules from January onwards
Falling garden leaves: rules for neighbours in France and can you burn them? Trees should be planted far enough away from garden boundaries to minimise their impact on neighbouring properties
Photos: Three seasonal autumn gardens to visit in France Summer may be over but there are beautiful places to admire under the Open Gardens scheme
Get involved and join a local gardening club in France September is the month when people of all ages join associations
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
Checks, fines, help: rules for clearing undergrowth around French home Both property owners and tenants must clear their land all year round
Explained: French garden rules on cleaning, bonfires, planting and more Make sure you stick to the (many) rules if you want to maintain good relationships with your neighbours and avoid fines
Are electric lawn mowers popular in France? How expensive are they? ‘Robot’ lawn mowers are also on the increase
‘Unfair’: Anger over €6,000 bill for clearing neighbour land in France Débroussaillement is the clearing of overgrowth from a property - and in some cases residents are legally obliged to clear a neighbour’s land at their own cost
France embraces the rise of the robot mowers Automated robots can keep lawns looking clean with just a weekend of work, and basic models can start from less than €1,000
Do I need permission to have a garden party on July 14? Are fireworks allowed? 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
Stunning French arboretum to celebrate 10 years of 'Open Gardens' Sarah Beattie speaks to gardener Nell, whose spectacular Creuse arboretrum is listed as a ‘Jardin Remarquable’
Does French law allow me to remove a tree growing next to my garden? Neighbouring trees can be inconvenient or even dangerous to another property
Box tree caterpillar cases rise in France: How to protect your hedges Climate change is helping the insect to spread across the country, requiring a multi-pronged approach to tackle the threat
Gardener develops cacti suitable for the temperatures of… Normandy A gardener in Normandy has started to sell cacti from the deserts of the United States, which he has adapted to grow in the cold clay soils of the region
Are there any rules for having a garden pond in France? Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader query
Gardening, DIY: what you can and cannot do on a bank holiday in France We also look what to do if your neighbours do not abide by the anti-noise rules
How do tax credits for having a gardener at French home work? Always make sure you use registered people to undertake work at your home
No mow May: homeowners in France asked to let grass grow ‘There is no life in a 4 cm-long lawn’ warns one expert, saying that longer grass helps bees and insects to thrive
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? Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader query
Open Gardens France: Vibrant borders and crisp hedges in Mayenne After two years clearing rubbish and brambles, Edward Moss and David Marsh delight in sharing their ‘garden rooms’
Grass cuttings are no longer accepted at some public tips in France Increasing numbers of public déchetteries are asking you to take care of your cuttings at home
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
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 Tips on choosing the right breed, food and shelter from part-time paysanne Sue Adams
Obligatory new home waste rules in France: items not to compost We look at items that pollute, do not decompose or kill helpful worms and bacteria
‘Dangerous’ trees, scams, vineyards to buy: French property round up Our recap of recent property articles
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 Take time to assess last year and get excited about the gardening year to come
Snowdrop display is perfect showcase for French Open Gardens charity We visit a founder member of the scheme and learn of her obsession with snowdrops or ‘perce-neige’
Rats are not attracted to compost heaps, assures French waste expert The new food waste law means many people are thinking of composting but worry about vermin and smells
