gardening

I’m an Englishman who has been living in France for several years, and I’ve decided to start this City Garden blog to share my passion: gardening.
But not just any kind of gardening — I do much more than mowing the lawn, planting flowers, or trimming hedges, because I’m a landscape gardener. It’s a job I already practiced in the UK, and I’m thrilled to continue here in France.

If you’re also thinking about pursuing a career in this field, don’t hesitate to reach out!


Transform your small garden into a stunning “City Garden”

The concept of a “city garden” comes from the United Kingdom. This emerging trend is all about making the most of your green spaces. Various techniques can be used to achieve this. A professional will know exactly what modifications are needed to turn a garden into a welcoming haven. The art of harmony is arriving not just in gardens, but in homes as well.

Revamp your outdoor lighting decor

Outdoor Lighting: Beautiful Exterior Fixtures

To truly enjoy your garden, lighting plays a key role. Multiple light sources are essential to make the outdoors more pleasant. A terrace with beautiful lighting decoration is ideal for family dinners or get-togethers with friends. Garden lamps placed around the patio area create a lovely atmosphere and help welcome guests in style. In a “city garden” transformation, lighting is a great way to highlight flower beds or trees.

Creative ideas abound to enhance your garden. For example, placing small lights around a pool allows you to enjoy evening swims. This shows the value of rethinking your garden setup. Browsing ideas will make you realize how crucial lighting is in your outdoor space.

Wall-mounted lights on the house façade offer illumination points to appreciate your garden at night. Pathway lights are both practical and aesthetically pleasing. Outdoor floor lamps can also light up wooded areas, allowing you to stroll in your garden at any hour. There are plenty of lighting design options to choose from depending on the area to be lit.

Garden and Home Decoration Tips

To get the most out of your garden, it’s worth gathering home and garden décor ideas. Setting up a swing seat under a pergola is a delightful way to spend more time outdoors. You’ll find plenty of inspiration to personalize your garden according to your tastes. Choosing the right flowers is also essential, and having expert advice can be a huge help. Some ground-cover plants deliver beautiful results. Color choice matters too — selecting the right plant species should be done with care.

Installing a wooden carport can be a charming way to protect your car while enhancing your garden. Wooden benches and furniture help create a harmonious design and can be placed strategically to complement the space.

Staying up to date with décor trends for your home and garden helps you evolve these spaces over time. Garden ideas and design guides are an endless source of inspiration and make it easy to visualize and bring new spaces to life.

Tired of prying eyes? Try a privacy screen

To relax fully in your garden, it’s best to avoid direct views from neighbors. It’s hard to feel at ease on a sun lounger if you feel watched. Specialized privacy screens are available online for just this reason.

Made from fabric, they help create a private and cozy space. You can order them in the size you need, giving your garden back a sense of intimacy. Some are also made from seagrass — just check the specifications to choose the right one.

Privacy Protection: No More Neighbors Watching

Various fabric types and colors are available, such as beige or orange to contrast with the greenery. Some privacy screens are elastic-mounted; others resemble small gazebos with windows. Sturdier, weather-resistant versions are available and perform well year-round. Different models can suit different uses — a basic one might be ideal for playing in peace, while more advanced ones work better near pools.

As gardens shrink with increased construction, privacy screens are becoming more popular. This solution restores freedom and serenity, letting you enjoy your garden as you wish, free from constraints. Feeling at ease in your own space is priceless.

A Few Interior Design Ideas: Home is My Passion

While your garden deserves stylish décor, don’t forget the inside of your home. The transition between indoor and outdoor should be seamless. Home décor passion can flourish with trendy ideas like decorative light switches. Breaking away from standard models is a refreshing change for any décor lover. These switches replace old ones with flair — from kitchens to bedrooms, you can personalize them all.

Floral or jungle-themed switches are great for conservatories. They can also change the color of the light, allowing you to create a unique atmosphere — from energizing reds to calming purples, the options are endless.

A garden lounge setup makes for a perfect transition space. Placed nearby, it feels like a natural extension of the home. The interior décor and colors should inspire this outdoor living area.

Why not try triangular shade sails for your garden décor?

To transform your terrace, this idea will appeal to many homeowners. These large triangular fabrics are fixed to posts and create a warm, intimate space. It’s lovely to rest under their canopy. Warm tones invite sunbathing, while cooler shades offer a peaceful escape.

High-quality triangular sails are available from voile-tendance.fr. Transforming your terrace into a cozy retreat is easy with this simple installation. The fabric is weather-resistant and maintains its color. All that’s left is to design your new space as you see fit.

Pick a Pattern You Love for Your Triangular Sail

The triangular shape is ideal for placing in terrace corners. Pops of color will enhance your outdoor space, and you’ll love spending time there. These sails also provide welcome shade, a big bonus on hot summer days.

Harmonizing Your Indoor and Outdoor Furniture

For a coherent look, consider decorating your home and garden with the same style in mind. Rose bushes, for example, can inspire cushion or curtain colors. Wood shades in trees and shrubs can guide your dining table or chair selection.

Using similar tones indoors and outdoors creates balance. Lighted furniture makes this even easier — thanks to LED technology, anything is possible. LED strips attach to furniture for custom effects. Outdoor LED lamps provide a stunning preview of your garden experience.

Take it a step further by matching your garden gate and interior doors. Whether in wood or wrought iron, this coherence will impress.

Need Excavation Work in Nice? Call a Professional

Excavation is essential for preparing the ground before installing a pool or spa. This step ensures the soil is cleared of anything that could interfere with construction. Stones, roots, and other obstacles will be removed by an expert, ensuring your pool setup is smooth.

For top-notch excavation in Nice, it’s strongly recommended to call a qualified company. With specialized tools and techniques, they’ll clear the area thoroughly so your pool base is stable and long-lasting.

Experts for Excavation in Nice

Once the site is treated, you’re ready to build and enjoy your pool with family or friends. Skipping excavation could lead to shifting roots or stones damaging the base. Cracks could make the pool unusable — this step is essential for safety and longevity.

How to Choose Your Outdoor Christmas Garden Décor

Christmas is the perfect time to light up your home and create a magical ambiance. For best results, choose your decorations wisely. Lawn gnomes or festive figures are a great idea — they add joy and catch the neighbors’ attention.

While light strings are a staple, 3D projectors are gaining popularity. They cast stunning displays on house walls, trees, and hedges. A simple setup, a bit of magic.

You can also use LED string lights in trees — longer-lasting and energy-efficient, they add rich colors to your holiday garden.

Artificial Hedges: A Great Way to Shield from Prying Eyes

After years of struggling to grow a beautiful laurel hedge around my home, I finally gave up. Four years ago, I switched to artificial hedging — and I’ve never looked back!

Why I Made the Switch

To feel safe and private in your yard, nothing beats a lush hedge. Unless you’re adding spikes to walls or gates, hedges are perfect for blocking views and intrusions. After a long day at the office, I want to breathe fresh air and see greenery — not feel walled in.

Maintaining My Laurel Hedge Was a Nightmare

I’m not exactly green-thumbed, but I don’t usually kill plants either. Let’s say I’m average. Still, laurel hedges gave me a hard time — frost damage, pests, and finally a fungus that spread due to low sunlight… It was a constant struggle and a sad-looking hedge despite all my care.

Advantages of Artificial Hedges

So I went with artificial. First, it was cheaper than I thought. When you add purchase and maintenance costs, it’s worth it.

Artificial hedges are easy to install, maintenance-free, and highly weather-resistant. I was tired of endlessly treating and trimming my hedge to no avail — it never looked as good as I had imagined when I first bought the trees.

And after four harsh winters, it still looks brand new: no color fade, no damage. Bonus: it’s an eco-friendly choice! No watering, no chemicals for pests or disease.

And no trimming, no leaf cleanup — all the perks of a real hedge with none of the work. I have no regrets about my artificial hedge from gardens.fr!