Home · Garden calendar

The garden through the seasons

What to do in a garden on the Charente-Maritime coast, season by season. The page opens on the current season automatically.

March · April · May

Spring

The garden wakes up. It's the right time to revive the lawn and plant borders before the first dry spells of June.

In the garden
Lawn – Spring

Lawn

  • Scarify and aerate in late March or April
  • Sow or patch thin areas
  • Start mowing again, not too short (6 to 7 cm)
Planting – Spring

Planting

  • Plant perennials, grasses and Mediterranean plants once frosts are over
  • Plant container-grown lavender, rosemary and olive trees
Pruning – Spring

Pruning

  • Cut back dry grasses before new growth
  • Prune summer-flowering shrubs
  • Wait until spring-flowering shrubs have finished blooming
  • Avoid hard hedge cutting from mid-March to late July while birds are nesting
Watering & mulch – Spring

Watering & mulch

  • Restart and check the drip irrigation
  • Mulch the borders before the heat
Coastal tip

Spring winds quickly dry out young plants: water well at the base right after planting, then mulch.

What we can do for you

New borders, lawn sowing, irrigation start-up.

June · July · August

Summer

Sun, wind and salt: in summer, the aim is to keep the garden in shape with as little water as possible.

In the garden
Watering – Summer

Watering

  • Water early in the morning or in the evening, at the base of plants
  • Water less often but deeply
  • Follow local water restrictions during droughts
Lawn – Summer

Lawn

  • Raise the mowing height (7 to 8 cm)
  • Leave the clippings on the lawn to keep moisture in
  • Accept a little yellowing: it recovers in autumn
Timber deck – Summer

Timber deck

  • Clean the deck
  • Apply wood oil in dry weather, out of direct sun
Borders & hedges – Summer

Borders & hedges

  • Weed and top up the mulch
  • Deadhead spent flowers
  • Light trim of evergreen hedges at the end of summer
Coastal tip

Avoid planting in the heat: save your planting plans for autumn, the best season on the coast.

What we can do for you

Regular maintenance, mowing, timber deck treatment.

September · October · November

Autumn

The best season for planting: the soil is still warm and the rain is back. Roots settle in all winter.

In the garden
Planting – Autumn

Planting

  • Plant trees, shrubs and hedges
  • Divide and replant perennials
  • Plant spring bulbs
Lawn – Autumn

Lawn

  • Sow or patch in September
  • Scarify lightly
  • Last mows before winter
Leaves – Autumn

Leaves

  • Clear leaves from the lawn and decks
  • Reuse them as mulch in the borders
Pruning – Autumn

Pruning

  • Trim hedges before winter
  • Cut back spent perennials, but keep the grasses for winter
Coastal tip

The first storms arrive: check the stakes and ties on young trees.

What we can do for you

Hedge and tree planting, lawn repair, autumn clean-up.

December · January · February

Winter

The garden is resting. It's the ideal time for major tree work and for planning your spring project.

In the garden
Trees – Winter

Trees

  • Pruning and felling while plants are dormant
  • Avoid working in frosty weather
Planting – Winter

Planting

  • Plant bare-root trees and shrubs, outside frosty spells
Protection – Winter

Protection

  • Protect tender plants with horticultural fleece when frost is forecast
  • Move fragile pots to shelter
Lawn – Winter

Lawn

  • Avoid walking on it when frozen or waterlogged
Coastal tip

Winters are mild but wet and windy on the coast: watch for areas where water sits, a sign that drainage may help.

What we can do for you

Pruning, tree felling, plans and quotes for your spring projects.

Need a hand this season?

Planting, pruning, maintenance or a whole new garden: tell us what you need.

Start a project  →