Special reports - page 3

No need to trek all over the forest to find mushrooms. They also grow in gardens!

This method of bark propagation works particularly well for the mimosa tree. It is especially useful if you wish to replace a tree that was damaged and you still have access to its remains.

Annuals are often amazing in their variety and they bring fresh change to the garden. The  pot-in-pot technique is a great way to make replacing them and

Garden stores have all sorts of mulches, designed to perfectly match the needs of plants and protect them through summer and winter. Did you know you could make mulch yourself?

Clay pebbles form a substrate that can be used in organic farming. This has the advantage of extreme stability and durability.

Certain plants are both ornamental and edible. Feel free to try them out, a feast for eyes and taste buds alike!

Natural fertilizer turns crops into vigorous growers without degrading the environment. Derived from plant, mineral or animal matter, it gives ornamentals and vegetables a powerful boost.

Did you know you could grow a new pineapple from the leafy tip of the fruit itself? Making this pineapple cutting is great way to get a perpetual supply of this fabulous vitamin-full fruit! Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a fruit that is now famous the world over. Though best results will happen in tropical countries […]

Organic gardening means applying to gardening the principles of organic agriculture. The main difference with organic agriculture is

Tiny apartments or one-room studios can also be home to rich plant life. Even if you don’t have a single flat countertop or windowsill to place your nice pots and containers! An amazing indoor plant wall

Elegant, insulating, pollution-cleansing plant walls have inched across our vertical surfaces, both indoors and outdoors. Care to set one up yourself? You’ve got a range of options.

Root-dipping means to bathe and coat the roots of a rose tree, tree or shrub with a special mix – called root dip – that will speed up root growth during the planting.

Large scale impact of pesticides on butterflies and bumblebees in private gardens in France.

Why not set up a couple hives? Some hive designs recreate the natural nooks bees make their homes in. They will provide you with a little organic honey and will increase pollination for your fruits and vegetables.

Here is a typical Mediterranean garden for show, presented at the 2010 Chelsea Flower Show. English natives adore French Provence and this garden drew quite a crowd.

Topdressing means spreading a fresh layer of rich soil mix directly atop the ground. This gives plants the organic matter

Weather is drab and gray – isn’t that a good reason to battle the droopy mood with color-packed winter planters?

To plant, sow, propagate, fertilize at the cheapest possible price, think “recycle”!

Watering is an essential part of gardening – but how should we go about it? 40% of American rivers and 25% of Western and Central Europe’s rivers are extremely polluted.

Wondering about harvesting rainwater for the garden? Apart from the usual environmental and ethical considerations that may drive you to find something better than tap water to water the garden, there’s also that simple reality check we sometimes overlook: your wallet! Indeed, tap water as provided by utilities tends to be quite expensive, and prices […]

There are many ways to work in the garden, but with a raised garden, everything becomes easy! A raised garden is especially useful for

Is it hard to landscape a sloped garden? Actually, slopes and steep gradients can be an excellent opportunity to create a unique garden. Here are 5 tips to make the job easier.

Repotting a plant is easy and it’s an important step for plants to grow well.

Bone-dry soil? Worry not! There’s other options for you than that crisp-brown lawn for a garden. Shrubs, perennials, climbing plants…

How to add color to your garden? Combine plants, garden furniture and mark out selected portions of the garden for specific functions, learn the art of creating a garden full of colors!

What is more pleasant on a sunny than spending a few moments to relax in the garden.

One of the most important beneficial insects in the garden is the ground beetle family. This fearsome predators have a voracious appetite which will certainly serve you well to control pests in your garden. Slugs and snails beware!

Knowing your soil type, delicately working the ground, associating plants and protecting them without using fertilizer or pesticides, all these tips will lead to healthy organic soil.

Zero efforts to convert food and plant waste into rich organic fertilizer, a dream come true? Yes it is! Go for vermicompost, it produces and excellent soil without any smelly side-effects.

Orchids are perhaps the plants for which the growth medium is the most critical element that influences the growing of the plant.

Soil mix is a growth substrate that influences the development of plants, their root extension and correct nutrient intake

Even though these two products are often confused, they do have very distinct uses and very different results.

From North to South, along the vast oceans of the world, French coasts are among the most beautiful in the world. They have mild, temperate climates which means that a great many plant options are open to their seaside gardens – botanically speaking!

Setting up an outdoor kitchen opens up a whole new space where friends and family can gather outdoors. Welcome everyone to your garden around a delicious meal where each guest can pitch in and help out!

Don’t know what to plant in your garden boxes in Summer? Perennials and annuals, take a look at our summer container plant insights as a source of new inspiration.

Always a hassle around the picnic basket, sometimes even a painful sting, the wasp doesn’t seem to manage positive vibes, does it? But did you know its larva devours incredible amounts of insect pests that would otherwise damage our plants? So, unbelievably, the wasp is a beneficial insect in the garden, a big help that […]

Through gardening, stress can be managed and dispelled.

It’s different from a basic fish pond, because a natural pond will tend to attract more insects, dragonflies and birds… Three square yards or meters are all you need to create a little oasis of biodiversity. Both useful and ornamental, the natural pond will bring you many advantages.

Organic gardening means gardening together with nature instead of against it. Organic growing techniques endeavor to respect soil, plants… and the consumer, too. They rely on vegetable and fruit species that are well-suited to local growing conditions.

Sneezing, red eyes, runny noses… spring is the time when allergy-triggering plants spread their pollen. A horrible season for allergy-prone people!

When the winter cold hits, plants enter a phase of dormancy.

Winter is cold and unsuitable for plant growth. When spring comes around, everything bursts into bloom! How do plants set their clocks to bloom at the right time? Vernalization is one of the mysteries

So you splurged and treated yourself to a eucalyptus tree, an oleander, a mimosa tree, a lemon tree or an olive tree? Here is how to protect these plants over the cold season.

Cuttings is the best way to reproduce and clone your favorite plants.

Wood as a source of energy is increasingly regarded as a natural solution for heating… and an antidote to rising fuel prices.

Dry soil, full of rocks, not a nutrient in sight? Seems like a harsh environment where plants can’t grow! Fear not! Just select plants that evolved specifically to thrive in those environments, and compensate for the worst drawbacks with a few astute landscaping tricks. Discover our tips to create an easy and thriving dry garden! […]

Cross-pollination is when pollen from one plant variety fertilizes flowers of another variety,

Near the house or on a balcony, growing potted plants are an excellent way to add color and greenery to your home!

On a deck, terrace or balcony, it is easy to set up a container garden in pots for every season. Plant a series of garden box flowers that will bloom one after the other. Read also: Fruit trees for balconies, decks and terraces Potted plants, the tips to succeed in growing them Drought resistant pot […]

The garden season begins with indoor sowing at the end of Winter. It’s important to choose your equipment well and prepare ideal growing conditions to get strong seedlings for transplanting

Their colorful feathers and sweet-sounding songs are a pleasure in the garden. And the also do much more! Garden birds play a critical role for biodiversity: they control dangerous pests, spread seeds, and help pollinate plants.