The arrival of spring is a key season for gardeners, with plants waking up from their winter sleep although late frosts can still cause havoc. Here are some spring tips for your garden in France.
The saying goes that before the ‘date des Saints de glace’ (Ice Saints) gardens are still at risk from late frosts. In 2025, these dates fall on May 11, 12, and 13. Traditionally, these saints’ feast days fell at the time when the weather saw the last cold snap of the season.
However, you can still prepare your garden ahead of May, including:
Weeding
As temperatures increase, weeds will proliferate. You can use a hoe or a hand trowel to make their removal easier, and benefit from the soil still being relatively damp and soft.
Focus on removing weeds from around the base of trees and hedges, as well as flower beds and gravel paths. This task will probably need to be done regularly until the heat of the summer.
Spreading compost and mulch at the base of bushes, shrubs, and flowerbeds can help prevent weeds from seeing too much light, which can restrict growth. You can use dead leaves and shredded material as mulch, or buy flax or hemp chaff from garden centres.
“Rake your gravel from time to time to prevent seeds from germinating,” advised Aymeric Lazarin, landscaper and gardener teacher, to Le Figaro.
You can also use solutions such as boiling water, salt and white vinegar, or herbicides, but these can be damaging to the ecosystem in the long-run.
Pruning
Pruning plants in spring can, paradoxically, make them denser as they regrow. For shrubs and perennials, wait until the buds appear, and avoid doing pruning when the temperatures are still low.
For most fruit trees this will apply in March, as trees that will bloom in summer should be cut back just before spring arrives. Pruning can give them a balanced shape but avoid cutting them back too much.
Shrubs that flower in the spring should be pruned as soon as they have finished flowering, before summer, as the new shoots will then have flowers the following year.
Lawn ‘scarification’
‘Scarifying’ is the practice of removing debris known as ‘thatch’ from the lawn. This includes grass clippings, moss, and fallen leaves. Excess thatch build-up can stop the lawn from receiving enough nutrients from light, air, minerals, and water, hindering its growth.
Removing it can improve water drainage, and enable the grass to get more nutrients from fertilisers and soil improvers.
It is recommended to scarify the lawn twice a year; once at the beginning of spring, after the last frosts, when temperatures exceed 10C (and once in the autumn, before the first frosts).
Beware when scarifying, pruning, or cutting, as an overzealous approach can injure hedgehogs, and disrupt the nesting period for many birds and small animals.
Read more: Now is the time for people in France to ‘scarify’ their lawn
Read also: Watch out for hedgehogs when clearing overgrowth in your French garden
Seed sowing
As you prepare to sow seeds a little later in spring, remove the mulch you put down over weeds around three weeks before starting, so that the soil warms up.
If you have a greenhouse you can start planting some vegetables as early as March, but most seeds will grow best if sown in April and May.
Some vegetables can also be harvested now, including aubergines and asparagus.
The golden rule before planting in the ground is to water the plant.
“The centre of the root ball must be thoroughly wet, otherwise the plant will live off its reserves for a while and eventually die,” says Michel Grésille, vice-president of the Société nationale d'horticulture de France (SNHF).
He advises people to:
Dip plants in new nursery pots in a bucket of water until air bubbles escape (a few minutes at the most)
Then remove the plant from its nursery pot
Make an incision in the roots on both opposite sides with the tip of a gardener's knife
“Scratch the bottom of the root ball with the knife to spread the roots if they are very dense”
Wedge the root ball into the ground, and secure it with soil
Water thoroughly, even if it is raining.
Only hardy plants can be planted before May, as can most perennials. In contrast, summer annuals (nasturtium, daisy,zinnia, marigolds, etc.), which are sensitive to frost, should not be sown before May.
‘But be careful [even for hardy plants]” warns Mr Grésille. “The plant will make its new roots while continuing to produce foliage and flowers, which requires a lot of effort. It will need to be watered very regularly.”
However, be careful not to oversaturate all plants, as this can cause them to rot. Try to water during cooler times of the day, not in full sun.
Fertilise the soil
Spring is the best time to fertilise soil, as this will help new plants to benefit most from nutrients. Compost, manure and fertiliser will nourish the soil in your garden.
Finally, once the frost has passed, bring out the potted plants that were sheltered in winter. These might include bougainvillea, hibiscus, banana tree, fuchsia, and oleander.
Green waste disposal
Beware: France has strict rules around the disposal of green waste (déchets verts). The government website service-public.fr website defines the main types of green waste.
Burning the waste is forbidden in France year-round, and has been since 2011. This is because burning plants, especially when damp, can release substances toxic to humans and the environment.
Read more: What are the rules for burning garden waste in France in 2025?
Those caught breaking the rules risk a fine of up to €750, however studies by the French ecological transition agency ADEME have found that up to 15% of homeowners in the country still burn garden waste.
Read also: Why this widely-used gardening tool can land you a large fine in France
Read more: Errors to avoid and how to help wildlife as you get your garden ready for spring
Débroussaillage
Some people may also be subject to débroussaillage (strimming or cutting back) laws as spring and summer approach.
These require residents to clear away any green debris (living or not) that could allow a fire to jump from place to place. This might mean removing long grass, shrubs, bushes or log piles, pruning trees, or moving inflammable plants away from your house.
This is normally obligatory for those who live in departments that are particularly vulnerable to wildfires, and whose property is within 200m of a forest or other woodland.
Clean the terrace, garden furniture, and pool
You may also want to clean the terrace, the barbecue or pizza oven, and garden furniture so they are ready for sunnier days.
This is also an ideal time to start re-opening your swimming pool. Opening it up and cleaning it before the water temperature reaches 15C, will help to avoid the spread of bacteria and algae in the pool.
