A Jardin au Naturel is a garden that gives the impression of being natural, thanks to the choice of materials and plant varieties that are close to wild plants. It is also sometimes referred to as an ecological garden. The Jardin au naturel differs from the Jardin Sauvage, which must be made up exclusively of local wild plants.
The star material is wood (and its derivatives), complemented by unpolished mineral materials (slate, sandstone, rough pebbles…). For the floor, coconut cloth can be used as a carpet or as a replacement for mulch. Plastic has no place here, and can be replaced by iron and other metallic materials left untreated, or even rusted but stabilized.
The presence of a watering hole or natural pond often goes hand in hand with this type of garden, as it attracts animals.
Essential plants are grasses and forbs, which form the basis of the décor.
The flowering plants are rather discreet and bloom alternately. The flowers are simple, rather small (aster, boltonia, vergerette, verbena bonariense, buddleia…), but an old rose is welcome.
There are no ball or topiary plants here, just natural shapes; there’s no perfect lawn. Paths can be cut randomly in the meadow as the mower passes, and their course can change with the seasons.
Advantages: these are low-maintenance gardens, requiring only a single pruning at the end of February before vegetation starts to grow again. Once the first year is over and the plants are established, they won’t need any more water (except in the event of drought or heatwave).
These plants will attract animals and bring a little nature back into your garden. Don’t forget to provide space for these animals (nesting boxes for birds and beneficial insects, hedgehog hiding places…).
Our advice: the advantage of this garden is that it can be created with very little money. If you have time, go out into the surrounding countryside to collect some plants, herbs and seeds in autumn or late winter. They will be adapted
to your environment and will be able to multiply on their own.
The same goes for the furnishings: this style is all about salvaging, and there are many examples of garden furniture made from palletsor driftwood to inspire you.
If you have space in the sun, a small organic vegetable garden is welcome for the pleasure of your taste buds, with a compost bin in one corner to enrich your soil.
Finally, for a touch of the countryside, consider taking on a hen that you can keep free range during the day, with a limit of 500m² per hen once the garden is well established.
In short, a garden for enjoying the garden without doing too much gardening.
the photos come from EllE deco ‘s very interesting article on the subject.