The design of formal French gardens is, above all, to impress. Many of the wonderful gardens of France, most notably Versailles, follow this particular garden style.

History of French Garden Design

The formal French gardens were largely inspired by the Italian Renaissance garden, particularly the gardens of Rome and Florence. King Charles VIII and his peers brought the style back to France after their war campaign in Italy in 1495. These gardens were characterized by symmetrical and geometrical planting beds or parterres, plants in beautifully decorated pots, paths of gravel and sand, terraces, stairways and ramps, moving water in the form of canals, cascades, monumental fountains, and the extensive use of artificial grottos, labyrinths and statues of mythological figures.

Features

French garden is all about balance and beautification. Geometrically-shaped hedges and shrubs are complemented with parterres and pathways, bouquets and topiaries. The gardens also include a terrace that allows the observation of the garden, which is enhanced with water wells like fountains and pools. The so-called ‘broderies’ decorate the parterres, adding curves to the strict geometric shapes that dominate in the gardens.

How to Create

First of all, plan your garden before buying the plants and accessories you will need. Evaluate the size of your garden so that you know how much you can incorporate into it. Make a decision on which traditional French garden elements you want to add, such as a gazebo, luxury outdoor furniture, pergola, trellises, fountains, bird baths and figurines. Also, don’t forget to choose the plants that you would like to include in your garden. Consider orchids, climbing roses and other types of climbers for covering a pergola, trellises and arbours. Include bright, flowering shrubs, especially roses, and don't forget aromatic flowers, such as jasmine and lilacs, as well as ground cover, attractive plants, vegetables and herbs for your flowerbeds.

In summary, realize that your French garden needs time to flourish. Time will allow your garden to grow and increase the look of profusion. Note that, even though a traditional French garden looks lavish and natural, you will need to maintain it by weeding, trimming and mowing.