The making of a French garden

Brad Nettles // The Post and Courier

Kate Reeves, a Trident Technical College horticulturel student, checks the roots of a plant as she works in the college’s herb and vegetable garden. Reeves recently completed an internship in France, where she noticed some differences between French and American gardening practices.

Kate Reeves is a horticulture student at Trident Technical College. With the help of Tom Johnson of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, she was awarded an internship in France this past summer to work at Chateau de Valmer, Chateau de Brecy and Acquigny Castle Park and Gardens. While there were similarities to gardening in America, she recently expressed how our attitudes differ.

In rare form

Reeves noticed that most homes maintained a kitchen garden that included vegetables and herbs. The yield was used daily for cooking, and the extra was canned for later use.

While vegetable gardening in the Lowcountry isn't uncommon, Reeves noticed that homeowners also were dedicated to growing fruits, such as apples, pears and plums. Interestingly, fruit trees frequently were espaliered, which is the practice of training trees to grow flat against a wall. These trees occasionally can be spotted in downtown Charleston growing in narrow spaces. The practice is considered high maintenance since new growth will need to be frequently pruned or braced to hold the desired form. Trees often were shaped into weaved forms or candelabras for ornamental appeal as well as fruit production.

Local garden centers occasionally will stock espaliered trees or shrubs already growing on a lattice panel. However, you can apply this practice yourself with a few tools and a lot of patience. Fruit trees traditionally have been used for practical purposes, but magnolias, camellias, loropetalums and pyracanthas can be easily manipulated into espaliered form.

Espaliers are effective accents, so choose a spot against a fence or wall that's in view. Wire can be used to lay out the desired pattern. Structural branches are selected to develop the form and tied to the wire with twist ties or flexible tape. Pruning and adjustments should be made at least a couple of times a year.

Taking shape

Reeves worked in many formal gardens that employed shearing. There were numerous boxwood hedges that were meticulously shaped into curving layouts. She was trained to string the outline of a hedge as a shearing guideline.

She also learned the art of topiary, the practice of shearing trees and shrubs into shapes, a la Edward Scissorhands. Frequently, they worked with plants such as yew and hornbeam, creating corkscrew or umbrella forms.

However, shearing in the Lowcountry often can become a form of plant abuse rather than an art form. This often is due to poor plant selection or improper spacing. For instance, large shrubs may be planted under a window and thus require frequent pruning. However, if a dwarf variety is used in the same location, it would mature at the proper height with little to no maintenance.

If a hedge is desired for design purposes, such as a formal garden, consider using boxwood or dwarf yaupon holly. Shear the new growth in spring. Ideally, shape the hedge with a wider base to prevent the foliage at the bottom from thinning out from light exclusion.

Pop of color

Reeves noticed there were few landscape companies because most people took care of their own yard as a top priority. Very few homes lacked color, and this was achieved primarily with window boxes. While window boxes are common in downtown Charleston, they are not in most residential neighborhoods.

Brackets can be easily installed below windows to hold boxes. Be sure screws are anchored into wall studs since boxes can become heavy. Potting soil is preferable because it's lightweight and well-drained. I prefer potting soil without premixed fertilizer so I can apply as needed. Premixed water gel polymers, on the other hand, can help extend water availability.

Window boxes typically are planted with annuals for optimal color and need replanting in the summer and winter. Consider filling the window box with a variety of textures and colors. Local garden centers have experts on staff to help with plant selection, especially since there are new and exciting choices every year.

As window boxes mature, they need to be watered daily in summer. Drip irrigation can be set up on a local water spigot to run on a timer. The tubing is about 1/4-inch in diameter and relatively unnoticeable.

Tony Bertauski is a horticulture instructor at Trident Technical College. To give feedback, e-mail him at tony.bertauski@tridenttech.edu.