Saint-Blaise is a small town on the shore of Lake Neuchâtel, east of the city of Neuchâtel, with its old village, its vineyards and villas on the hillsides. A gardener in Saint-Blaise works just as readily on a terraced garden as on a villa lawn or a hedge that has grown too large. You describe the work you need, and a professional landscape gardener from the area contacts you to prepare a free, no-obligation quote.
Climate and terrain in Saint-Blaise
The lake shores and the vineyards of the canton of Neuchâtel enjoy a mild climate. The lake moderates temperatures: frosts are generally less severe than in the Jura uplands, and the growing season lasts longer. This mildness suits roses, hardy Mediterranean shrubs, fruit trees and the vines that are so present around the village.
The terrain itself is rarely flat. Villas are stepped up the hillsides, and many gardens are sloping, held in place by low walls or banks. On such ground, rainwater runs off quickly, the surface of the soil can dry out in summer, and maintenance calls for more care than on level ground: suitable tools, ground-cover plants to hold the soil, and walls checked after heavy storms. The old village adds its own constraints, with small gardens, courtyards and sometimes narrow access.
The gardening year in Saint-Blaise
Spring
This is the time to get going again: clearing the beds, pruning shrubs that flower in summer, re-seeding bare patches of lawn and the first weeding. On slopes, check the condition of the low walls after winter and repair banks that the rain has gouged out. The mild climate by the lake allows you to start relatively early.
Summer
Gardens exposed to the sun, especially on the hillsides, need measured watering: deep and infrequent rather than frequent and shallow. Mowing is set higher to keep a dense lawn that withstands drought. It is also the season for hedge trimming, once the nesting period is over.
Autumn
Leaves need collecting, as they smother the lawn and block gutters and drains at the foot of walls. Autumn is well suited to planting trees and shrubs, as the soil is still warm and the rain regular, and also to scarifying and over-seeding the lawn. It is also when roses and frost-sensitive plants are prepared for winter.
Winter
On the lake shore, winter remains milder than at altitude, but cold and damp set in. It is the time for pruning fruit trees and major tree work, for servicing equipment and for thinking about spring projects: creating beds, rebuilding a wall, laying out a terrace.
The most requested work in Saint-Blaise
Maintaining sloping gardens
A garden on a hillside is worked differently: mowing across the slope, removing waste over sometimes difficult access, managing run-off. Regular garden maintenance stops banks from deteriorating and weeds from taking over hard-to-reach areas. A gardener knows which plants hold the soil well on this kind of terrain.
Low walls and retaining walls
Low walls are part of the Saint-Blaise landscape, between vineyards and villas. Whether it is a matter of repairing an old wall, building a new one or putting up gabions and retaining walls, what matters is the drainage behind the structure and the strength of the foundation. A wall that holds back earth is not a DIY job.
Hedge trimming
Villa hedges line the plots and screen them from view. Well-executed hedge trimming, at the right time and with the right technique, keeps the hedge dense and even. Hedges that have grown too tall or become bare at the base can also be restored gradually.
Lawn and mowing
A fine lawn needs regular mowing, suitable watering and seasonal care. Mowing and lawn care also includes scarifying, aerating and over-seeding, useful when moss sets in or the summer has left yellowed patches.
Tree pruning and removal
Fruit trees, large ornamental trees or specimens planted too close to a house: pruning and removal require equipment and experience, especially on sloping ground. A professional assesses the condition of the tree and the precautions to take before starting.
Landscape design
Redoing a terraced garden, creating paths or rethinking the planting: landscape design lets you adapt the garden to the slope, the aspect and the way you use it, with plants suited to the lake climate.
Worth checking before certain work
Some work is regulated. Tree felling, hedges on a property boundary and garden structures (pergola, shed, wall, pool) depend on cantonal rules and the municipal regulations. Before you start, check with the commune. The landscape gardener who contacts you can also advise on the formalities to expect for your project.
Making a request
- You describe your work online: type of garden, work required, particular features of the terrain.
- A professional landscape gardener from the area contacts you and visits the garden if needed.
- You receive a free quote and are free to accept it or not.
To get started, you can request a quote.
Around Saint-Blaise
Gardeners in the area also work in Neuchâtel, La Tène and Cornaux. For an overview, see the page on gardeners in the canton of Neuchâtel or all areas covered.
Frequently asked questions
When should hedges be trimmed in Saint-Blaise?
In the mild climate of the lake shore, summer trimming is generally done once the nesting period has passed, and a light maintenance trim can follow at the end of the season. A gardener will advise you according to the species of your hedge and its condition.
Can a sloping garden be maintained without damaging it?
Yes, provided you adapt your approach: mowing across the slope, ground-cover plants on banks, and attention to run-off after storms. Regular maintenance stops the soil from washing away and the low walls from suffering.
Do I need permission to fell a tree or build a wall?
It depends on the canton and the municipal regulations. It is best to check with the commune before going ahead. The professional who contacts you can tell you which formalities to consider.
My lawn turns yellow in summer. What can I do?
On an exposed hillside, the lawn dries out quickly. Mow higher, water less often but more deeply, and plan to over-seed in autumn. A gardener can also consider automatic irrigation suited to the terrain.
Is the quote really free?
Yes. The quote is free and without obligation: you describe your work, a landscape gardener from the area contacts you, and you then decide freely what to do next.