How to Plant a Provencal Garden

Plan the garden on paper. Diagram the placement of the tallest hedges around the outside border of the garden -- Provencal gardens often use hedges as windbreaks. Use the short hedges to separate areas inside the garden. Choose a spot for an olive tree -- a standard feature in Provencal gardens. Make areas for ornamentals and areas for herbs. Add large structures in various places throughout the garden to add interest and texture. Add small objects strategically to give the garden a Provencal character.

Prepare the garden area with the garden spade, cultivating the soil down to a depth of at least 4 inches. Add 2 inches of compost over the soil, spreading it evenly. Mix the compost and the soil thoroughly with the garden spade and rake it smooth to finish.

Dig holes for the tall hedges around the perimeter of the garden. Following planting recommendations for depth and spacing, dig the holes with the shovel and place the hedges into the holes. Backfill the holes and pat the soil down firmly with your hands.

Dig holes for the shorter hedges to place them throughout the garden as section borders. Use the same planting techniques for the shorter hedges that you used for the tall hedges, making the holes the depth and space necessary for the hedge varieties you are planting. Place the hedges into the holes and fill the holes carefully with soil.

Plant the olive tree in the spot you chose. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the root ball of the tree so the crown of the tree will be just under the soil level. Place the tree into the prepared hole and backfill the hole with soil. Pat the soil firmly with your hands.

Add the herb plants in a location that will receive full sun. Dig holes for the plants, spacing them correctly to allow ample growing room for the plants when they reach mature size. Place the plants in the prepared holes and fill the holes with soil to finish planting them.

Plant the ornamental plants in the spots you planned -- some ornamentals such as salvia can tolerate the partial shade beneath the olive tree. Other ornamentals such as sunflowers, lobelia and verbena prefer full sun. Dig the holes for the plants and place each plant in its prepared hole, backfilling the soil carefully.

Add the gravel mulch over the soil around the plants. The gravel will help prevent weeds, conserve soil moisture and add a Provencal touch to the garden.

Add the structural elements such as large stones and garden gates. Add the smaller objects in various spots around the garden to lend character and flair.