Création de jardin dans le Luberon : conception, réalisation et suivi
You return to your home in the Luberon after several weeks away. The garden looks just as it did months ago: a bare or underused outdoor space that fails to reflect the beauty of the property you have created. You know this space has potential, but you are not yet sure what to do with it or how to bring it to life.
This is where most of the projects we undertake begin.
Creating a high-end garden in the Luberon requires an understanding of the land, your lifestyle and the choice of materials that can withstand dry summers while complementing the region’s natural stone. The result is an outdoor space designed to stand the test of time, without adding to your list of responsibilities.
Our approach
Premium landscape design premium
01 –
Assessment & design
We visit your property before putting pen to paper. We assess the terrain, soil conditions, sun exposure and changes in elevation. We also take the time to understand what you truly want: a garden to enjoy, to wander through, to admire from your home - or all three.
Two to three weeks later, we present you with two or three concrete design concepts tailored to your property. You choose your preferred direction, and we refine it together.
02 –
Materials & plant selection
Gordes stone, travertine and local limestone: 80% of our materials come from the Luberon or surrounding regions. They age beautifully in this environment because they belong here, blending naturally with the character of your home.
When it comes to plants, one criterion guides our selection: suitability for the local climate. Lavender, rockrose, gaura, santolina and olive trees — plants that thrive without constant irrigation and bring colour to your garden from May to October.
03 –
Landscaping & construction
Le chantier démarre avec un planning établi et communiqué à l’avance. Vous n’avez pas à être présent pour savoir ce qui se passe : un point en début, un à mi-parcours, un avant la livraison. Photos disponibles à la demande. Tout imprévu signalé sous 24 heures.
04 –
Project Handover & maintenance
Your garden is complete, clean and ready for you to enjoy. We provide you with a personalised garden care guide, detailing your plants, their specific needs and a schedule of seasonal maintenance.
Our maintenance packages are tailored to how often you use your property, with monthly, quarterly or seasonal visits. All our planting is guaranteed for the first growing season: if a plant fails to establish, we replace it.
Our projects
Three landscaping projects in the Luberon
A formal french garden for entertaining in the Luberon
Complete transformation of an undeveloped plot into an expansive garden designed to host events, private parties and weddings. Inspired by the principles of formal French garden design, the project combines structured lines and carefully planned vistas with a distinctly Provençal selection of plants.
Symmetrical layout inspired by formal French gardens and the gardens of Versailles.
Provençal planting scheme combining boxwood, lavender and cypress trees.
A central fountain creating a focal point and defining the garden’s vistas.
Expansive, open landscaped areas designed to host receptions and events.
A landscape design that combines elegance, a welcoming atmosphere and authentic Provençal character.
Landscaping around a renovated Provençal farmhouse
Comprehensive landscaping project management, from the architect’s initial plans through to final completion, transforming the grounds of a large, recently renovated Provençal farmhouse. Every aspect of the project was carefully considered to preserve the character of the property and create a garden in harmony with its architecture and the surrounding Provençal landscape.
Creation of expansive lawns using hardy, drought-tolerant grass.
Creation of flower beds featuring Mediterranean plant species.
Installation of natural stone fountains, seamlessly integrated into the landscape.
Creation of an olive grove and orchard.
Coordination of all landscaping works through to final project handover.
Pétanque Court & Expansive Lawn
Creation of a pétanque court at the heart of an expansive lawn, designed as a welcoming outdoor space for relaxation and social gatherings. The court blends naturally into the garden while providing a dedicated area for enjoying a game of pétanque.
2,000 m² of turf laid using a hardy grass variety suited to outdoor use.
Installation of an integrated irrigation system tailored to the entire landscaped area.
10 × 5 m pétanque court.
Timber edging around the pétanque court for a natural integration into the garden.
Why choose Horizon Luberon for your garden design & landscaping project?
Local expertise & in-depth knowledge of the region
Horizon Luberon has been based in the Vaucluse since 2011. This means knowing the local suppliers of Gordes stone, the soil conditions in each village, and which plant species thrive here — and which fail to live up to expectations after just two years.
To date, we have designed and created dozens of gardens across the Luberon. This wealth of experience informs every new project: we know what thrives in Bonnieux, what withstands the windswept plateaus, and what may look beautiful at first glance but cannot survive the summer heat.
Our network of local suppliers helps reduce lead times, ensures consistently high quality proven across numerous projects, and avoids unnecessary journeys to distant quarries.
A tailored approach
Every property comes with its own unique requirements: sun exposure, topography, architecture, intended use and how often the owner is in residence. What works in Gordes, with its slopes, direct sunlight and elevation, cannot simply be replicated at a Provençal farmhouse in the valley below Lourmarin.
Our approach begins with listening. We take the time to understand what you want, what you would rather avoid, how much time you intend to devote to your garden, and whether you see it as an outdoor living space or a landscape to admire from your home. Only then do we begin the design process.
Budget transparency is an essential part of our commitment: every quotation is broken down into clearly itemised costs, with no vague or catch-all charges. If the budget needs to change during the project due to circumstances beyond our control, you will be informed immediately.
Sustainability & low-maintenance gardens
We avoid using plants that require weekly watering during the summer. In the Luberon, that would mean designing a garden around its irrigation system rather than its owner. Plants unsuited to the local climate may look beautiful for the first two seasons, only to require partial replacement by the third summer.
We design gardens with the long term in mind: plants suited to the Mediterranean climate, timer-controlled drip irrigation systems where needed, mulching to reduce evaporation, and materials that age beautifully without requiring special maintenance.
The figures speak for themselves: our gardens require an average of just 2 to 3 hours of maintenance per month, compared with 8 to 10 hours for a traditional ornamental garden of a similar size. These figures are based on feedback from clients who maintain their gardens themselves.
Approximately 80% of the materials used in our landscaping projects come from the Luberon or neighbouring regions. This offers three key benefits: a natural visual harmony with the surrounding landscape, materials that stand the test of time in their local environment, and reduced delivery times and transport-related emissions.
A complete service, from garden design to year-round maintenance
Design, landscaping and maintenance: one dedicated point of contact from start to finish. For property owners who are often away, coordinating multiple contractors remotely can be a source of unnecessary complications. We take that burden off your shoulders.
The same expert eye that designed your garden oversees its development, adapts its care to the changing seasons and spots potential issues before they become problems.
Our maintenance packages are flexible: monthly visits for owners who spend a lot of time at their property, or quarterly and seasonal visits for those who come two or three times a year. One-off maintenance services are also available outside our regular contracts, with a response to your enquiry within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions about garden design & landscaping in the Luberon
How much does it cost to create a garden in the Luberon?
There is no standard price: the cost depends on the size of the garden, the slope of the land, the materials selected and the number of plants required. As a guide, a complete garden project (design and landscaping) generally costs between €5,000 and €50,000. A 200 m² garden featuring a Gordes stone terrace, planted beds and an irrigation system typically costs between €15,000 and €25,000.
Our quotations are free and come with no obligation. Each quotation is fully itemised, so you know exactly what every cost covers. We do not charge travel fees for on-site visits within the Luberon.
The best place to start is with an initial conversation, allowing us to understand your property and your expectations before preparing a quotation.
How long does it take to create a garden?
The design phase (site visit, surveys, plans and presentation) takes two to three weeks. The landscaping work itself takes four to eight weeks, depending on the complexity of the project: four to five weeks for a 150–200 m² garden on relatively flat ground, and six to eight weeks for a project involving extensive masonry work, terraces or a parking area.
The season also affects the schedule: autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May) are the most suitable periods for planting. During the height of summer, we limit new planting to avoid putting plants under stress during periods of intense heat.
Which plants should you choose for a Mediterranean garden in the Luberon?
The plants we consistently recommend for their resilience, aesthetic appeal and low water requirements include lavender (Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula stoechas), rosemary, rockrose, gaura and santolina for flower beds and borders. For structural trees, we favour holm oak, olive trees, umbrella pines and almond trees. Irises, valerian and agapanthus provide colour from May to October.
Once well established, these plants do not require weekly watering, although the first few weeks after planting are the most delicate. They can withstand winter temperatures of -8°C to -10°C and the dry summers of the Luberon without any special care.
We avoid exotic plants that consume large amounts of water or require winter protection. While they may look beautiful during the first season, they often become problematic from the second year onwards.
Do you offer a maintenance contract after the garden has been created?
Yes. We offer flexible maintenance packages with monthly, quarterly or seasonal visits, depending on how often you stay at your property. Our services include pruning, weeding, replenishing mulch, supplementary watering during dry periods and plant disease treatment when necessary.
For owners who are not regularly on site, a maintenance contract ensures that the garden is in excellent condition whenever they arrive, with no unpleasant surprises after several months away.
Watering requirements are minimal: Mediterranean plants generally need regular watering only during their first two summers, while they develop deep root systems. After that, autumn and winter rainfall is sufficient in almost all cases.
If you would prefer to leave this ongoing care to us, our maintenance packages can be tailored to how often you visit your property.
Do you take local regulations into account?
Yes. Villages throughout the Luberon, including Gordes, Ménerbes, Bonnieux, Lacoste and Oppède, have landscaping guidelines governing the materials, colours and, in some cases, plant species that may be used. These regulations are designed to preserve the visual harmony of this protected region, and we are familiar with their requirements.
We handle planning permission applications whenever a project requires them. This saves property owners from navigating what can be a lengthy and technical process, while ensuring that all work begins in compliance with local regulations. All our projects in regulated areas comply with the applicable local requirements.
How do you maintain a Mediterranean garden?
A well-designed Mediterranean garden requires very little maintenance: two to three hours per month during the growing season, and even less outside it. The main tasks include light pruning in late winter (February–March) to encourage new growth, spring weeding before perennial plants cover the ground, and annual mulching of flower beds to retain moisture and limit weed growth.
Watering requirements are minimal: Mediterranean plants generally need regular watering only during their first two summers, while they develop deep root systems. After that, autumn and winter rainfall is sufficient in almost all cases.
If you would prefer to leave this ongoing care to us, our maintenance packages can be tailored to how often you visit your property.
Can you create a garden on sloping ground?
Yes, and sloping terrain often provides the opportunity to create some of the most interesting garden designs. A slope allows us to work with different levels, create stone steps and build a series of terraces that offer multiple viewpoints and distinct outdoor living spaces.
In 2019, we created a dry garden in Gordes on a 30° slope, on land that the client had described as “impossible to landscape” during our first visit. It has since become the centrepiece of the property. The main technical challenges are drainage and the structural stability of the stonework, two areas in which we have extensive expertise.
Do you use locally sourced materials?
Yes, using locally sourced materials is a fundamental part of our approach. Gordes stone, travertine and local limestone age beautifully in this environment because they originate from the region. They blend naturally with existing buildings and require no special treatment to stand the test of time.
Environ 80 % des matériaux utilisés sur nos chantiers viennent du Luberon ou des régions proches. Les avantages sont mesurables : disponibilité plus rapide, délais réduits, adéquation visuelle avec le territoire, et transport limité.
Your garden project in the Luberon deserves expert attention
Whether you have a plot of land, a clear vision or just the beginnings of an idea, and a budget to define, the next step is a no-obligation visit to your property. In just one hour, we can assess your land, understand what you are looking for and determine whether we are the right team for your project.
Horizon Luberon operates throughout the Luberon and Vaucluse.
Why create a garden in the Luberon?
A garden reflects the character of your property.
A garden is the first thing you see when you arrive and the place where you spend your summer evenings. In the Luberon, where dry-stone houses, centuries-old walls and views of the surrounding hills create an exceptional setting, a poorly designed garden can detract from both the value of your property and the pleasure of living there.
A well-designed garden, on the other hand, adds a dimension to a property that photographs can never fully capture. It transforms the way you experience your home: the scents of spring, the cool shade beneath a pergola in August, and the colours of the flower beds in September, when everyone else has gone home.
For owners of second homes who are not there all year round, a thoughtfully designed garden remains attractive between visits without constant attention. It requires little maintenance and naturally recovers on its own.
The unique challenges of gardening in the Luberon
The Luberon presents unique landscaping challenges that few contractors from outside the region truly understand.
First, the climate: summers are hot and dry, while soils are often limestone-rich and have limited water availability. A garden design that fails to take these conditions into account will begin to struggle in June and require costly irrigation to survive. Mediterranean plants such as lavender, rosemary, rockrose, santolina and holm oak are the natural choice for soil and climate conditions to which they have adapted over centuries.
Then, the terrain: the Luberon’s varied landscape creates different sun exposures, sometimes steep slopes, and areas of shade and sunlight that must be carefully assessed before any planting begins. A plot with a 25% or 30% gradient offers opportunities to create different levels, steps and dry-stone terraces that add character to a property.
Finally, local regulations: Gordes, Ménerbes, Bonnieux and most villages in the Luberon have strict landscaping guidelines governing the materials and colours that can be used, and sometimes even the choice of plant species. Understanding these requirements before starting work helps avoid requests for modifications or planning permission refusals that could delay the entire project. We handle these administrative procedures on behalf of our clients.
Since our first landscaping projects in the region, we have created more than 100 gardens across the Luberon. This experience has given us extensive knowledge of local soil conditions, reliable suppliers, and the plant species that thrive here — as well as those that fail to live up to expectations.