Courtyard Plants for Shared Stone Yards
Chartrons and Saint-Pierre courtyards are cool wells of reflected light. We style pots and climbers that handle foot traffic, laundry days, and the sudden heat that hits upper walls in July.
MayJunJulAugSep
Mapping shade bands in the well
Courtyard floors may stay dim while third-floor ledges burn. We sketch shade bands at 10:00, 13:00, and 17:00 before placing anything thirsty on the ground plane.
Climbing jasmine earns a spot only where evening light lasts; otherwise we choose hardy ferns and hostas in deep pots.
Pots that move for deliveries
Shared yards host parcel carts and bicycle storage. We keep heavy pieces on dollies or clustered against walls so neighbours can cross without negotiating a maze.
A courtyard starter cluster of five pots with soil and plants usually sits between €680 and €1,450 excluding structural climbing frames.
Specimen note — Hydrangea in a Chartrons court: morning sun only, mulch topped after tram-dust weeks, saucer removed in rainy spells.
Water access and holiday weeks
Many Bordeaux courts have a single tap. We set drip bottles or assign a neighbour watering pact when clients leave for August. Drought-tolerant herbs fill gaps where no pact is possible.
Noise, scent, and dinner tables outdoors
Strongly scented plants sit away from bedroom windows that open onto the court. Dining corners get softer foliage so moth activity stays lower on warm nights.
Rules written for the syndic
We supply a one-page note listing pot weights and irrigation method when buildings ask for approval. That paperwork is included in projects above €900.