Lifestyle Selection No 5 - English version

No 5 - May 2015

LIFESTYLE

SELECTION Propreties and maybe more

LIFEST YLE

INTERVIEW

K ALร IDOSCOPE

The secret to a perfect lawn

Nicolas Brรถnnimann, a natural born gardener

Our property selection

IMPRESSUM // N°4 – May 2015

Editions // 10 edition yearly Marketing director // Fabrice Gay-Balmaz Editorial // Pascal Viscardi Graphic design // Mathias Regamey Project management // Véronique Grossmann, Loïse Delacrétaz Contact // laselection@cardis.ch Cardis SA Avenue Mon Repos 14 1005 Lausanne +41 21 781 01 01 www.cardis.ch Any total or partial reproduction is prohibited.

LIFESTYLE SELECTION No 5 - May 2015

EDITO Spring is in the air ! After the long, cold winter, it’s good to finally hear the birds singing and see the trees bursting into blossom once more. As the weather warms up, the garden beckons and our thoughts turn to outdoor entertaining with friends and family. That’s why we’ve dedicated this fifth issue of Lifestyle Selection to the subject of gardens !

Many of our customers tell us that the garden is their favourite place to be. It’s a private, relaxing place where they can get away from it all and feel at one with nature. So it’s all the more important to take good care of it!

For many, a great garden starts with a neat lawn, but getting it just right is easier said than done. Fortunately, we’ve got some helpful advice for you in our “Lifestyle” section.

Enver Mazreku Broker, Lausanne

Because gardening is a serious business, we’ve called in a specialist! Nicolas Brönnimann of Brönnimann Garden Centre, based in the Swiss town of Noville, is well-versed on the topic and has lots of handy tips for you.

He also took time out of his busy schedule to tell us all about his life and the gardening business he runs.

And of course this Lifestyle Selection wouldn’t be complete without the usual list of gorgeous homes. In the third and final part of the magazine you’ll find our selection of properties with one thing in common - their beautiful lawns.

Happy reading!

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THE SECRET TO A PERFECT LAWN It’s not just the Brits who love a good lawn. The classic English lawn, neatly trimmed and smartly striped, has found favour all over the world - in fact, many desirable properties in Switzerland boast this style of garden. A lush, even lawn makes the perfect backdrop for flowerbeds, plants and trees. However, as any experienced gardener will tell you, grass is a delicate plant that needs careful attention to look its best. Below are a few tips to help you achieve an immaculate result.

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There are several steps to follow to create the perfect lawn. In this article, we take a look at the six key stages: preparing the soil, applying fertiliser, weeding, mowing, watering and aerating the lawn. Take our advice and you’ll be able to transform the most basic of back gardens into a gorgeous emerald lawn!

SOIL

A beautiful, healthy lawn starts with well-prepared soil. Choosing the right seeds is important and more than one variety of grass should be used. The main ones are fescues, which cope well with dry weather, bentgrass for a lush, fine texture, and bluegrass to give a closely-knit turf that can withstand traffic, drought and disease.

Next, remove any stones from the ground before using a tiller to soften the earth. You can add sand or peat in order to improve your lawn’s water retention capacity. At this point you should also add fertiliser.

The soil’s surface is then tilled and cleared of stones and roots. You can use a garden claw or rake for this, but rakes can be trickier to use and may leave unThe first step is to apply a powerful weed killer. Or- sightly streaks. A roller is then used to flatten the ganic weed killers are just as effective as convention- surface ahead of planting the seeds. al products while being kinder on the environment.

After levelling the soil, it needs to be compacted us- The seeds should be sown very evenly, in rows 1 ing a pickaxe for small spots and a mechanical tool to 2 metres wide. Keep some seeds back to scatter for larger areas. This is best done before the winter across these rows afterwards, ensuring even districomes. bution. A good way to do this is to use a fertiliser -8-

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spreader. Make sure it’s a nice day for it: you should The best time to use fertiliser is between May and always avoid sowing your grass seeds in high winds June. Grass grows faster in the spring and therefore or heavy rain. needs extra nutrients, so it’s best to use fine particle fertiliser to ensure even distribution.

At the edge of the lawn, there should be a strip where the seeds are sown quite densely. This gives the lawn It’s important to spread the fertiliser evenly because a nice clean edge. The seeds are then lightly raked otherwise, spots that have received less fertiliser will in, avoiding pushing them too deeply into the earth. be overtaken by areas that have received more, leadFinally, go over the whole area with a roller to bring ing to weeds and a sparse-looking lawn. A slow-rethe seeds into close contact with the earth, for even lease fertiliser is best as it requires less frequent apgrowth. plication.

To perform this task, we recommend using a spray FERTILISING attachment connected to your hosepipe, a manual A lawn can last a very long time if properly cared for. spreader on wheels or even a simple rake. The hose Unfortunately it’s not enough to just water it - you attachment is best for an accurate result, which is esalso need to add fertiliser and remove any weeds, sential for an even lawn. Also please bear in mind because like any plant, your lawn needs to be fed that it’s best to avoid spreading fertiliser during the in order to grow. Fertiliser is the ideal way to give hottest weeks of the summer. your lawn the nutrients it needs to build up its roots, leaves and resistance to diseases.

WEEDING

Every two months from April onwards, you need to Sadly it’s inevitable that weeds will eventually try and give your lawn the nutrients it needs for growth, for invade your lawn, however well-tended it is. Poor example organic compost or commercial fertiliser. soil drainage, soil lacking in nutrients, too much -9-

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shade and high acidity levels can all cause moss to MOWING appear. Another cause of weeds is mowing your lawn Frequent mowing (once a week, from March to October) makes your lawn hardier and denser, and too short (of which more later). therefore more attractive. But be careful not to mow Selective weeding is the best way to fight back. There it when wet (which can encourage fungus and bacteare many kinds of weed and therefore many differ- ria) and above all, never cut off more than a third of ent treatments available. For lawnmower-resistant the plant (set the lawnmower blades at 7.5 cm). This moss, it’s best to use a triple action weed-killing fer- will preserve the green leaves that give the lawn its tiliser, applied once every two months from October distinctive look and enable the essential process of onwards. Once the weed killer has done its job, you’ll photosynthesis, which the grass needs to stay alive. need to remove the moss from the ground with Sparing the green leaves also prevents the new a rake. growth from having to draw on its sugar reserves, The other main threat to your lawn is a build-up which can damage the root and eventually kill the of dead leaves in the autumn, as the excess mois- plant. This results in a very light-coloured, brownish ture encourages moss and mould. Leaf litter should lawn with an unattractive scorched look. therefore be cleared as soon as the wet weather sets in. You can put it to good use: piled up at the foot of a If there’s no-one to mow your lawn while you’re on tree, it provides a rich humus that’s full of nutrients. holiday, you’ll inevitably come back to an overgrown - 10 -

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lawn - but don’t panic and mow it to within an inch dream of achieving a smart, stripy result worthy of a of its life! Take it easy to start with, following the ad- Premier League football pitch, you’ll need a mower vice given above, and cut off no more than a third of with cylinder blades. its total height.

This type of mower has a set of helical blades weldObviously your lawn won’t look like a golfing green ed in a rotating cylindrical reel, creating a scissorstraight away, but photosynthesis will be able to take like cutting action to give a clean, precise result. Of place as nature intended and you can gradually mow course the blades need to be sharpened regularly to your lawn a little bit shorter each time. It will take achieve maximum precision - if your blades are even about 3 weeks for your lawn to get back to normal. slightly blunt, they’ll rip the lawn instead of cutting Another tip: rolling the lawn straight after mowing it, leaving it open to diseases like those seen above. helps to create a more closely-knit turf but is best This is true for all kinds of lawnmower. avoided when the soil is too moist or too dry.

When it comes to choosing a lawnmower, it all depends on your budget. Nowadays there’s a huge array of different types on offer, from the most basic rotary mowers to the most high-tech machines. If you’re a very keen gardener, have a large lawn to mow and

WATERING

The first thing to remember is that watering your lawn every day can actually be harmful, hindering its growth and making it ill. So this clearly isn’t the way to achieve the classic golfing green look you’re

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dreaming of. Water as early as possible in the morning and give your lawn no more than 2.5 cm of water a week on average. The number of times you have to water it every week will depend on the weather.

In very hot weather it will need watering 3 times a week, because although grass can withstand high temperatures, it can lose its pigmentation and turn yellow if it doesn’t have enough to drink.

performed twice a year, ideally in early spring and early autumn, when the earth is damp. During this period, you should also have a long, gentle watering session every 2 days.

The aeration process starts with mowing your lawn very short, following the technique described above.

Then go over it with the aerator tool, whose tines will make holes in your lawn to let the air in. Next you need to fill in these holes with river sand to stop them AERATING from sealing up too soon. Avoid using very fine sand Give your lawn a breather! Aerating is the best way as this will clump too quickly. Add the sand using a to encourage drainage and growth. Getting some spade and then give the lawn a sweep before finally oxygen into the earth can stop it from becoming too watering it. tightly packed and suffocating the roots. If the soil in your garden seems to be hardening or becoming too We hope you’ve found these tips helpful. For compact, and you see lots of weeds appearing, it’s a those with green fingers, Cardis | Sotheby’s Intersign that the soil is littered with dead stems and the national Realty has selected a number of properties with especially gorgeous lawns. Why not water isn’t seeping into the earth properly. take a look at our catalogue for some inspiration In this case, we recommend aerating your lawn. who knows, you may even find your dream home Don’t worry, it’s a common process that should be (and garden)! •

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NICOLAS BRÖNNIMANN, WHEN GARDENING BECOMES AN ART - 18 -

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For Nicolas Brönimann of the Garden Centre Brönimann in Noville, gardening is a family affair. For over 60 years, the business founded by his grandfather has led the way in gardening and landscaping in French-speaking Switzerland. And despite his busy schedule, this dynamic go-getter is always happy to share gardening tips with visitors! We met Nicolas for a chat about his life and work.

that purpose. Then we expanded quite a bit, producing flowers for the Migros Valais supermarket chain.

As it turned out, the Migros trucks’ delivery route went right past our nursery, which is what prompted the company to get in touch with my granddad.

Horticulture is all about rigour but we still had a lot We’d like to hear a bit about your career. How to learn at the time… It was a big step up for us. Back did you get where you are today? in the day we were a very small business but we picBetween 1998 and 2002, I studied in Geneva and ked things up fast. passed five vocational degrees, in horticulture, landscape gardening, fruit tree cultivation, orna- How did you manage to expand the business? mental tree-growing and market gardening. Then I We expanded by building greenhouses, as well as selwent to Zürich, where I spent a year working at one ling quite a few vegetables to the Coop, Switzerland’s of Switzerland’s biggest garden centres. After my largest retail company. But by the 90s, my father time in German-speaking Switzerland, I spent a year didn’t want to be involved with industrial agriculin London, again working at a garden centre chain in ture any more. He stopped working with supermarorder to further improve my skills. Eventually I came kets and decided to focus on private sales instead. At back to Noville to take over the family business in the same time, he also started a landscape gardening 2009. For the last three years, my dad’s been taking business, expanded the shop in Noville and bought a care of the administrative side of things while I’ve garden centre in Bulle. been in charge of operations.

What do you personally bring to the family How did it all begin business, in terms of new ideas?

When I came back to Switzerland to work for the for the Garden Centre Brönimann?

The company was founded in 1954 by my grandfa- firm in 2009, I helped to grow the business by sugther Jean Brönimann, who’s still alive and well. He’s gesting new sales ideas I’d picked up at other comretired now but my father Michel Brönimann still panies, and especially during my time abroad. I also works for the firm. He concentrates on producing concentrated on the landscape gardening arm of the top quality plants and is also involved in marketing. business, which was important to me. That field of business was just starting up at the time, and I could So I’m keeping the family tradition alive.

My granddad started out growing young plants, pro- see there was a lot of potential in our local area. viding geraniums from cuttings for horticulturists People wanted high-quality gardens tended by skilall over Switzerland. He was probably the first in the led professionals. Another of my main aims was to country to have a laboratory specially designed for focus more on sales.

Would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

My name’s Nicolas Brönimann, I’m the manager at the Garden Centre Brönimann, a company specialising in gardening and landscaping.

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We’ve been creating, renovating and tending gardens for 25 years now, working for private customers and businesses such as hotels. We’re a small business with between 40 and 45 employees depending on the time of year. These include gardeners, landscape architects, horticulturists, florists, landscape draughtspeople and of course cashiers. We also provide flowers for special events such as weddings.

inspiring people to try new things and create their own style. Gardening is less influenced by fashion now.

Coming back to our feature story on the classic English-style garden, what are your tips for achieving a lush, even lawn?

That’s a question I hear a lot (laughs)! There are a few things to remember that are very important. First, be What does a typical day at work sure to add fertiliser to your lawn three times a year involve for you? (in March, June and September). This will help you I start the week by taking care of paperwork, reading achieve a nice thick lawn and will also stop weeds all the letters and emails that come in. Then I brief from growing. my staff on the tasks for the week ahead. Once that’s You need to bear in mind that gardens with lots of all sorted, I spend quite a lot of time dealing with weeds are gardens that are starved of nutrients. These my customers’ gardens. Generally I’d say that at wee- are lawns that lack density. The thicker the grass, the kends I spend most of my time in our stores, giving fewer weeds you’ll have. Another important thing to advice to customers, and on weekdays I’m mainly do is to rake or scarify your lawn. Ideally you should out in the garden. do this in the autumn, not in the spring as many people think. And last but not least, be sure to water What’s in at the moment, your garden frequently in the summer! in the gardening world?

It depends on various factors, such as the customer’s age for example. Younger customers tend to prefer modern gardens with a more streamlined look, such as Japanese rock gardens. Mediterranean gardens with palms and olive trees are also popular with them. Our more mature customers are often Contact Garden Centre de Noville more interested in keeping a nice lawn and they love the classic English style of garden, full of beautiful Jean Brönnimann SA flowers and bright colours.

Rte du Grand-Canal 8 In terms of trends, Mediterranean gardens were very 1845 Noville fashionable 10 years ago, then Japanese gardens were the next big thing. Nowadays we’re seeing fewer set Tel. : 021/967.20.20 / Fax : 021/967.20.25 “types” of garden. Everyone wants to add their perEmail : info@gardencentre-noville.ch sonal touch, which I think is partly due to all the TV www.gardencentre-noville.ch shows and gardening videos on YouTube. These are

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TENTLINGEN Ref. N째 4094w - 27 -

TENTLINGEN

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Château de Tentlingen

This magnificent stately home enjoys an ideal location, and offers bright, extremely spacious rooms in an idyllic country setting, with abundant sunshine and breathtaking views of the Fribourg countryside.

• 13.5 rooms, 470 m2 • 7,800 m2 of land • Wonderful garden with century-old trees • Authentic period charm • Outdoor swimming pool Price on application / Ref. N° 4094w

Contact: Christianne Rosset 026 347 17 77 fribourg@cardis.ch - 28 -

REVEROLLE

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Charming period house with its own winery.

This luxurious cottage enjoys an unusually peaceful location deep in the countryside. It boasts lovely views of the surrounding greenery and the Alps.

• 15 rooms, 695 m2 • Over 18,000 m2 of land • Steam room and baths • Apartment for domestic staff • En suite bedrooms Price: CHF 7’900’000.- / Ref. N° 5755w

Contact: Jean-Marie Legrottaglie 021 781 01 01 lausanne@cardis.ch - 29 -

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LONAY Ref. N째 5047w

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LONAY Manoir de Lonay – “La Joséphine” property A beautiful property inside and out! On top of its gorgeous décor including tasteful floral carvings, sophisticated wood panelling, period parquet floors and ceilings over 3 metres high, the house enjoys a wonderful setting, surrounded by extensive parkland.

• 900 m2 of floor space • Over 37,000 m2 of land • Air-conditioned wine cellar • Large swimming pool with pool house • Positioned for maximum sunshine Price on application / Ref. N° 5047w

Contact : Jean-Marie Legrottaglie 021 781 01 01 lausanne@cardis.ch - 32 -

FOUNEX

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Bright apartment with garden This lovely apartment enjoys an ideal location just a short walk from central Founex, public transport and all amenities. It also has the advantage of a pleasant private garden with beautiful trees.

• 4.5 rooms, 156 m2 • 315 m2 garden • Positioned for maximum sunshine • All amenities close by • Peaceful, green surroundings Price : CHF 1’440’000.- / Ref. N° 6471w

Contact: Vanessa Karma 022 365 20 55 nyon@cardis.ch - 33 -

JOUXTENS-MEZERY 8-room property in an idyllic setting

This bright, spacious property is tucked away from the hustle and bustle, with the added bonus of wonderful lake views.

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• 8 rooms, 450 m2 • 1,800 m2 of land • Green, tree-lined plot • South-facing • Lovely views of the Alps Price : CHF 2’980’000.- / Ref. N° 5710w

Contact: Enver Mazreku 021 781 01 01 lausanne@cardis.ch - 35 -

COPPET

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Beautiful and stylish detached house In a beautiful, peaceful area near farmland at the heart of Terre-Sainte, this home offers plenty of privacy as well as open views giving a pleasant feeling of space.

• 7.5 rooms, 380 m2 • 1,400 m2 of land • Direct views of the lake and Alps • Wine cellar • Spacious lounge with fireplace Price : CHF 4’500’000.- / Ref. N° 6448w

Contact: Vanessa Karma 022 365 20 55 nyon@cardis.ch - 36 -

EPALINGES

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Prestige property near the golf course This home enjoys a wonderfully secluded, peaceful location among the trees with lovely views of the surrounding countryside and the Alps. Recently built using traditional materials for a high-quality finish.

• 800 m2 of floor space • Over 2,300 m2 of land • 5 en suite bedrooms with balconies and terraces • Indoor garage for 10 vehicles • Home spa Price : CHF 7’950’000.- / Ref. N° 5769w

Contact: Jean-Marie Legrottaglie 021 781 01 01 lausanne@cardis.ch - 37 -

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Ref. N째 5088w

SAINT-SYLVESTRE Château Tschüpru

This property in the hamlet of Tchüpru enjoys splendid panoramic views of the beautiful Fribourg countryside. Nestling in a quiet, secluded spot surrounded by greenery, it offers a truly exceptional location with plenty of privacy.

• 6 rooms, 400 m2 • 6,200 m2 of land • Built in the 13th century • Wine cellar • Historic building Price on application / Ref. N° 5088w

Contact: Christianne Rosset 021 347 17 77 fribourg@cardis.ch - 40 -

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BASSINS

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Spacious family home with splendid views This beautiful, fully renovated home offers large rooms and a high-quality finish, in a peaceful location enjoying breathtaking views.

• 7 rooms, 290 m2 • Over 1,800 m2 of land • Wine cellar • Stunning views • Spacious lounge with fireplace Price : CHF 1’980’000.- / Ref. N° 6434w

Contact: Vanessa Karma 021 365 20 55 nyon@cardis.ch - 41 -

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