The main hedge trimming season is between late summer and autumn, so September is a great time to get your taille-haie (hedge cutter) out, or invest in a new one.
Increasingly popular is the taille-haie électrique (electric hedge trimmer), though of course using this depends on having a handy electrical source and an extension lead if you have a large garden. There is also a taille-haie à batterie (battery-powered hedge trimmer) and taille-haie thermique (thermal hedge trimmer) as well as a taille-haie sur perche (pole-mounted hedge trimmer).
Your Garden digester enjoyed great success when pruning back some thick bay tree trunks back in the spring, using a cordless Stihl GTA 26 trimmer, a powerful miniature chainsaw (pictured).
One proviso – keep an eye out for bird nests before and during your trim.
Get to work in the potager
There is lots for the potager owner to be busy with this month. As well as harvesting apples (pommes), runner beans (haricots d’Espagne), potatoes (pommes de terre), onions (oignons) and raspberries (framboises), it is also time to sew salads such as mustard leaf and winter salad mixes, as well as peas, radishes and broad beans. For a truly French terroir touch next year, plant some garlic cloves in fertile soil.
Best foot forward
Handcrafted in France, Aigle rubber boots are perfect for gardeningAigle
Need some new gardening boots in time for the onset of autumnal muddy conditions? These rubber Aigle boots, priced are handcrafted in France, and feature an intermediate boots height for ease of movement and fit. They also boast a quick-drying lining, self-cleaning notched outsole as well as excellent grip and cushioning. €85 from Aigle.
