Grower’s digest - December 2018

The woodcutter’s story

Bûcherons (woodcutters) preparing for some dormant winter tree chopping or heavy branch pruning might need a new élagueur (pruner) or tronçonneuse électrique (electric chainsaw).

A handy alternative for those trickier high branches is this telescopic pruner (Elagueuse sur perche) by Gardena (pictured above, model TCS 720/20, price €152.90 from www.gammvert.fr ).

Pruning of trees is not recommended in autumn unless branches are dead or hazardous. Also, in winter, branch structures are easier to spot.

Create your own interior Eden

Winter gardens were originally huge conservatories built by European nobility in the 17th to 19th centuries to house tropical and subtropical plants.

The more modest domestic equivalent is, of course, a furnished conservatory (called a veranda in French) that also houses plants not hardy enough to weather the ravages of winter.

The price you pay depends on build quality and spec, with places such as Leroy Merlin offering entry-level verandas in kit form with a 10-year guarantee. Do not forget to adhere to the correct planning protocols via your mairie.

As for which plants to choose, passion flowers, lemon or orange trees and mimosa can lend some much-needed colour for those gloomy winter days.

Insta-jardins

Social media app Instagram is a brilliant way to enjoy other people’s gardens in France, with everyone from chateau visitors to chambre d’hôtes owners posting seasonal snaps of their gardens (users can search using the hashtag #jardins).

This month’s pick features some autumn colours snapped at Parc de Sceaux by ml.c58. The house and gardens are just 30 minutes south of Paris and ideal for a day out from the capital.