We may be in full cocooning mode with
Christmas fast approaching, but for
readers with gardens and other outdoor
spaces, now is a great time to think about
being outside next summer, and investing
in new garden furniture.
Outside of official soldes (sales) periods
– the next one runs from January 7 to
February 3 – retailers carry déstockage
(clearance) promotions, often offering
serious bargains online.
At the time of going to press, this Salon
bas de jardin gris Lyra Naterial furniture
set (pictured, above) was reduced from €499 to €349 on
Leroy Merlin’s website.
Made of aluminium, it comfortably seats
four people, and consists of a two-seater
sofa, a glass-topped coffee table, and two
individual armchairs.
Sustainable sapins
The Plante Bleue symbol is a guarantee of sustainabilityVal'Hor
When searching for your
Christmas tree (sapin) for
this festive period, keep
it sustainable by buying a
tree grown by a nursery
with the Plante Bleue label, which is a guarantee of environmental
responsibility for consumers. It was
created by Val’Hor, the collective voice
for individual businesses within France’s
ornamental horticulture industry.
Plante Bleue-certified nurseries adhere
to strict specifications in both their
production and management practices.
Christmas lunch harvest
Get set to harvest your Christmas lunch vegetablesShutterstock/Pinkyone
Among the most important jobs for
British potager owners in December is
the harvest of fresh veg destined for the
Christmas lunch plate – parsnips, leeks
and winter cabbages, all of which can be
left in the ground until the last minute.
Good old Brussels sprouts, meanwhile,
should be harvested when about one
inch in diameter.
