An old French gardeners' saying:
plant in November, and every stick takes root.
From October to March we plant hedges, trees and shrubs: the roots settle over winter, and the garden asks for far less water the next summer. The rest of the autumn, we clear the leaves.
A country hedge, six native species
- HornbeamCarpinus betulus
- Field mapleAcer campestre
- HazelCorylus avellana
- DogwoodCornus sanguinea
- Guelder roseViburnum opulus
- SpindleEuonymus europaeus
Why we would rather plant your hedge in autumn than in May
Roots
The soil is still warm and moist. Roots grow all winter while the top rests, and the plant starts spring already settled.
Water
An autumn planting needs far less watering the following summer, which counts when a drought order limits the hose.
Choice
Bare-root hedging plants are only lifted from November to March: the best way to start a long hedge.
Plants guaranteed a yearReplaced if they fail to take, watering advice followed.
The right distance2 m from the boundary for anything taller than 2 m, 50 cm below, unless local rules differ.
Leaves taken awayComposted, or shredded as mulch: burning is banned for households.
What we do, season after season
All services and prices
Planted, and looked after since
Gardens a few autumns on
Carquefou2025
Contemporary garden and timber deck
A new-build with nothing but builders' rubble around it. Now a deck under a steel pergola, a lawn and a screening hedge.
Vertou2024
Pergola and fire pit corner
The far corner of the garden nobody used, turned into the place everyone ends up on summer evenings.
Orvault2025
Front garden with evergreen edging and bulbs
Low evergreen hedging instead of box, which the box tree moth was stripping, and six hundred bulbs for the spring.
Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire2024
Dry-stone raised beds under a pergola
A sloping, sun-baked plot rebuilt in terraces, planted with drought-tolerant perennials that live on drip watering.
Rezé2023
Residence grounds, hedges and paved drive
Year-round upkeep of a 48-flat residence for its managing agent: hedges, lawns, paths and a report after every visit.
La Chapelle-sur-Erdre2025
New lawn after building work
Compacted soil left by the diggers, broken up, levelled and laid with turf. Walkable three weeks later.
Tax credit on upkeep
Clearing the leaves costs you half.
Leaf clearing, hedge trimming, mowing and weeding at your home count as small gardening work: 50% back as an income tax credit, on up to €5,000 of spending a year. Planting a new garden, tree pruning and the plants themselves do not; the quote keeps them apart.
- You call or writeTell us about the garden, the hedge, the trees around.
- We walk the gardenFree, in September or October to plant in November.
- Written quotePlants named, upkeep lines set apart for the tax credit.
- Planting, then the roundsWe plant outside frost, then come back on your round day.
Where we work
Carquefou44470Wednesday round
La Chapelle-sur-Erdre44240Wednesday round
Nantes44000Monday and Thursday round
Orvault44700Tuesday round
Rezé44400Monday round
Saint-Herblain44800Tuesday round
Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire44230Friday round
Sainte-Luce-sur-Loire44980Thursday round
Vertou44120Friday round
"Every Thursday from October to December, the leaves from the two oaks were gone before the weekend. Half of it came back on the tax return."
"Our residence committee changed contractors three times in five years. With them, a short report after each visit, hedges done when they said, and not one complaint at the general meeting."
Before the frost
Tell us about your garden
Where it is, roughly how big, the hedge you have in mind or the leaves you are tired of raking. We come and look.
Rather talk it through? Call us on02 40 12 34 56