One look out the window at the greying, wind-blown skies is enough to confirm the onset of autumn, which is an ideal time for green-fingered DIY enthusiasts to get to grips with some essential gardening chores. Not only is autumn a time when the powerful new growth of spring and summer ends; it also precedes the shorter, darker days of winter when many of your trees, shrubs and hedges will be entering a state akin to plant coma, as they shut down all but their most essential functions. It is therefore the perfect time to get the garden in order. And to help with the heavy lifting, many British gardeners at this time of year choose to hire professional equipment for the job.
Hedge your bets
After one of the wettest summers on record – punctuated by periods of healthy sunshine – hedgerows up and down the country have experienced steady growth and will need to be trimmed back. Trimming shears can do the job, if you’re prepared to add a healthy dose of elbow grease to the mix, but for any substantial job, many gardeners opt for Hedge Trimmer hire. End-of-season growth can result in thick, woody sections of hedge which are better attacked with a professional-grade, powered appliance from a top manufacturer such as Bosch or Hilti.
Leave no leaf unturned
Even gardens where no trees are present can become cluttered by the seasonal drop of autumnal leaves, which the elements have a way of dumping in every bit of open ground. Traditionally, gardeners have relied on the humble rake to deal with the leaf litter; these days Leaf Blower hire offers a mechanical alternative that is both labour-saving and time-saving. They are easy-to-operate, highly-efficient machines that even a novice handler can get to grips with. Professional gardeners will tell you the most important tip to bear in mind: wait for a dry day, when the leaves are crisp. Leaf blowers are ineffective on sodden, water-logged leaves.
Shred and recycle
Both hedge trimming and leaf clearance result in a lot of bulky waste. Rather than thinking of this as a problem, the switched-on seasonal gardener sees only an opportunity: a power shredder or wood chipper can turn all of this bulk into glorious fuel for your compost heap at the flick of a switch. Old leaves, in particular, are fantastic for recycling into mulch. Wood Chipper and Shredder hire is available from the erento marketplace, with smaller models available from as little as £15 a day.
