News - Page 7
Once early summer shrubs finish flowering, it’s time to give them a prune to keep them youthful and vigorous ready for a superb show next year.
Among shrubs you can prune now are philadelphus (mock orange), spiraea, lilac, buddleja, flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum), Kolkwitzia, Exochorda and Deutzia.
Give shrubs a prune
Start by investing in some good tools: you’ll need a sharp pair of secateurs, some loppers and for mature shrubs, a p...
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Right now is the perfect time to pick herbs as they’re growing on strongly with plenty of fresh young growth packed with the essential oils that make them so fragrant and enticingly tasty.
The perfect time to pick herbs
The more often you cut perennial herbs like rosemary, oregano and mint, the more they produce – so regular picking is essential to keep your supply coming. Annuals, too, stay leafy for longer when you pick them over every few days...
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Ireland’s next generation of gardeners are younger, more eco-aware and into growing their own, according to a new survey by Bord Bia.
‘Gardening in Ireland’ found that about 63% of the Irish population now live in urban areas, often with ‘limited or no’ space to grow. In Dublin, a quarter of residents have no garden at all.
Ireland's next generation of gardeners
However over 1.3 million Irish people now garden on a regular basi...
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Harvest broad beans as soon as the pods have swelled for one of the real home-grown treats of early summer in the veg garden. If you sowed your broad beans in autumn (look out for super-hardy varieties like Aquadulce Claudia on our seed racks which can overwinter as sturdy seedlings) they should be producing plenty of pods by now; if you sowed summer varieties like Masterpiece Green Longpod in spring, you may have to wait another week or so.
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Flaming June is a delight in the garden, what with roses blooming, borders bursting with colour and the first new crops to harvest. Here are the jobs to be getting on with this month:
General tasks:
- Target weeds, regularly hoeing bare soil on dry days and forking out perennials like ground elder as soon as you see them.
- Check moisture levels, digging down with a trowel to find out how damp the soil really is underneath – then water w...
Plant up an edible hanging basket for a summer full of delicious flavour, picked just outside your back door.
Hanging baskets
You’ll find all you need at the garden centre here in Youghal, from baskets and liners to ready-grown young plants to fill them with. Tumbling tomatoes are a great place to start, cascading happily from baskets and covered in jewel-like cherry toms from later in summer. Add herbs, such as basil or marjoram...
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Lift and divide clumps of spring bulbs to keep them vigorous and full of flower – and to spread them around your garden to boost next year’s display!
Spring bulbs
You can lift and divide all clump-forming bulbs, from bluebells and daffodils to snowdrops. Most bulbs need lifting and dividing every three to four years: if your largest clumps put on a lacklustre display this spring, overcrowding is probably the cause.
Water t...
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Train grapevines as they grow to keep them from taking over your greenhouse or house wall, and to make sure they stay productive and healthy. It’s a little late in the season to be planting a new grapevine now, but if you’ve missed out, make a note to pop into the garden centre here in Youghal and select a vine to plant this autumn. You can choose from dessert or wine varieties, red or white: feel free to ask our knowledgeable staff for advice o...
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Repair damaged lawns as bare patches become more visible – often the legacy of a punishing, soggy winter. Lawn seed sown now germinates quickly as the weather warms, so it’s a great time to put things right.
Damaged lawn
Skim off the damaged patches of turf, then fork over the area to a depth of about 8cm. Break up and clods with the back of a fork until the soil has a fine, even texture. Improve the soil by adding some compost...
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Antrim Castle Gardens are bursting with colour next week as the Allianz Garden Show Ireland opens its doors for another packed weekend of gardens, good grub and green-fingered fun.
Antrim Castle Gardens
There’s more of a focus on gardens than ever this year, with a stunning large feature garden by Belfast-based designer James Purdy. He’s taken his inspiration from the mountains of Mourne for his ‘Heritage of Place’ garden, wi...
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