Poppies: How to grow a flower that symbolises the bittersweet nature of a summer gardenDo you know your wild poppies from your opiums? Or that the Californian tree poppy has Irish roots?Sat Jun 21 2025 - 06:00
‘How can I make my wisteria and clematis-clad wall look less bare in winter?’Are there masonry paints we can apply after pruning that will not adversely affect plants?Sun Jun 15 2025 - 06:00
A magical Burren garden that is at one with the wider, wilder world around itCarl Wright moved to Clare from Devon 30 years ago, restoring a semi-derelict old farmhouse and creating Caher Bridge Garden around itSat Jun 14 2025 - 06:00
I have mistletoe in my garden. Will it kill the host tree?Mistletoe, which depends on a host plant for water, is relatively rare in IrelandSun Jun 08 2025 - 06:00
How to keep your garden blooming all summer longTips for your summer garden, including working with the vagaries of the weather and keeping an eye out for snail damageSat Jun 07 2025 - 06:00
My coastal trees and shrubs were damaged by Storm Éowyn. What should I do? Salty storm winds can cause damage to plants, but the good news is they usually recoverSun Jun 01 2025 - 06:00
Why restraining yourself at the garden centre will lead to a more beautiful garden We impulse-buy at this time of year, but often the plants are entirely unsuitable for our gardenSat May 31 2025 - 06:00
Why is our holly bush suddenly shedding? Holly leaf blight is an increasing problem in Irish gardens in recent yearsSun May 25 2025 - 05:13
Six easy tips for making your garden planters last all summer in IrelandWhen choosing plants, containers and compost, there are some important factors to bear in mindSat May 24 2025 - 05:00
The best ferns for Irish gardens: Chelsea gold medallist Billy Alexander’s best picksAlexander, of Kells Bay House & Gardens, is aiming for gold at this year’s Chelsea Flower ShowTue May 20 2025 - 08:53
What are the best vegetables and fruits to grow in a polytunnel?Gardening Q&A: A wide variety of salad crops can be grown quickly and exceptionally well in this protected microclimateSat May 17 2025 - 05:59
Garden chemicals can seem like a magic wand. But this is the lesson I’ve learned It’s liberating to accept that you’re never going to be master of your own garden, and this isn’t a failingSat May 10 2025 - 06:00
How do I stop birds uprooting my vegetable seedlings?Unfortunately, this is often a problem for kitchen gardeners at this time of yearSat May 10 2025 - 05:00
How to stop hungry slugs and snails from wreaking havoc in your garden May is a risky month for gardeners – take timely precautions now for a flourishing summer gardenSat May 03 2025 - 06:00
Will my potato plants recover after frost damage? Q&A: You may end up with a smaller harvest if frost damage strikes, but it is not fatalSat May 03 2025 - 06:00
Q&A: Why are my rubber plants looking so unhappy?Q&A: This houseplant has a reputation for being hard to killSun Apr 27 2025 - 05:00
Late-spring flowering plants can’t wait for summer to get startedBy blooming and setting seed before their summer counterparts, these species gain a distinct advantageSat Apr 26 2025 - 05:00
When is the best time of year to prune my garden hedge?An established beech hedge needs to be carefully trimmed every year to keep it in good shapeSun Apr 20 2025 - 05:00
How to water your plants – it’s harder than you thinkDo not kill those plants with kindness by over or underwatering Sat Apr 19 2025 - 05:00
Which varieties of willow and bamboo grow quickly?Your gardening questions: Be wary of fast-growing bamboos whose roots can cause problems for foundations and drainsSun Apr 13 2025 - 05:00
How the right water feature can elevate your garden and soothe your soulPlayful, stimulating and fascinating, the best water features connect with our senses Sat Apr 12 2025 - 05:00
Can my gooseberry bushes recover from an attack of sawfly?Sawfly larvae can rapidly defoliate gooseberry and currant bushes, and by the time they’re spotted, the damage is often already severeSun Apr 06 2025 - 05:00
Gardening: A purifying herb, symbol of immortality, culinary linchpin - what’s not to love about rosemary?Science shows that consuming or inhaling the scent of this herb may even improve memory and cognitionSat Apr 05 2025 - 05:00
Yellow is a polarising colour with gardeners. Here are 10 subtler daffodils to tryFor the gardener who dislikes the brash yellow of daffodils there are winsome alternativesSat Mar 29 2025 - 05:00
‘What’s the best way to grow flowers for my son’s wedding?’Readers’ questions: You’re correct to wonder how long it will take plants to be productiveSat Mar 29 2025 - 05:00
‘Our cherry tree has stopped fruiting. What can we do?’Readers’ questions: The cherries were a wonderful surprise in the first year, but the tree has not been particularly bountiful sinceSun Mar 23 2025 - 05:00
Spring has sprung, so here’s what to prioritise in the garden Key to keeping on top of the to-do list at this time of year is to prioritise ruthlessly Sat Mar 22 2025 - 05:00
What can I do about my hard-to-remove tree roots?Firstly, break up the soil surface with a garden fork and remove as many of the smaller fibrous roots as you canSat Mar 15 2025 - 05:00
The fascinating history of the magnolias that are springing up around Ireland Magnolia flowers are back in bloom, putting on a magnificent display in gardens around the countrySat Mar 15 2025 - 05:00
Gardening: even the tiniest seed represents a universe of possibilitiesAt the beginning of spring sowing season, it’s worth remembering there are few greater joys than coaxing growth from the smallest of starts Sat Mar 08 2025 - 05:00
How can I keep my house plants alive?Readers’ questions: Modern houses can be surprisingly challenging environments for indoor plantsSat Mar 08 2025 - 05:00
Should you chit seed potatoes before planting them?Chitting involves spreading seed potatoes out indoors to spur the ‘eyes’ of the tubers into early growthSun Mar 02 2025 - 05:00
It’s time to rejoice in the season of home-grown rhubarb This is when to begin thinking about your rhubarb crop and how to get the most out of it Sat Mar 01 2025 - 05:00
‘Does my hedge have box blight?’Readers’ questions: Box has come under serious attack from a few very destructive non-native pests and diseases in recent yearsSun Feb 23 2025 - 05:00
Get gardening: What you need to do now to get ahead on your summer plantsFrom sowing tomato seed to pruning roses: some things always benefit from an early startSat Feb 22 2025 - 05:00
My hydrangea falls over into a floppy mess when in flower. Can you help?Readers’ questions: How/when could I cut it back without losing a year’s flowers?Sun Feb 16 2025 - 05:00
Ten pollinator-friendly, versatile shrubs that will flourish in your garden for yearsAre these fashionable choices? Not really, although there are certainly signs of a comebackSat Feb 15 2025 - 05:00
‘Which climbing plants are best for an east-facing house wall?’Any of the daintier-flowered species of clematis enjoy shadier conditionsSun Feb 09 2025 - 05:00
Gone with the wind? Future-proof your polytunnel or glasshouse against stormsMany beloved garden structures were battered (or removed entirely) by Storm Éowyn. How to stop it happening again?Sat Feb 08 2025 - 05:00
‘Is it time to say goodbye to my underperforming hybrid tea roses?’Readers’ question: ‘Should I rip them out and replant with young, healthy roses?’Sat Feb 01 2025 - 05:00
Beware of the snowdrop: this could be the start of a lifelong addictionIn search of snowdrops? Robert Miller is the gardener with the goodsSat Feb 01 2025 - 05:00
Will my lost hellebores reappear in my spring garden? Readers’ questions: Many but not all are evergreen hardy perennials, and many but not all are easy to growSat Jan 25 2025 - 05:00
Fancy growing a little of your food? This is what to get right in February for a rich bountyPotatoes, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots peas and more - Fionnuala Fallon’s top tips to get the best and flavoursome vegetables growing in your gardenSat Jan 25 2025 - 05:00
My camellia is looking miserable – what am I doing wrong?Would it be happier in the ground rather than a pot?Sat Jan 18 2025 - 05:00
Your January garden doesn’t care about your new year’s resolutionsThe glory of this cold month is that it asks very little of us other than to sit, dream and planSat Jan 18 2025 - 05:00
How can I keep trees in containers from getting too big for their boots?I’m considering growing some evergreen trees and shrubs but I’m worried that they’ll get too largeSat Jan 11 2025 - 05:00
A surprising number of its trees will never reach old age in Irish gardens. Here’s how to choose your tree wiselyDuring Storm Darragh last year, close to 140 mature trees were toppled at the historic National Botanic Gardens, KilmacurraghSat Jan 11 2025 - 05:00
From root to tip: the best gardening books of 2024In search of some great gardening books to entertain, inspire and inform you over Christmas? Fionnuala Fallon offers her top choicesSat Dec 14 2024 - 05:00
An A to Z of Christmas gifts for gardeners: Trees, tools, calendars, furniture and moreSearching for the perfect Christmas present for the gardener in your life? Here are our top suggestionsSun Dec 08 2024 - 05:00
Does a tree fern need extra protection from the elements?Packing pine needles into the crown will protect against temperatures down to minus 4C, but below that you’ll need to secure several layers of horticultural fleece over the crown and frondsSat Nov 30 2024 - 05:00
