Gardening
Articles on gardening
How a Kildare couple built their dream garden for half its original €25k quote
When quoted as much as €25,000 to landscape the area around their newly built home, this Kildare couple opted to cut their bill in half by doing the work themselves
Garden full of slugs? Here’s how to minimise the damage
As well as wreaking havoc in your garden, many of these molluscs do work that is crucial to a healthy planet
Small gardens: A designer’s top tips on how to make best of the space
Designer Denise O’Connor: With a bit of creative thinking, it’s possible to get more from the space you have
The most outstanding gardens in Ireland to visit right now
Ireland’s splendid gardens are in full bloom this time of year and brilliant festivals lie ahead
The ‘accidental beekeeper’ in Ireland’s most nature-deprived neighbourhood
Taking on two beehives and tending to a community garden in The Liberties opened Anthony Freeman-O’Brien’s eyes and heart to the benefits of urban greening
How can I grow cowslips in my garden?
After decades of decline, it’s great to see these dainty, pollinator-friendly wildflowers making such a comeback
Everything I’ve learned about growing garden vegetables
Kitchen gardeners can get carried away at this time of year - but there’s no point growing endless lines of turnips no one wants to eat
‘Why did my young garden tree die, and how can I stop it happening to others?’
This happens more than you might think, and the causes can be hard to pin down
Like many gardeners, I can’t help but admire weeds
There’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to managing weeds in your garden but the use of weedkiller is rarely justifiable
How can I get rid of scutch in my favourite flower bed?
It comes back again with a vengeance whenever I dig it out
Horticulture doyenne Sarah Raven has an enduring eye for beauty and brilliance
The gardening trailblazer is a key speaker at this weekend’s Festival of Gardens and Nature in Laois
Gardening: How can I protect my plants without using insecticides?
I lost a lot of young seedlings in my allotment to wireworm damage last year, but I don’t want to use chemicals
The best plants for Irish seaside gardens
Some Irish seaside gardens enjoy a sheltered microclimate, while others must cope with exposure to destructive salty gales
Is now the right time to share my snowdrops with friends?
Should I wait until autumn, or divide my garden snowdrops with friends now?
Spring selection: Now is the time to light up your garden with charming clematis
April is a good month to plant all kinds of clematis as container-grown plants in the ground, or in pots
Your gardening questions answered: Is there a quick way to germinate parsnip seed?
It will need a fine, friable, stone-free, weed-free, moist but free-draining soil in full sun or very light shade if it’s to germinate well
Shrubs and trees perfect for small gardens that don’t compromise on colour or impact
Ultra-compact outdoor spaces require a disciplined approach when it comes to planting
My tulip flowers are dying off before opening - what’s wrong?
Do these withered, dirty grey-brown patches mean my plants have the dreaded tulip fire disease?
Put in the hard work this month and your garden will flourish come summer
New growth is everywhere in April – here’s what to do in the garden for a glorious summer reward
Backyard battle to save hedgehogs is critical as numbers decline
Gardens offer refuge from habitat loss, pesticides and cars – but strimmers and dogs can be deadly
Is cardboard safe to use as a weed suppressant in my garden?
Cardboard offers a far more planet-friendly alternative to the use of environmentally harmful weedkillers
The revolting habits of one of the most common Irish garden pests, and how to get rid of them
Maggot-like vine weevils feed voraciously on the roots and crowns of plants, especially those in pots of peat-based compost
How flowers revolutionised the world through a riot of colour and scent
David George Haskell has a new book on the flowers that put the rain in rainforests and that challenge the teachings of Darwin
I tell my eyes not to search out daffodils, but the Irish seasons still live inside me
‘Was that an earthquake?’ In Ireland, buildings have the decency to stay put
Why are flowers not reappearing in my wildflower meadow?
I’ve planted a lot of snake’s head fritillaries around our family home, but they are not thriving
How to successfully divide plants in spring
The process couldn’t be more straightforward, but timing is crucial and it does require a bit of muscle
How can I help my magnolia tree to flourish?
As magnolias dislike being pruned, the risk is one of cutting out branches on which flower buds have been slowly developing since the previous spring
How to grow your own plants from seed this spring
Avoid these common pitfalls when sowing seeds and you’ll be pleasantly surprised how easy it is
My garden is still waterlogged, should I wait before tackling spring tasks?
Digging when soil still very wet or waterlogged risks causing compaction and reduced fertility
Eight spring jobs to do in the garden, even if it’s lashing rain
From sowing tomato seed to putting top-dressing on containers and planting potatoes, these tasks will pay off
I’m hosting a summer party. How can I make my garden beautiful?
Explore ways to freshen up any hard landscaping, from scrubbing down paving to giving tired garden furniture a makeover
Why lilies are enjoying a renaissance with younger gardeners
Generations Y and Z more likely to be enthralled by Stargazer’s zingy hues and almost surreal perfection
A designer’s tips on building the garden of your dreams
With some careful thought and a clear plan, even the simplest garden can be transformed
How can I care for my lavender hedge?
Lavender plants come on for a gentle annual trim immediately after flowering to keep them in shape
How to encourage biodiversity in your home garden
For award-winning garden designer Adam Hunt, the garden should be ‘a living dialogue between the natural and the cultivated world’
How can I start growing my own plants from seed this spring?
Is it worth investing in an electric propagator?
Is your garden waterlogged after the endless rain? Here’s what to do
Waterlogged soil typically needs several weeks of predominantly dry weather to start to recover its equilibrium
‘What are the best blight-resistant potatoes to grow at home?’
There is good news for organically minded gardeners
Snowdrops arrive with impeccable timing to save us from winter desolation
It took Jimi Blake at Hunting Brook Gardens in Wicklow time to come around to the humble snowdrop, but he eventually saw the light
Should I keep ducks as pest controllers in my garden?
Certain breeds are great at keeping down populations of slugs and snails, but they do need to be kept out of vulnerable areas
How to prune your plants
Plants are so resilient to injury - cut their stems and branches back and they will usually regrow, just not in the very same way
Is it too early to prep flower and vegetable beds, or should I wait for spring?
It’s important to recognise the fine line between the gardening jobs that can and can’t be safely carried out at this time of year
Podcaster Dylan Haskins: ‘I auditioned for a film with Brad Pitt as a child’
The multi-award-winning podcast commissioner with the BBC on never dwelling in anger, the death of his father in 2006, and his ‘condensed’ Covid wedding
Gardeners are close observers of nature’s clock and the havoc wreaked by climate change
It’s not just the delicately balanced cycle of the seasons that’s being disrupted, but also our understanding of that cycle
Is it okay to prune rose bushes at this time of year?
Many roses have been slow to settle into their normal cycle of winter dormancy in milder parts of the country
Seamus O’Brien, a giant of Irish horticulture, leaves behind an unassailable legacy
The head gardener at the National Botanic Gardens in Kilmacurragh always had one eye on the past and one on the future
The 10 best gardening books of 2025
Tips, tricks and invaluable gardening knowledge in these page turners for green-fingered enthusiasts
‘I think I see Japanese knotweed growing next door. What should I do?’
‘I’m worried it’s going to find its way into my own garden’
Bring your garden indoors: Christmas garlands and centrepieces with wow factor
The secret to creating a beautifully lush, long-lasting arrangement for your Christmas table, mantelpiece or staircase
How can I stop squirrels digging up my bulbs?
Newly planted tulip and crocus bulbs are desirable to squirrels, but they generally leave most other spring flowering bulbs alone
How to deck the halls with home-grown Christmas greenery
If you love nothing more than decorating your home with barrow-loads of fresh greenery at this time of year, here are the best varieties to plant in Irish gardens
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices



















































