Winter planters For Colour Right Through To Next Spring! As the the daylight hours dwindle, many of us tend to neglect our gardens. However, winter doesn’t have to be a dormant period for your outdoor spaces. With the right plants, a good compost mix, and well-maintained planters, you can create a vibrant display that lasts from September to March. The episode looks at Winter hanging basket and flowers for winter. This was the central topic in our recent podcast episode where we revealed the secrets to creating spectacular winter planters.The episode started by discussing how to select th ..read more

How To Choose The Correct Greenhouse For Your Garden. Firstly let’s look at the many benefits of having a greenhouse in your garden.  In Ireland and other parts of the world a greenhouse allows you to extend your growing season, and produce crops 12 months of the year. Because it allows you to grow in a somewhat controlled environment.  A greenhouse allows you to produce spring and summer crops much earlier in the season this is because the temperature even in an unheated greenhouse will be several degrees higher than outside temperatures.  It is possible to raise plug pla ..read more

 How to keep Buxus/Box plants Healthy? Why are Buxus popular. Buxus are beautiful in a garden whether in pots or as part of beds. They have been used for years in any style garden whether mixed into flowing borders or in a more formal type garden.  Over the last number of years, they’ve become particularly popular as statement plants framing front doors or entrances. Buxus have great structure, they are evergreen. Buxus also come in many shapes such as cones, balls and many more theatrical designs like the spiral shown here.  They can be clipped regularly, so they can ..read more

Creating a wildflower meadow I have been considering creating a wildflower meadow for a while now. The main reasons for creating a wildflower meadow are.  To reduce lawn area and have less mowing. I had considered a robotic mower but I do need some grass clipping because I use it to make compost and I also use it to mulch onto newly created borders. So we have decided to reduce the area so less time needs to be spent cutting. Provide food and habitat for pollinators. For the beauty it provides especially with paths through it. What type of wildflower meadow? Native wildflower meadow It ..read more

How to grow Lavender in Ireland How to grow Lavender in Ireland. Lavender is one of the most beautiful plants we can grow in our gardens. It is a plant that many people in Ireland struggle to grow successfully. The damp climate and somewhat cold winters  in Ireland are not what Lavender likes having originated from the Mediterranean. But when we choose a good location, most suitable varieties and understand the plants needs it can be a beautiful and a good performing plant in our gardens. So, let’s look at the top tips for growing Lavender successfully in Ireland. The first key point is ..read more

Are robotic and automowers good? Are robotic lawnmowers and automowers good? To answer it definitely we will look at all the factors we should consider. Wasted time mowing the lawn? Mowing the lawn for many of us is an unwanted chore. This chore eats into our spare time. This time we would prefer to spend, enjoying our gardens with our families.  Our lawns in Ireland and in other countries are larger than many of us need or like. Although in this many had no choice because of planning regulations. I accept for some people mowing the lawn is an enjoyable experience especially if they have ..read more

What is companion planting? In our garden’s plants much like ourselves as humans we need companions. This is where the term companion planting comes from. Companion planting by definition is a combination of plants, planted closely together to benefit each other. These benefits are in terms of weed control, pest reduction & disease reduction. So much like humans the combinations of plants lean on each other for different levels of support. Examples of companion planting: Some basic examples would be growing Calendula’s near your salad crops. The idea being the Calendula’s attract greenfly ..read more

Best Christmas Gifts For Gardeners: Best Christmas gifts for gardeners? is a question I am often asked. It’s that time of the year where we are all thinking about Christmas gifts and what to buy for the people in our lives.  But, what are the best Christmas gifts for gardeners? The possibilities for gardening gifts are endless, varied with options for all budgets. To choose the perfect gift it is good to look at where the person is in their gardening journey. For example buying tools for somebody who has been gardening for years may not be useful. The tools are likely to end up like anoth ..read more

How to create your own compost for any garden How to create your own compost? This blog outlines, how to create your own compost from scratch and gives you the top tips for success. Compost is one of the most beneficial resources for any garden. It is even better if you can produce this compost yourself and use it in your own garden. In episode no17 of Master My Garden podcast Dr.Brian Murphy of Enrich Environmental who are the largest manufacturer of peat free compost in Ireland, outlines the best practice for creating your own compost. He also tells us of the benefits of compost in the garde ..read more

How to conserve & save water in your garden – master my garden In this blog I will discuss, how to conserve & save water in your garden. One of the most precious and often scarce resources that gardeners have is water, it is so vital for plant growth and life in general. Yet at the time of writing mid May 2020 there is talk yet again of hose pipe bans. In my area Co.Laois Ireland it hasn’t rained for 12 weeks and the same is true for may parts of Ireland and the UK. Crops are struggling and garden plants are in many cases desperately seeking a days “soft rain” as they call it around he ..read more