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
Gardening
Articles on gardening
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
‘They’re lifelines’: How community gardens boost mental health and social inclusion
By creating welcoming outdoor spaces, community gardens can reduce social isolation and foster good mental healt
Gifts for the special gardener in your life
From nifty tools and comfortable garden wear to magazine subscriptions, there’s something here for all green-fingered friends
My garden has heavy clay soil that gets waterlogged in winter. What can I do?
It feels like an uphill battle
Eight easy and affordable things to do in the garden guaranteed to bring joy
Each of these simple activities can be done over the coming weeks before winter sets in
My hedge is full of weeds, how can I get rid of them?
The problem is generally worse with deciduous species that lose their leaves over winter
A damp, soggy shed is frustratingly impractical but it has attracted visitors: snails
My garden snails, Cornu aspersum, are still active and show no signs of hibernating anytime soon
I’ve fallen in love with roses again despite their constant demands
Late autumn to early spring is a great time of year to plant these ultra-hardy, long-lived – and, yes, high-maintenance – plants
My delphiniums are the envy of visitors, but how can I divide them without damage?
Now is the time to divide and transplant; use a sharp spade to cut the root ball into several pieces, but discard the woody centre of the clump
Put down the rake: Why you should leave your garden to nature this autumn
Practical, pain-free, nature-friendly way to support biodiversity, providing food and shelter for garden wildlife when it’s most needed
Sculptural evergreens to keep your garden beautiful through winter
Gardening tips, history and inspiring contemporary examples of evergreen design
I think I spotted a false widow spider in my garden - what should I do?
Are there any precautions I should take?
How to smash pumpkin records (or just grow regular-sized ones for Halloween)
The orange Jack-o’-lantern pumpkin, and ghostly alternatives such as ‘Casperita’, have carved a place in Irish Samhain
How can I grow autumn-flowering cyclamen in my garden?
In a mild autumn/early winter, this hardy perennial will bloom until late November
Gardening: Step-by-step guide to moving trees and plants
Plants end up in the wrong spot in our gardens for lots of other reasons, and October is the ideal month to move them
How can I save seeds from my garden safely?
Should I be worried about disease in my home-saved seeds?
We need more garden trees - and now is the perfect time to plant them
An hour’s work in mid to late Autumn will result in a lifetime of joy
Spring bulbs that will flower year after year in Irish gardens
Avoid the rookie mistake of planting them in orderly clumps or serried rows
Did I find truffles in my garden while digging for spuds?
Some species of truffles are edible and are considered a great culinary delicacy
Winter vegetables that thrive in Irish gardens
Parsnips, celeriac, squash, Swiss chard and purple sprouting broccoli are happy to overwinter outdoors or wait out the colder months under cover
‘My hedge is dying in the middle. How can I fill the gap?’
Partial dieback in a mature hedge is not uncommon and is both unsightly and frustrating to manage
Tackle these garden tasks now and reap the rewards in spring
Every hour spent working in the garden over the coming weeks will pay rich dividends next spring
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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