‘My flower bed is full of weeds. How can I get rid of them permanently without weed killer?’
‘I’ve tried hand weeding, but it never seems to achieve much, only knocking them back for a few weeks’
Gardening
Articles on gardening
How to spot a sick tree, and how best to intervene
In many ways sick trees are not unlike sick humans, expressing their discomfort in a variety of ways
I’m tired of watering my polytunnel. Should I install an irrigation system?
Drip irrigation systems water the ground rather than the plants, ensuring that their root systems receive sufficient water
Now is the perfect time to plant roses. Which varieties should make the cut?
Desirable qualities include vigour, disease resistance, scent and a long flowering period
My lawn is full of mushrooms. Do they pose a health risk?
The recent warm, damp weather has provided ideal conditions for their growth
Celebrating imperfect gardens in all their glory
New book highlights the hard graft, ingenuity and love that 27 well-known people including Nigel Slater and Jimi Blake have poured into plots they tend
‘I love the evening primrose in my garden. But will it become invasive?’
‘I assume must have self-seeded as I never planted it’
How to reimagine your garden with fresh eyes
A ‘might do’ list for your garden doesn’t necessarily involve radical change
From syrups, teas, poultices and culinary uses, our gardens can offer so much
Learning about the health benefits of herbs and plants on my doorstep has been a revelation
‘What’s the best way to clear brambles from my overgrown garden?’
‘It contains some lovely trees and shrubs that we want to keep’
How evergreens can elevate your winter garden
They may take years to establish, but your future self will thank you eventually
A new home in older age: What are the benefits of downsizing to a new development?
New-build properties are becoming increasingly attractive to people who want to reduce running costs and make life simpler
‘I would like to transfer my late mother’s beloved rose bushes to my own home. But how?’
‘I’m thinking of either digging up some of the rose bushes from her garden or taking cuttings’
How to set your garden ablaze with autumn colour
It’s the season for trees and shrubs to steal the limelight through a process of radical transformation
What climbers grow well in a shady city courtyard garden?
Small urban courtyard gardens are easily transformed into lovely leafy spaces with the right selection of plants
‘Yes, size matters’: A simple guide to planting spring-flowering bulbs this autumn
Always try to source plump, firm, undamaged bulb stock
Our firethorn bush is beautiful but too big – how can we cut it back?
Pyracantha can quickly become an impenetrable thicket unless it’s diligently pruned and trained
Plant, mulch, move: essential garden jobs as autumn closes in
Everywhere in the garden are unmistakable signs of seasonal shift, from trees heavy with fruit to spiderwebs silver-beaded with dew
My roses are underperforming. What can I do?
Mulch generously around the root systems in spring and prune as appropriate
Colour disrupter: how to position white flowers in your garden
White flowers can be a wow, but also a distraction
Have I left it too late to divide my bearded irises?
Have I run out of time to split the dense, spreading clump this year - or could I still risk it at this stage?
Gardening: Here are my top tips for saving seeds
You can’t be a gardener, I think, and not eventually become fascinated by everything seed represents
My mum is losing her eyesight. What plants are good for a sensory garden?
Plants with perfumed blossoms, aromatic foliage, tactile appeal, or which rustle in the breeze would be ideal candidates
Plan and plant now for a beautiful garden next summer
If you’ve ever compared autumn-sown hardy flowering annuals with their spring-sown equivalents, you’ll know they’re like chalk and cheese
What drought-resistant plants are suitable for Irish gardens?
Most plants prefer a middle ground with soil that’s neither baked to a crisp nor badly waterlogged
Drought is bad news for earthworms, but gardeners can help them out
Earthworm populations globally are in decline, along with their vital ability to act as ecosystem engineers
Should I weed my garden in a heatwave?
Climate change is demanding we adapt to new norms and make changes in how we garden
‘Structured messiness’: How a pilot project brought four housing schemes back to nature
Fingal’s biodiversity officer says planting blackberry brambles starts a chain reaction that benefits wildlife and the entire community
Want to live a longer, happier life? Take up gardening
‘Life in Full Bloom’ is the theme for this year’s Connected with Nature events as part of Nursing Homes Week, celebrating the harvest season with events catered for residents’ wellbeing
A gardening friend says my green potatoes are poisonous. Is it true?
Some of my potatoes have pushed up out of the ground and turned green
How to revive your tired late summer garden
Ruthlessly cut out any vegetation that heatwaves have left withered and yellowing before judiciously filing in the gaps left behind
‘This year, everyone is talking about what plants are surviving the drought and which aren’t’
Oliver Schurmann reinforces the need to plant for the future at the Carlow Garden Festival, which runs until Sunday
How can I encourage more moths to visit my garden?
Butterflies may be more colourful but moths bring their own special magic
Mulch, shade, water, ventilate: How to help your garden over the summer months
Taking some practical measures can lessen the impact of dry weather on your plants
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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