Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips.
Spring Gardening Tips:

Growing fruit in the garden has never been easier, the choice and range of fruiting plants suitable to grow in the west of Ireland is extensive with new and improved varieties been added each season.

A big favourite with gardeners are the compact dwarf apple, pear and plum trees which are special grafted onto dwarf root stocks to help control the growth and put more emphasis on flowering and fruiting compared to strong growth. Many of the dwarf fruiting trees are ideal for growing in patio planters and containers but are equally happy to grow in the garden soil.

When planting Apples, Pears, plums or fruiting cherry trees consider under planting with smaller bush type fruiting plants including Rhubarb, Gooseberry, blueberries, strawberries and blackcurrants. This method makes good use of space and also makes it easier to control both soil weeds and pests.Check it out here!

Early February is an ideal time to plant new fruit trees in your garden or patio pots and also a good time to prune back existing fruiting plants and clean around existing plants to remove grass and weed growth.

Some of the Key Gardening Jobs to complete now include:

o  Garden lawns need a little attention now to help control lawn moss, my advice is to treat your lawn with a dressing of Sulphate of Iron to kill off winter lawn moss, Mix the Iron in water and apply the mix through a watering can or sprayer directly onto the lawn moss area. Make sure the mix is not applied to hard surface areas.

o  Greenhouses and polytunnels can be fumigated now by simply placing a Fumigant P bomb onto the greenhouse floor and lighting the fuse. The fumigant bomb will kill over wintering pests hidden in cracks and crevices within the greenhouse area.Check it out here!

o  French marigolds are wonderful for a splash of colour in early and mid summer, Sow the variety scarlet Sophie indoors now in seed trays and place on a bright warm window sill to germinate. The young plants can be potted on using growise compost in mid march.

o  Vegetable seed including Lettuce salad bowl, Cabbage minicole, Green calabrese, Cauliflowers and celery can be sown from seed now indoors in seed trays and placed in a bright location to germinate.

o  The double pink flowering dahlia Mr Optimistic is a beautiful variety to grow as a cut flower or to fill gaps in shrub borders for some added colour this summer. Dahlia tubers can be potted up now, placed indoors in a warm bright location to encourage early sprouting. Dahlia tubers are now available in a wide range of colours for potting on.

o  Salad Potatoes including the variety Harmony can be sprouted now indoors in a frost free location to encourage new sprouts. Harmony produces a great tasting waxy flesh that is ideal for use in salads. Now is the key time to be sprouting all early seed potatoes to gain a head start on the season.

o  Plant Cottage garden plants now including Arum lillies, Lupin’s, Delphiniums, foxgloves, Phlox, monkshood and phygelius for summer colour that will flower this and every summer. My advise is to plant in clusters of three, three lupins, three delphiniums and so on for bold strong colour

Paraic is back with his weekly radio programme on mid west radio every Saturday morning at 9am from March 3^rd. and weekly on Tv3 Ireland am morning programme with a gardening advise slot every Thursday morning at 9am. In this weeks live TV programme Paraic advises you on growing fruit trees and bushes in your garden. Check out Paraic’s weekly blog on www.gardencentre.ie for weekly gardening advice and tips

Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips.

26th January 2012

Growing Potatoes is a long standing tradition in Ireland and in particular here in the west of Ireland. Now is the ideal time to prepare early seed potatoes for planting by simply placing the new potato tubers in seed trays with their “eyes” upwards in a bright frost free location – a garage window sill is ideal…

Its time to grow your very own New Potatoes.

1. Choose First early Seed potato varieties including the Irish varieties Orla and Colleen which are renowned for their flavour and taste. Irish bred varieties for the Irish palate.Click here to get great offers on our Colleen Seed Potatoes

2. Other traditional varieties to consider include the early Sharpes express, Duke of York, Epicures, Accord and Rocket. First early varieties will produce a crop of early potatoes at the end of June.

3. British Queen is a second early variety and produces wonderful floury potatoes in mid July. A firm favourite for generations and easy to grow.

4. Remember to Sprout the tubers for four weeks in seed trays on a bright but frost free location – window sill – greenhouse – polytunnel or bright garage is ideal.

5. Potatoes can also be grown in pots and containers, Use potato planters, add a layer of compost, place four sprouted tubers into the container and cover with a six inch layer of compost, add another four tubers to this second layer of compost and add water – Leave the potato planter in a sheltered patio, greenhouse or polytunnel to grow on.

6. Plant out your sprouted potato tubers in early March, Ensure the soil is well prepared by adding plenty of organic compost to the soil before planting. Add potato fertiliser granules when planting and again in mid April to help ensure a strong bumper crop.Click here for our wide range of grow your own products

Farmers in the AEOSM and REPS schemes who are interested in planting broadleaved trees and hedging plants are invited to a special workshop this Saturday and Sunday Jan 28^th and 29^th at 2pm in Horkans lifestyle & garden centre Turlough castlebar. This event is FREE and a great opportunity to learn how to plant and care for native Irish broadleaved trees and hedging plants.

This Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th Jan 2012, 2pm in Horkans lifestyle & Garden Centre Turlough Castlebar

Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips!

Spring Gardening Tips:

Growing your own vegetables and flowers can be fun, rewarding and a very cheap way to supplying your own home with a bounty of fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit and filling your garden with colour and scent.

January is the ideal time to sow fresh vegetables, herbs and flowers from seed indoors in seed trays for planting out in early spring.

So may garden plants can be simply start on a warm, bright window sill indoors at this time of year

Some of the Key Gardening Jobs to complete now include:

o  Double flowering Dahlias can be planted from Tubers now, simply pot up the dahlia tubers in seed trays or individual pots, use Supergrow compost for best results, and place the pots on a warm bright window sill to sprout. Dahlia tubers are now available for planting in a wide variety of colours and flowering types.

o  Plant Timberely Early Rhubarb plants now directly into your garden soil, remember you will need six rhubarb plants to provide regular pickings all summer long. Add organic compost and some seamunges pellets to the soil before planting.

o  Fruiting plants including Apple, Pear , blackcurrants, Gooseberries and redcurrants can be pruned this month to encourage strong growth and help to increase fruiting ability and fruit size this summer. Now is also an ideal time to plant new fruit trees and bushes.Click here to check out or special offers on FRUIT TREES

o  Kill moss on Patio driveways, tarmac and slates now with an application of Patio Magic – Simply spray the Patio Magic treatment over the effected area on a dry day – Patio Magic works quickly to eradicate moss on all hard surface areas. Read instructions carefullyClick here for our amazing offers on PATIO MAGIC this month

o  Asparagus plants can be planted outdoors this month into well prepared and manured soil – Asparagus is a perennial vegetable and provides regular pickings from early spring each year. Remember to prepare the soil well and add in plenty of Organic compost to enrich the soil

o  Its time to prune back roses in your garden – Growth has started early this spring so its important to cut back roses now to stimulate new growth on which the flowers will be carried this summer. Remember to clean off your rose bed after pruning and clean the soil of weeds.

o  Parsley, both flat leaved and moss curled varieties should be sown from seed now indoors in gentle heat – Parsley takes some time to germinate but is easy to grow from seed if sown early indoors for planting out in early spring.

o  Protect any tender plants or early flowering plants from frost by covering with some garden fleece – Simply drape the fleece over the tender shoots or flowers.Click here to get a great offer on GARDEN FLEECE to protect your new plants

Paraic is back with his weekly radio programme on mid west radio every Saturday morning at 9am from March 3^rd. and weekly on Tv3 Ireland am morning programme with a gardening advise slot every Thursday morning at 9am from Thursday February 2^nd Check out Paraic weekly blog on www.gardencentre.ie for weekly gardening advise and tips

Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips!

21st November 2011

 

 

 

Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips.

January sees the start of the gardening year, the mild weather over the Christmas period has awakened the spring flowering plants with early daffodils and cyclamen bursting into flower.

Now is an ideal time to kick start your garden by…

1. Plant up window boxes and patio planters with Spring colour, Spring pansies, violas, primulas, cyclamen, snowdrops and early flowering tulips are now ready for planting and will reward you with lots of early spring colour.

2. Remove damaged and dead hedges now and replace with bare rooted beech, evergreen laurel, Portuguese laurel or green privet.

3. Summer flowering bulbs including Dahlias, double flowering begonias, scented lilies and gladiola for cut flower are now ready for planting. Dahlias and begonias should be planted indoors in gentle heat to start them off. Click here for our full range of Flower Seeds and Bulbs!

4. Garlic, onion, shallots and red baron onion bulbs are now available for planting out of doors. Add some Sea mungus organic fertiliser to the soil before planting. Click here to view our "Grow Your Own" range of Vegetable Seeds

5. Early seed potatoes are now ready for sprouting indoors in the greenhouse or polytunnel – Home Guard – Sharpes express, duke of York, British queens and colleen can be sprouted now to reward you with an early crop.

6. Sweet pea seed should be sown now indoors in seed trays in gentle heat, My tip is to soak the seed over night in tepid water and sow the seed directly into Supergrow compost the following day – Simply Leave the seed tray indoors on a window sill for rapid germination.

7. Would you like to have early sticks of sweet tasting Rhubarb – Cover your existing rhubarb crowns with a black bin or large timber box – exclude the light and look forward to some tasty pink sticks of rhubarb at the end of February.

8. Green Moss and Lichen is a problem on patio drives and walkways clean it now with a dressing of Patio Magic. Simply spray the patio magic treatment over the effected area and within days the moss and lichen will die and wither. See this months special offer on Patio Magic!

9. January is the ideal time to sow seeds of flowering geraniums and begonias – Simply sow the seed now in small seed trays and place in light on a bright window sill. Geraniums and begonias are easy to grow from seed.

10. Prune back apple trees, blackcurrants, redcurrants and gooseberries now to help stimulate growth and maximise fruiting for this season. Click here to see our range of Pruning Shears

Mid January is the ideal time to treat your shrub borders and rose beds with Premazor weed control. Premazor is mixed with water and applied to the soil around established trees, shrubs and roses to help stop the germination of weeds for this season. Remember to read and follow instructions for best effect.

Check out our gardening web site on www.gardencentre.ie

Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips!

21st November 2011

Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips.

1. December is the time to select a quality fresh Christmas tree for your home, the best variety is called Nordmanii which has lovely rich green foliage with a pine fresh smell. But more importantly you will have little or no needle drop Click here to see our Christmas Trees!

2. Finish planting spring flowering bulbs in borders and containers – Daffodils, tulips and snowdrops should be planted this week to ensure colour for Spring.

3. Plant Frost hardy Laurel hedging this month to ensure a strong evergreen hedge ideal for all gardens. Laurel is frost hardy, evergreen and easy to trim Click here to see our Hedging!

4. Beech and White thorn whips can be planted now to create a native hedge or hedgerow. Simply plant the whips 3 plants per meter for a strong dense hedge.

5. Add colour to your doorway and containers with winter flowering heathers, Cyclamen, pansies, violas and primulas, you can also add some spring flowering bulbs for added colour in march.

6. Lawn moss is a problem in all lawns this winter – Kill it now by applying a dressing of Sulphate of Iron, through the water can or sprayer to the entire lawn area – this treatment will kill lawn moss over night... Click here to see our Sulpahte of Iron

7. Evergreen climbers can be planted this month – Ivies, evergreen Virginia creeper, evergreen clematis and evergreen prycantha are ideal for covering house and garage walls to add cover and colour all year round Click here to see our Climbers!

8. Plant rhubarb and blackcurrant plants this month in your garden soil – add some organic farm yard manure to the soil before planting. Remember December is also the time to cover existing rhubarb stems with a black dustbin to exclude light and encourage the growth of sweet pink rhubarb stems for picking in February – go on give it a go Click here to see our Fruit plants

Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips!

21st November 2011

Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips.

1. December is the time to select a quality fresh Christmas tree for your home, the best variety is called Nordmanii which has lovely rich green foliage with a pine fresh smell. But more importantly you will have little or no needle drop Click here to see our Christmas Trees!

2. Finish planting spring flowering bulbs in borders and containers – Daffodils, tulips and snowdrops should be planted this week to ensure colour for Spring.

3. Plant Frost hardy Laurel hedging this month to ensure a strong evergreen hedge ideal for all gardens. Laurel is frost hardy, evergreen and easy to trim Click here to see our Hedging!

4. Beech and White thorn whips can be planted now to create a native hedge or hedgerow. Simply plant the whips 3 plants per meter for a strong dense hedge.

5. Add colour to your doorway and containers with winter flowering heathers, Cyclamen, pansies, violas and primulas, you can also add some spring flowering bulbs for added colour in march.

6. Lawn moss is a problem in all lawns this winter – Kill it now by applying a dressing of Sulphate of Iron, through the water can or sprayer to the entire lawn area – this treatment will kill lawn moss over night... Click here to see our Sulpahte of Iron

7. Evergreen climbers can be planted this month – Ivies, evergreen Virginia creeper, evergreen clematis and evergreen prycantha are ideal for covering house and garage walls to add cover and colour all year round Click here to see our Climbers!

8. Plant rhubarb and blackcurrant plants this month in your garden soil – add some organic farm yard manure to the soil before planting. Remember December is also the time to cover existing rhubarb stems with a black dustbin to exclude light and encourage the growth of sweet pink rhubarb stems for picking in February – go on give it a go Click here to see our Fruit plants

Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips!

Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips!

11th November 2011

1. REPS and AEO planting schemes for farmers should be completed this month, November is the best time to plant native broadleaved trees and hedging plants. Whitethorn, blackthorn, Beech , Birch, alder and willows can all be planted now to encourage strong rooting over winter Click here to see our Trees!

2. Barerooted ornamental and fruiting plants can be planted this month, November is the traditional planting time for all broadleaved trees and hedging plants, Soil conditions are ideal at the moment Click here to see our Fruiting plants!

3. Give your lawn its final mow this month and treat the entire lawn area with a dressing of Sulphate of Iron to kill moss before it begins to spread this winter. Sulphate of iron should be applied lightly and evenly to the entire lawn area Click here to see our Sulphate of Iron

4. November is the month to plant fruit trees and bushes in your garden or containers. Look for the dwarf apple trees, blueberries, raspberries and gooseberries plants now – They are ready for planting Click here to see our Fruit Trees

5. Colour can be added to Graves this month, plant autumn and winter flowering plants including winter heathers, Outdoor cyclamen, Polyanthus and winter pansies. You can also plant spring flowering bulbs for colour from January to May Click here to see our Bulbs!

6. Plant Bee friendly plants in your garden this Autumn I recommend Choisya ternate, Potentillias, Deutizia, Philadelphus, single roses, winter flowering viburnums and Mahonia. Your garden bees will thank you for it

7. November is a great time to plant both foliage and flowering climbers, Variegated Ivy – Virginia creeper, climbing hydrangeas, honeysuckles and clematis can be planted this month Click here to see our Climbers!. Remember to add some organic compost when planting to ensure a strong start to your new climbers Click here to see our Compost!

8. November is the ideal month to take cuttings from your favourite plants including Hydrangeas, Fuchsia , Potentillias, Geraniums, weigelia, and dogwoods. Remember to use some rooting powder to encourage strong rooting and better plants Click here to see our Rooting powder

Bare root season has started in Horkans – Now is the ideal time to get cheap trees and hedging plants for shelter and privacy in your garden. Bare root plants offer you wonderful value and strong well rooted plants which are ready for planting.


Bare root plants include – Mountain ash, Maples, Beech, Common ash, Birch trees, Laurel hedging, Willows in many varieties and Alders for wet ground.


Call this weekend for our special hedging promotions. Great prices on great plants