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

Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips!

Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips!

28th October 2011

1. The Bare root Season has started – Its time to plant Laurel and beech hedging plants as bare rooted plants now for a strong well rooted hedge for next spring. Laurel and beech can be planted two plants per meter for a solid dense hedge Click here to see our Hedging Plants!

2. Early November is the time to plant broadleaved trees for REPS, Whitethorn, willows, mountain ash, blackthorns and maples can all be planted now as young whips. They are cheap and easy to plant during the month of November Click here to see our Trees

3. November is also fruit planting time in the garden, Apples, Pear, plum and cherries can be planted this month. Remember to add organic compost when planting and to stake all newly planted trees to ensure strong rooting during the winter Click here to see our Fruit Plants

4. Rhubarb and strawberries can be planted this month, remember to add plenty of organic farm compost to the planting hole and enrich the soil with blood, fish and bone meal when planting Click here to see our Strawberry and Rhubarb plants

5. Winter flowering shrubs including Mahonia Charity, Viburnum eve price, Christmas roses, sweet box and Witch hazel can be planted this month for some welcome colour during the winter and spring months

6. Snowdrops and crocus bulbs need to be planted in the next two weeks to ensure good rooting and a good show of colour in January and February Click here to see our Bulbs

7. Green moss and lichen on patios, driveways and on house slates can be removed with an application of Patio Magic treatment. Simply Mix the Patio magic with water and apply directly to the effected hard surface area. Moss and lichen will die and wither within days. Patio Magic will also help to clean the area leaving it in tip top condition. Apply in dry weather this month Click here to see Patio Magic

8. Its time to clean out your polytunnel and greenhouse of old tomato, pepper and cucumber plants. Remove and store all fruit and simply remove to the compost heap, any of the summer fruiting glasshouse crops.

9. Green Manure seed can be sown during November on bare patches of soil in your veg and fruit garden. The green manure seed will germinate during the winter months producing a green carpet of organic fertiliser that you simply dig in next spring before planting your summer vegetables. A packed of green manure seed will cover approx 50 sq meters on bare soil. Green manure also helps to prevent weeds from growing Click here to see our Manure

10. Cut back summer flowering roses and cottage garden plants including Lupins, Delphiniums, hostas, Phlox and geraniums. Add some spring flowering bulbs including Narcissus, daffodils, Tulips, bluebells and snowdrops to the gaps in your borders for colour this and every spring. Spring flowering bulbs should be planted in groups for a stronger show of colour Click here to see our flowering bulbs

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.


Plant your bare rooted plants this November

Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips

20th October 2011

1. Take cuttings of Blackcurrants, red and white currants and gooseberry plants now, remember to dip the base into rooting hormone powder and place in trenches out of doors with sandy compost at the base of the trench Click here to see our Rooting Powder

2. Colder weather signals the time to start feeding song birds in your garden. Simply hang up some wild bird and peanut feeders in sheltered areas in your garden from now until late spring. Place a selection of different types of wild bird feed to give a greater variety of song birds in your garden Click here to see our Wildlife and Birdcare products

3. Prune back summer flowering roses now, trim the long stems to within six inches from ground level. Apply a dressing of Armillatox to the remaining stems to help kill of Algae and over wintering pests

4. Moss on slates, patio slabs and tarmac areas can be cleared now by treating the area with Patio magic. Simply mix with water and apply to the entire Area Click here to see our Patio Magic

5. Its time to plant fruiting trees and bushes in your garden, Apple, pear, plum, black, red and white currants can be planted now. Click here to see our Fruit Trees  Add some organic compost when planting Click here to see our Compost

6. Prune back apple trees now, remove the whippy growth at the top of the trees and shorten back side stems. This will encourage a more open shape and more fruit in the coming years Click here to see our Gardening Tools

7. Give the garden a good tidy up, Prune back summer flowering shrubs now, clear off the stems of lupins, delphiniums, Hostas, lilies and phlox by pruning the stems to soil level Click here to see our Gardening Tools

8. Finish off the planting of spring flowering bulbs in flower borders and shrub beds. Snow drops, bluebells, daffodils and tulips, plant in clusters to create a strong show of welcome colour next spring. Bulbs are easy to grow and will flower this and every summer Click here to see our Flowering Bulbs

9. Plant hardy hedging plants including Beech, Laurel, Green and golden privet, whitethorn and holly now. Plants planted before the winter will continue to produce a good root structure throughout the winter and make for strong vigorous growth during spring and summer Click here to see our Hedging Plants

10. Winter and spring flowering heathers are just coming into flower and will stay in bloom right up until early summer. Plant heathers now in groups of 3 or 5 to help create a carpet of colour in flower and shrub borders. Heathers can be under planted with spring flowering bulbs including snowdrops and dwarf daffodils for additional colour Click here to see our Winter and Spring Flowering Heathers

Jobs in the garden this week..

13th October 2011

Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips

1. Rhubarb, Strawberries and blueberry plants can be planted for the next couple of weeks in well prepared soil  Click here to see our Fruit Plants Add Supergrow compost to the planting hole before planting and remember to feed all fruiting plants next spring with Rose fertiliser Click here to see our Compost and Fertiliser

2. Late October is a good time to Kill unwanted lawn moss with an application of Sulphate of Iron, either sprayed or Spread through a lawn spreader. Lawn moss will continue to infest you lawn in left un treated. Follow instructions carefully Click here to see our Sulphate of Iron

3. Sow green manure seed into vacant areas in your vegetable garden now, simply sprinkle the seed over the soil area, the seed will germinate and grow quickly adding much needed organic fertiliser to your soil Click here to see our Green Manure

4. Moss on slates, patio slabs and tarmac areas can be cleared now by treating the area with Patio magic. Simply mix with water and apply to the entire Area Click here to see our Patio Magic

5. Family apple trees offer you two eating apples on the one tree and are ideal for growing in patio pots or directly into the soil. Family apple trees will pollinate one another and reward you with great tasting fruit next summer Click here to see our Family Apple Trees

6. Graves can be brightened up now by planting some winter and spring flowering Cyclamen, Pansies, Violas and spring flowering bulbs. You can also place a planted container with winter and spring colour Click here to see our winter and spring flowering plants

7. Collect the last of your lawn cuttings, fallen leaves, un cooked kitchen waste and shredded newspapers and place in a compost bin in layers. Add some compost accelerator to help break down the organic matter quickly. Compost made now will make super useable compost and fertiliser for next season vegetable garden.

8. Garden and song birds should be fed from now until late spring, Sunflower seeds, wild bird mixes and bird peanuts will offer high levels of protein and energy for your garden birds. October is also a good time to clean out old nesting boxes and to place a couple of new nesting boxes around the garden Click here to see our Wildlife and Birdcare

9. Plant hardy hedging plants including Beech, Laurel, Green and golden privet, whitethorn and holly now. Plants planted before the winter will continue to produce a good root structure throughout the winter and make for strong vigorous growth during spring and summer Click here to see our Hedging Plants

10. October remains one of the best months to plant foliage and flowering climbers to cover bare or unsightly walls. I recommend you plant evergreen Ivies, Prycanthea for its lovely winter berries, Self clinging climbing hydrangeas and the free flowering scented climbing roses.

Horkans Gardening Night classes have started again – If you are interested in learning how to care for your garden then call Mairead on 0874100565 for information on up coming gardening classes at Horkans.

Jobs in the garden this week..

7th October 2011

Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips

1. October is the ideal time to replace damaged and dead hedging plants in your garden. Dig out the existing dead plants, remove as much old root as possible and dig in some organic compost before planting your new hardy Hedge Click here to see our Hedging

2. Dwarf apple trees can be planted this week in patio planters or directly out into the fruit garden. Choose a mixture of both eating and cooking varieties to ensure good cross pollination Click here to see our Apple Trees

3. Blackcurrants, red currants and white currants can be planted now in rows Click here to see our Fruit Plants, enrich the soil before planting with Supergrow compost and plant the plants 3feet apart in rows Click here to see our Compost

4. Kill off existing weed growth by applying 360 weedkiller to effected areas, 360 weedkiller will kill all weeds on contact without contaminating the soil. 360 weedkiller can also be used to clear weeds on patio and tarmac driveways Click here to see our Weed Control

5. Plant tulip, daffodils and crocus bulbs now in patio planters and borders for great colour next spring Click here to see our Bulbs

6. Apply Patio Magic to moss on slates, tiles, driveways and footpaths now to kill unwanted moss and lichen growth. Simply mix with water and apply to effected areas in dry weather. Watch your moss disappear Click here to see our Patio Magic

7. Kill lawn moss now with an application of Sulphate of iron applied to the entire lawn area. Apply through a spreader or watering can evenly onto the effected lawn area. Sulphate of Iron can be applied in wet weather Click here to see our Sulphate of Iron

8. October is the ideal time to take cuttings from your favourite plants including Fuchsia, Hydrangeas, Potentillia, buddleia, laurel and willows. Remember to dip the cuttings into rooting powder to help with a stronger root development Click here to see our Rooting Powder

9. Apply an autumn lawn fertiliser to your entire lawn area. Autumn lawn fertiliser greens your grass without forcing growth and helps to kill lawn moss Click here to see our Lawn Fertiliser

10. Its time to plant rhubarb in your garden; choose the early fruiting variety, called Timberely early for strong stems of rich red rhubarb Click here to see our Rhubarb Timperly Early Remember to enrich the soil using organic compost Click here to see our Compost

Visit Horkans lifestyle & Garden centre this weekend and enjoy family lunch in the Bayleaf restaurant which opens every Sunday from 12 to 6pm