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