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

 

Jobs in the garden this week..

27th September 2011

Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips

1. Sow green manure seed into your vegetable garden now, Green manure will grow during the winter and spring season and can be simply dug into the soil in April where it will add much needed natural nutrition

2. Broad bean seeds can be sown now indoors for planting out into the vegetable garden in mid October. Broad beans sown now will reward you with an early bumper crop of broad beans next summer Click here to see our Vegetable Seeds

3. You still have time to sow vegetable pea seed into the vegetable garden, choose Meteor variety for a quality great tasting pea in early summer Click here to see our Vegetable Seeds

4. Garlic, Hardy spring onions, lettuce and cabbage plants and Japanese onions can still be planted over the next three weeks in your vegetable garden for great fresh pickings in early summer next year

5. Blueberries can be planted any time during September; they are easy to grow, ideal in pots and patio planters and will bear fruit next summer Click here to see our Fruit Plants

6. Plant Fritillaries, Winter aconites, snowdrop and bluebell bulbs now out of doors where you want them to flower next spring. Remember bulbs are easy to grow, very free flowering and will flower this and every spring Click here to see our Flowering Bulbs

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. Start a compost heap in your garden. Add grass clippings, fallen leaves, un cooked household waste, light plant prunings. Remember to add some organic activator to each layer in the compost heap and turn the entire compost heap twice over the winter period.

9. Plant the stunning Virginia creeper now onto house walls and garages. Virginia creeper grows quickly, self clings to concrete and wooded structures and produces amazing colour from autumn to early winter

10. Plant some shallot onions now out of doors for great tasting fresh shallots in April or may next year.

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

Horky's Weekly Gardening Tips

Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips

September 2, 2011

1. Pak Choi or Chinese cabbage can be planted this week for use as a tasty vegetable in October and November. Pak Choi is easy to grow and ideal as a vegetable in stir fry’s or as a green vegetable. Plant it now.
2. Duke of York Christmas potatoes are now ready for planting – Simply plant five potato tubers into a potato planter using Supergrow compost and place in a sunny location out of doors or in a tunnel or greenhouse. By the end of November you potatoes are ready to harvest and store until Christmas.
3. Sweet Pea plants can be sown from seed in early September – Soak the seeds of sweet pea in tepid water over night and sow the following day into Supergrow compost indoors. The plants will be ready to plant out in early November
4. Autumn and winter flowering Cyclamen can be planted now in patio planters and containers for a strong show of colour for the next couple of months.
5. Early September is a good time to tidy up Graves by removing summering bedding that is past its best and replanting with Autumn and winter colour. I recommend you plant Winter flowering pansies and violas, Cyclamen, Winter flowering heathers and the free flowering Polyanthus
6. Savoy cabbage plants can be planted now out of doors in the vegetable garden. Plant a dozen plants to ensure regular cutting from Later winter onwards.
7. Geraniums can be propagated from cuttings taken now from existing plants in your patio planters. Select six inch green stemmed cuttings, remove any flowers and all but two leaves at the tips. Leave to dry for one full day and then insert the cuttings into rooting powder and then into a gritty compost mix. Cover with a polythene bag and place indoors on your window sill until rooted
8. Virginia creeper is the beautiful red foliage climber you see at the moment covering house walls. Early September is the ideal time to plant Virginia creeper to cover bare and unsightly walls. Space the plants 1 metre apart and use Supergrow compost when planting.
9. Dead and damaged hedges should be removed this month and dumped. September is a great time to replant with new hedging plants. Look for the Hardy Laurel hedging to replant with and remember to use Supergrow compost when planting to ensure strong root growth.
10. September is a wonderful time to start a garden compost heap in your garden. Fallen leaves, grass clippings, shredded newspaper, soft weeds and clippings, egg shells, tea bags, coffee granules are just some of the suitable materials to add to your own compost heap. Remember to add a compost activator to help get the helpful bacteria going. Start now and you can look forward to super rich compost in early spring.

Join Paraic Horkan this Saturday morning on the Gardening programme on Midwest radio from 9am to 10am for Ask about autumn gardening.

Horky's Weekly Gardening Tips! 24th August 2011

Jobs in the garden this week..

 

24th August 2011

1. Plant winter and spring flowering bulbs in your garden and planted containers now, Dwarf tulips, dwarf Narcissus and daffodils, crocus and winter aconites can be planted now for strong colour this coming winter and spring Click here to see our Spring flowering Bulbs

2. Autumn and winter flowering Heathers can be planted now, Heathers will flower from early autumn, through winter right up until late spring and are ideal for containers and flower borders. Remember to plant in groups of three or fives Click here to see our Heathers

3. Kill lawn moss now by applying a dressing of Sulphate of Iron lightly but evenly over the grass area. Lawn moss is spreading in your lawn now Click here to see our Sulphate of Iron

4. Plant some autumn and winter cabbage plants now – I recommend you plant some Hispi cabbage and some Savoy cabbage plants for lots of pickings from autumn through winter. Plant a small quantity on a regular basis.

5. Remember to protect your potato crop from late blight. A dressing of Promoxamil applied now will help to protect your potatoes from autumn blight

6. Continue to plant lettuce plants – Look for Butterhead, iceberg and little gem varieties which are ideal for planting now to reward you with great pickings this autumn and winter.

7. Add instant colour to your pots and borders now by planting some free flowering Cyclamen. Cyclamen Mini are now available in a wide selection of colours and are ideal for long – lasting colour in all areas of the garden Click here to see our Cyclamen Mini

8. Late August is the ideal time to plant both flowering and foliage climbers. The beautiful red foliaged Virginia creeper can be planted now to cover shed and house walls. It’s fast growing; self clings and produces a stunning show of red foliage in autumn. Plant clematis, Pyracanthea and climbing hydrangea now Click here to see our Climbing Plants

9. Plant fruit trees and bushes in your garden now, Apple, Pear, cherries, blackcurrants, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries can be planted over the next couple of weeks and will reward you with fruit next summer Click here to see our Fruit

For beautiful autumn foliage colour plant the lovely Cotinus Royal Purple. This stunning plant produces purple foliage from early spring until late autumn at which time the foliage changes to shades of vivid orange and red. Wonderful easy to grow shrub for any garden Click here to see our Cotinus Royal Purple

Horky's Weekly Gardening Tips! 17th August 2011

Jobs in the garden this week..

17th August 2011

1. Control green moss and lichen on patio and driveway areas now by treating the entire area with Patio Magic. Simply Mix the Patio magic treatment in water and apply to the effected areas. Moss and lichen will disappear within days.

2. Spring flowering bulbs including Tulips, Crocus, daffodils, narcissus and snowdrops are now ready for planting in borders and containers. Plant a selection of spring flowering bulbs in clusters of five or seven for the best effect Click here to see our spring flowering bulbs

3. Add instant colour to your pots and borders now by planting some free flowering Cyclamen. Cyclamen are now available in a wide selection of colours and are ideal for long – lasting colour in all areas of the garden Click here to see our Cyclamen

4. When planting Cyclamen I recommend you use Supergrow compost which will add much needed nutrition to the soil ensuring stronger plants and larger blooms Click here to see our compost

5. New Potatoes for Christmas – It’s easy, Plant a selection of the special Christmas seed potatoes into potato pots or tubs in Supergrow compost. Allow the potatoes to grow as normal and harvest a bumper crop of new potatoes just in time for the Christmas dinner. Look for varieties including Maris Piper, red duke of York, and Charlotte Click here to see our Potatoes to harvest for Christmas

6. Treat your lawn to a dressing of autumn lawn fertiliser now. Autumn lawn fertiliser will green your lawn without forcing growth and at the same time kill of lawn moss. Simply apply to the entire lawn now to enjoy a moss free rich green lawn this Autumn Click here to see our Lawncare

7. Winter hardy Japanese onions sets can be planted into the vegetable garden now. Japanese Onion sets are easy to grow, frost hardy and will grow throughout the winter providing you with lots of great pickings next spring.

8. Take cuttings from your favourite plants including Geraniums, Fuchsias, Hydrangeas, dog woods and garden shrubs in general. Remember to dip the base of your cuttings into hormone rooting powder and put into gritty compost Click here to see our Hormone rooting powder

9. Prune back the long shoots on apple and pear trees now, Use a sharp pruning tool and prune the long branches back by two thirds of this year’s growth. This will help to encourage fruiting buds for next year Click here for our pruning tools

     10.Start feeding your garden song birds now, Wild bird food and wild bird peanuts are a welcome source  of protein and energy for your garden birds and help to build up valuable fat reserves in birds before the onslaught of winter Click here to see our Bird Food