Tired of guesswork and gimmicks? We unpack Christmas gifts that gardeners actually want and use, blending practical tools, cosy comforts, and learning experiences that make a real difference outdoors. Stephen and Eibhlin, long-time listeners at different stages in their gardening journeys, join us to bring fresh ideas that fit small patios, big plots, tight budgets, and thoughtful splurges. We start with essentials that earn their keep: quality secateurs paired with a holster, gloves that ba...
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Tired of guesswork and gimmicks? We unpack Christmas gifts that gardeners actually want and use, blending practical tools, cosy comforts, and learning experiences that make a real difference outdoors. Stephen and Eibhlin, long-time listeners at different stages in their gardening journeys, join us to bring fresh ideas that fit small patios, big plots, tight budgets, and thoughtful splurges. We start with essentials that earn their keep: quality secateurs paired with a holster, gloves that ba...
Tired of guesswork and gimmicks? We unpack Christmas gifts that gardeners actually want and use, blending practical tools, cosy comforts, and learning experiences that make a real difference outdoors. Stephen and Eibhlin, long-time listeners at different stages in their gardening journeys, join us to bring fresh ideas that fit small patios, big plots, tight budgets, and thoughtful splurges. We start with essentials that earn their keep: quality secateurs paired with a holster, gloves that ba...
Planning a hedge can feel like a maze: endless species, mixed advice, and pressure to get it right for the long haul. We cut through the noise with a clear framework that starts with purpose, respects your site, and ends with a shortlist you can trust. Whether you want privacy that feels soft, a living windbreak, neat garden rooms, or a wildlife corridor buzzing with life, you’ll find practical picks and honest trade-offs. We dive into deciduous stalwarts like beech and hornbeam, explaining ...
A warm, rain-soaked week and a thoughtful listener email sparked a timely deep dive into a familiar garden tension: how do you build a biodiversity-rich space that everyone agrees looks beautiful? We take you step by step through turning a former lawn into a living ecosystem, balancing what pollinators need with what people want to see. If you’ve ever faced the “it looks messy” critique, this guide offers design moves that flip the script without sacrificing wildlife value. We start by reset...
A single pepper from a Ukrainian market changed everything. That first bite—thick flesh, layered sweetness, a whisper of heat—sent us and our guest, Adam Alexander (the Seed Detective), down a path that connects flavour, resilience and the quiet power of gardeners who save seed. This is a celebration of living varieties that learn your soil and light, improve with each season, and taste far better than supermarket sameness. We dig into the craft of selection: saving seed from the earliest, m...
What if your garden boundary could feed you, shelter wildlife, and still keep a clean line against the field next door? We dive into the art of building an edible hedge that does real work: a thorny native backbone for structure and stock-proofing, layered with fruiting shrubs, nuts, and small trees that lift harvests through the seasons. Starting with hawthorn and blackthorn as the core, we show how holly adds winter presence and bird food, while hazel punctuates the run with future nut crop...
The garden might look like it’s winding down, but this is where the smart gains happen. We dig into why autumn gives trees and shrubs a head start: soil stays warm, air cools, energy shifts below ground, and roots quietly get to work while you do less. If you’ve ever been told to wait for spring, you’ll hear exactly how that advice costs time, water, and success. I walk through the plant physiology that makes September to November a sweet spot for establishment, then compare it with the real...
A windswept island garden, a storm‑proof polycrub, and a no‑dig mindset that turns soil into a living engine—this conversation with Lovely Greens’ Tanya Anderson is a masterclass in practical, organic resilience. We head to the Isle of Man to unpack how climate shapes design, why keeping crops low beats the wind, and how a Shetland‑born polycrub unlocks peppers and aubergines where summer heat rarely arrives. Along the way, we explore wood chip paths that become compost, perennial borders tha...
Your home can feel calmer in minutes—no renovation, no paint—just smarter, kinder plant choices. We sat down with Louise Ryan, plant lover and founder of Sunfleck in Dungarvan, to unpack how indoor greenery genuinely lowers stress, shapes better rooms, and becomes a deeply personal part of daily life. Louise brings the science and the soul: from the psychology of green and texture to practical steps that stop plant funerals. We dig into the essentials: how to judge your light properly, why d...
Ever wondered how to create a garden that works with nature rather than against it? In this captivating conversation, filmmaker and permaculture practitioner Shane Hatton shares the remarkable evolution of Bosco's Garden in County Kilkenny – a living laboratory where permaculture principles have created a thriving ecosystem. Shane's journey began simply with a polytunnel and a raised bed in 2012, experiencing the typical failures and successes of a beginning gardener. The watershed moment ca...
Autumn's fiery display has arrived slightly earlier this year in Irish gardens, with drought-stressed trees and shrubs responding to recent winds and rain by transforming their foliage into spectacular shades of red, orange, and gold. This timing creates the perfect opportunity to witness these botanical performers at their peak and introduce them to your own garden landscape. This episode reveals my carefully curated list of ten exceptional plants for autumn color, divided between shrubs an...
Imagine transforming your garden with a beautiful perennial border—all grown from seed at a fraction of the cost of buying established plants. This episode kicks off our exciting Perennial Grow Along project, guiding you through the entire journey from seed to spectacular flowering plants. Growing perennials from seed isn't just economical; it fills gardeners with immense pride. There's something truly special about nurturing a tiny seed into a magnificent flowering plant that will grace you...
Gardening isn't static—it evolves as we learn, as plants grow, and as our vision for our outdoor spaces changes. Today's episode tackles the art and science of moving plants within your garden, a skill that frees you to redesign without starting over or breaking the bank. We begin by exploring the foundational principle of "right plant, right place" that should guide your initial planting decisions. Understanding your garden's conditions and matching them to plant requirements can prevent th...
Wondering what to plant as summer wanes? Don't put away those seed packets just yet! September offers the perfect conditions for establishing winter-hardy crops that will provide fresh harvests throughout the coldest months. This episode explores the often-overlooked opportunities of September sowing, focusing on crops that thrive when planted now. While the list may be shorter than spring and summer guides, these strategic plantings deliver exceptional value. Discover which lettuce varietie...
Spring flowering bulbs are gardening's ultimate return on investment. Planted from September through November, these botanical powerhouses burst forth from winter's grip with waves of colour that evolve from the first snowdrops after Christmas through magnificent tulips and alliums in late May. What sets bulbs apart from other garden plants is their remarkable ability to naturalize—multiplying year after year with zero additional effort. Plant a single daffodil bulb this autumn, and next spr...
Water might be the most overlooked factor in garden success. As temperatures soar and rainfall becomes scarce across the UK and Ireland, understanding proper watering techniques has never been more crucial for garden survival. This episode tackles the surprisingly complex art of effective watering. While not the most glamorous gardening topic, it addresses the root cause of numerous garden problems listeners have been experiencing recently. From struggling roses to disease-prone hedges and u...
Soil health emerges as the unlikely hero in our quest to feed a growing population, reverse climate change, and restore human health in this eye-opening conversation with documentary filmmaker Josh Tickell. As the creative force behind the acclaimed "Kiss the Ground" and "Common Ground" documentaries, Josh brings decades of environmental advocacy experience and firsthand observations from regenerative farms across the globe. The conversation challenges fundamental assumptions about our food ...
Welcome to your essential guide for August gardening success! As summer peaks and the first harvests fill our kitchens, smart gardeners are already planning their next moves. This episode unpacks exactly what you should be sowing now to maintain productivity through autumn and beyond. The transition from July to August brings significant changes in the garden. I've just returned from holiday to find dramatic growth (and sadly, some losses in the heatwave), reminding me how crucial proper pla...
Dive deep into the fascinating world of wildlife ponds with expert Ashley Dowling, who reveals that creating a thriving aquatic ecosystem involves far more than simply digging a hole and filling it with water. This episode uncovers the secrets to designing pond environments that genuinely support biodiversity through thoughtful construction and planting. Ashley shares her expertise on creating multi-layered pond structures that provide diverse habitats for different creatures. From deep area...
Garden enthusiasts, mark your calendars! The Carlow Garden Festival returns for its annual celebration of horticultural excellence, running from July 26th to August 3rd, 2024. This year's lineup features an extraordinary collection of gardening luminaries, innovative formats, and breathtaking garden settings across Carlow. The festival opens with a fascinating pairing as BBC Gardener's World presenter Adam Frost sits down with Irish rugby star Peter O'Mahony to explore how gardening provides...
Transform your garden with powerful homemade fertilisers hiding in plain sight! This episode dives into the world of natural plant nutrition, answering listener Cian's question about nettle and comfrey teas. Discover why these humble "weeds" might be your garden's greatest untapped resource. Nettle tea, packed with nitrogen, creates remarkably resilient leafy growth with glossier, darker foliage that naturally resists pests and disease. Meanwhile, comfrey provides the potassium boost floweri...
Tired of guesswork and gimmicks? We unpack Christmas gifts that gardeners actually want and use, blending practical tools, cosy comforts, and learning experiences that make a real difference outdoors. Stephen and Eibhlin, long-time listeners at different stages in their gardening journeys, join us to bring fresh ideas that fit small patios, big plots, tight budgets, and thoughtful splurges. We start with essentials that earn their keep: quality secateurs paired with a holster, gloves that ba...
