Midwest Radio Gardening Show

Climbing plants are a great gardening staple at this time of year, with many coming into their own as temperatures dip. On this programme Paraic explains about the transition from green to autumnal colours and looks at some of great climbing options in detail. There's discussion on clematis winter beauty, pyracantha, passion flower, varietgated ivy and others with recommendations for planting right now. There's also information on taking cuttings from begonias, an in depth look at pruning apple trees and super tips rejuvenating old hydrangea plants. Questions from listeners addressed in this episode include caring for Arthur Bell roses, overwintering angels wings, olive trees and geraniums, suggestions for window boxes at this time of year, changing the soil in tulip pots, counteracting weeds in a new lawn and suggestions for plants on graves that will endure through winter.

As Autumn starts to take a firmer hold, this week Paraic looks at fruiting plants which can be sown in patio pots or directly into the garden soil right now, and there's a wealth of plants to choose from - raspberries, black, red and white currants, blueberries, strawberries, rhubarb, apples, pears and plumbs can all be planted now. September is also a great time to plant braodleaf trees, with many flower trees excellent for biodiversity. Trees that produce flowers and berries include sorbus, holly, malus and cotoneaster offering nectar, pollen and fruits to support insect and animal life. There's advice on putting in a new lawn, moving roses, treating wire worm in carrots and potatoes and trimming back red robin. Listeners questions include cutting back peoney roses, overwintering the coleous plant, sowing seeds of aqualegia, sweet william and lupins, dealing with ash dieback, sowing a hedge of holly, tips for helleborus and growing watermelon and aubergine in polytunnel.

As we head into Autumn this weeks programme looks at lawn care at this time of year. Paraic discusses how to prevent lawn problems before they start, there's information on getting a head start on moss, things to watch out for when lawns are hungry and need feeding and to steps that can be taken to keep weeds at bay. It's also time to think about planting up bulbs for winter and early spring colour. Paraic showcases a range of bulbs available now including narcissii, muscari, winter achonites and bluebells, and there's a reminder on vegetables that can be sown now including onions, mustard from seed, turnips and pea shoots. For those considering propogating cuttings Paraic outlines the key steps to ensure success. Listeners questions this week include brussel sprouts not growing very well, crows attacking potatoe tubers, how to control wild rhubarb, eradicating hard grass naturally, suggestions for a fast growing seaside hedge and trees for a church ground that would favour carbon absoportion.

In the first show for Autumn 2021 Paraic introduces the all new "capability" hand trowel, new to the market and a brilliant gardening tool for all gardeners as it cuts plants, hammers and serates in addition to digging soil. Early autumn temperatures have remained high which lends to super gardening weather. For those considering sowing a new lawn, September is the perfect time and Paraic discussed the steps involved in detail. There's also discussion on the benefits of planting green manure, particularly where potatoes or summer veg have been lifted. There's lots of options for those replanting vegetables and Paraic looked at different varities of purple broccoli, cabbage, kale and winter lettuce. There's a reminder of options for weed control and Paraic advocates regular use of the garden hoe for best results. This edition of the programme also features a round up of listeners questions including cutting back roses, pruning hydrangeas, harvesting potatoes and care of hedges among others.

With good weather promised, this week is an ideal time to start feeding flowering plants with liquid feed, and it's also a super time to propogate plants from cuttings or slips with some great tips on how to go about that this week from Paraic. There's also a reminder on treating for aphid damage which is expected to be prevalent in coming days. On foot of queries from listener's there's a further reminder on treating for blight and Paraic looks at some cottage garden plants that will add long term colour to gardens and borders with lilies, salvia and lobelia all featured. There's advice on disease in roses and how to treat, and what to do with aphid damage on lupins and how to manage lupins going to seed. Other topics this week include poor fruiting return on strawberry plants, sowing wildflower seeds in a lawn, the difference between short and long day plants and samples of each, and information on indoor plants such as aspidistra, colous and schefflera.

This programme opens with a reminder on treatment for blight on foot of a warning for the fungus from Met Eireann. There's a feature on cottage garden plants which are widely available in garden centres at the moment providing lots of different options for colour over the summer months. There's information on house plants too – Paraic discusses Easter and Christmas cacti and takes us through the steps for propogation and also looks at the growth and care of echeveria. Outside in the garden Paraic explains how to take cutting from roses and other soft woods, how to deal with slug damage on dahlias, dividing lilies, and growing choosian palm which does really well outdoors in Ireland. Listeners questions include yellowing on little gem lettuce, the best trees for absorbing carbon, root damage on pansies, greenfly on plum, transplanting and propogating chinese and chilean lantern, repotting dracena marginata, suckers growing on carpet roses and tips for starting water lilies in a pond.

Warmer temperatures and humidity triggers a blight warning from forecasters and this week Paraic advises treatment as soon as possible and discusses the various treatment options available, from the more traditional to those currently available in stores. There's also a focus on watering plants and containers with a recommendation to water the soil rather than the plants themselves. There are really good planting conditions at the moment so there's lots of options for planting into borders and bringing some colour to patio pots and containers, and June is also a great month for sowing and reseeding lawns so Paraic has some great tips on how to encourage new growth and get new lawns looking their best as soon as possible. Plants in focus this week are the Trapaeolum Speciosum or the perennial nasturium (Scottish flame creeper) which is very fast growing but can be difficult to propogate, while peoney roses, lupins and sweet william all come in for some attention. Listeners questions in this edition of the prog

This week's programme opens with a reminder about the virtual Bloom at Home event taking place this weekend which features live demonstrations on gardening, food and wellbeing for the bank holiday weekend. For those venturing into the garden this coming week Paraic reminds us that planting is still excellent with plants growing really well right now. There's a feature on herbaceous perennials for those new to gardening including campanula, salvia, lupins, perennial geraniums and phlox among others. As potatoes start to come in significant growth there's information on applying a protective spray in advance of any significant warning being issued and Paraic explained how blight resistant varieties work. Listeners questions in this episode include planting dogwood in damp areas, pests attracted to cherry trees, winter hedges, black spot on roses, rhubarb going to seed, moisture loving plants and yellow leaves on petunias.

Virtual Bloom is just around the corner and this week Paraic reminds listeners how they can register for the event and take part. Hanging baskets can be put out now as plants burst into flower over the next few weeks. Non stop begonias, dahlias and geraniums can finally be planted out and there's a reminder to stay on top of the slugs and snails as they've been relishing the recent damp conditions. Plants featured in this programme include the spectacular Bombina begonia and the peniculata varieties of hyndrangea. There's information on watering and trimming back excess growth on tomatoe plants and advice on dealing with weed growth in new lawns. Problems with laurel hedges are also addressed – Paraic gives recommendations for hedging more suited to wet soil and looks at how laurels already planted in water prone ground can be improved. Listeners questions feature summer bedding, moving peoney roses, trees for coastal areas, feed rhubarb, planting cherry blossoms, moving formium and giving the chelsea chop to

Seeds in general can be planted right now – flowering, herbs and vegetables – and many seed varieties can be sown directly into your garden soil. As it's also a great time to repair damaged patches and plant up new lawns week Paraic advises on how to get your lawn in tip top condition. There's inforamtion on treating Mare's Tail weeds which are becoming very prevalent right now and it's ideal tomatoe planting time, while peppers and chillies can also sown at the moment. There's a timely reminder to feed plants in order to maximise any damp conditions before warmer temperatures take hold, and some great tips on growing strawberries including the use of mytex to protect fruit and supress weeds. Listeners questions include aphid damage on magnolia leaves, transplanting lupin seedlings, scorched variegated grisilinia, problems with macrocarpa goldcrest, sourcing pink english lavender, planting out canna and calla lilies, tips for sowing berberis and whitethorn, ideas for pots for July, californian lilac and daph

The growing season has begun in earnest. This week the programme looks at how to keep on top of weeds and Paraic reminds us of the importance of feeding at this time of the year. There's a great selection of vegetables available now for planting and many can still also be sown from seed – broccoli, kale and cabbage all feature this week. The programme contains considerable discussion on tomatoes which are now coming into flower with the sungold variety coming in for special mention. Paraic also focuses on organic solutions to pest control – nematodes are now available as preventative measure for leatherjackets, slugs and snails, while for those growing hostas the benefits of garlic wonder are explained. There's information on adding magnesium and iron to soil, planting peoney roses and growing green manure. Listeners questions include how to prevent rhubarb running to seed, good ground covering perennials, the difference between using mini and composted bark, suggestions for small weeping trees, tips on grow

The growing season continues to be challenged by weather conditions and cooler temperatures have held back any significant growth so far this year, however temperatures are set to increase and that means growth should be visible very soon. Paraic gives some advice on general feeding patterns for the next couple of weeks to give plants that all important boost to maximise growth and advocated removing any visible dead material at the same time. There's information on sowing seeds, and conditions are idea for vegetable plants. It's also tomatoe planting time and Paraic looks at totem and tumber varieties for anyone wishing to plant tomatoes outside. In anticipating of an explosion in weed growth there's advice on how to keep weed problems at bay and for those looking for some long last summer colour there's a special feature on cottage garden plants – nepeta, geum, salvia, day lily, phlox and lupins are all discussed in detail. Other topics this week include frost damage on potatoes, feeding laws, the many diff

May the first brings lots of traditions and this week Paraic reminded listeners of an old celtic tradition of leaving yellow flowers at neighbours houses as a symbol of good fortune for the season ahead. Cooler nighttime temperatures persist resulting in continuing scorching on younger plants, so again Paraic gives a timely reminder of the need to protect and maintain softer plants indoors for another week or so. There's some colour now available in hardier plants such as calceolaria and nemesia – both feature in some detail on the programme. There's also information on feeding plants right now, Paraic recommends feeding all plants at this time of year as growth firmly starts to take hold. There's advice on how to get rid of briars, bee friendly greenfly treatment and how to prevent hares from damaging hornbeam hedging. Listeners questions include recommendations for blight resistant seed potatoes, gogi berry plants not fruiting, how to prevent bluebells spreading, treatment for damaged camelias, propogating

Daytime temperatures are on the increase and the foreceast is for ideal gardening weather so this week the programe focused on protecting softer plants and new growth against any night frosts while also boosting growth that has started to take hold. Potato stalks should be covered if exposed and plants can still be split for this year. Active growth also means that plants need feeding and Paraic reminded listeners to watch for watering, particularly in pots and containers. The programme features a discussion on herbs including savoury and helichrysum and colour this week is provided in the form of miniature sunflowers and celosia. Listeners questions feature pruning and planting bottlebrush, scarifying a lawn, problems with laurels in seaside locations, growing a Williams pear tree, planting out petunia seedlings, pruning conifers, cotoneaster and hydrangea hedges, growing japanese gladioli, grafting a plum tree and growing tomoatoes in a vegepod.

Frost damage remains a risk at the moment, so, amid reports of scorching on new growth, Paraic gives advice on how to overcome any temporary setbacks during April with recommendations for trimming off any damaged growth. Additionally, feeding to reinvigorate plants should set them up for a good growing year. As growth kicks in more generally, now is the time to prune hydrangeas, roses and other summer flowering plants. There is information on growing vegetables from seed – turnips (snowball and milan varieties), parsnips (gladiator), broccoli (green magic), carrot (maestro), cabbage (primo) and beetroot (rainbow mix) are all featured. And, for those seeking some summer colour, hardy annuals such as godetia, cornflowers, night scented stock and calendula are good options which can all be sown easily now. The cape mallow, passiflora and fig tree also feature on the programme this week. Paraic discusses the drift planting approach to cover bare areas and suppress weeds, while listeners questions include greenfl

Colder night time temperatures continue to present a challenge for young tender planst and this week the programme opens with some good advice on how best to protect plants from frost damage. Paraic advocates the use of garden fleece over the coming week for plants already in the ground and suggests that planting out is held off for a little bit longerr until temperatures improve. The programme looks at semi frost hardy plants that can be sown at the moment – lavatera barnseley baby, parahebee avalanche and geranium roseanne are all easy to grow options with long flowering results. As the season is late this year there's still time to move plants and Paraic has advice on the best approach depending on the plants involved. There's information on how to treat laurels going yellow, forsythia not flowering, moving daffodils, maintaining a poinsettia and planting a low flowering border. Liseners questions also include sowing a wildflower meadow, sowing azaleas, begonias, strawberries and red profusion tomatoes,

Recent frosty nights have had an impact on tender young plants and early buds this season so Paraic opened the programme this week with a timely reminder about protecting new growth against sub zero nighttime temperatures. There were also some great ideas for Easter colour with dianthus, gerbera and osteospermum all featured in detail. Paraic advised on a range of topics including planting strawberries in raised beds and vegepods, moving daffodils while still 'in the green' and starting off a beehive. The programme also looked at some suitable climbers for a long shade favouring wall. Listeners questions this week explored why azalea buds may not be opening, sowing peas from seed, repotting seedum and the benefits of a chelsea chop, trimming back hebes, climbing hydrangea and escallonia, protecting rocket from flea beetle, transplanting sycamore, care of indoor plants such as anthuriaum and mother-in-law's tongue, and planting suggestions for a low flowering bed.

As spring is a little slow to get up and running this year the programme this week looked at jobs that can still be done by way of tidying up the garden. Paraic recommended getting out the secaturs and trimming back any plants that might benefit from pruning. He also encouraged listeners to consider purchasing plants early in order to avoid disappointment should stocks become scarce due to unprecedeneted demand. Easter is just around the corner and there are lots of options to introduce some colour to gardens with some really vibrant pansies and osteospermum available at the moment. Vegetables can be sown outdoors now, and with potatoe planting in full swing there was some timely advice for those growing this much loved staple. It's also time to prune back hydrangeas and Paraic had some great tips for planting projects for with children. Listeners questions on the programme included transplanting laurels, liverwort in shrubs, starting a new garden from scratch, sowing sweet box shrub and revitalising a dehydr

In this programme, the first of 2021, Paraic looks at all the different tasks that can be undertaken as gardens unfurl from winter and awaken into spring, from tips on general tidying up chores to considerations on what to plant for the upcoming gardening year. There's information on lawns and a discussion on the benefits of planting a wildflower lawn which is especially suited to certain coastal conditions. Brexit and other factors have impacted the availability of seed potatoes this year which are in much demand at the moment. Those available include Vita Bella, Cara, Foxton and Navan and Paraic recommends getting them early amid predictions of scarcity to come. Many vegetables can also be planted and the programme features a segments on planting vegetables in both a belfast sink and a vegepod. While its important to protect seedlings at night time, hardy plants are perectly fine to put into the ground right now, and it's also a great time for divisioning with hostas, agapanthus, snowdrops ad arum lillies

Windy conditions courtesty of Storm Aidan has yielded a lot of fallen leaves and in this final programme for 2020 Paraic discusses using leaf litter over the coming weeks to start or add to composting. It's almost November – a month to propogate, plant and protect. There's advice on taking cuttings, sowing bare root hedging and protecting tender plants from cooler temperatures and nighttime frosts. Apple, pear, plum and cherry trees can all be planted now. It's also a time to clean out greenhouses and polytunnels, divide plants such as hostas, and plant up bulbs either in the ground or in pots as they generally won't last the winter season in bags. Listeners questions included moving and caring for camelias, dealing with large groups of millipedes, spraying for blackspot on escallonia, using Zero to remove moss from apple trees and tips on getting rid of ivy. In addition, there's advice on companion planting potatoes and mustard seed to help control wire worm, growing orange trees in Ireland, pollinating mulb