WITH summer just around corner, it’s time to start sprucing up the garden.
And Woodie’s gardening expert Brian Burke has shared his tips on how to make sure your outside space is in top condition.
3
3
3
He said: “Now is the ideal time to prep your garden, from rejuvenating your lawn, infusing life into your patio with vibrant potted plants to refreshing your deck with a new layer of paint.
“As the fine weather rolls in, you’ll be rewarded with a space to unwind or enjoy some alfresco dining on those long balmy evenings.”
Speaking to The Irish Sun, he explained that after the winter, you’re looking to “wipe the slate clean”.
He said: “What you’re trying to do with this time of the year in the garden is wipe the slate clean and erase the memory of winter altogether.
“Particularly this year because we had such a long bleak winter right into a couple of weeks ago, it was wet and it was cold and spring is only really starting now.
“It’s a late spring so everything we’re doing in the garden now is trying toerase the memory of winter.
“Things that you’re doing are cultivating flower beds, you’ll be getting ready for planting, you’ll be mulching and feeding some of your plants, you’ll be getting the lawn cut, you might be giving your lawn a feed and you’ll be thinking about planting.”
To add colour to your garden, Brian recommends perennial plants, saying: “We’ve really enjoyed a long bleak wet winter so we’re desperate for a bit of colour in our lives now and perennial plants are going to provide it.”
For luscious, thick green grass, Brian said: “The top tip would be to apply an iron rich feed three times a year – that’s the key. Another key is to keep it cut over the winter, this is one of the things that doesn’t necessarily occur to people to do but if you can keep your grass cut over the winter time you’ll definitely see the benefit of that come spring.
“Keep it cut, don’t cut it too and just remove the weeds organically, remove them by hand rather than applying any kind of invasive chemicals.”
He also recommends scarifying, aeration and overseeding.
Regarding his top tip for banishing weeds, Brian swears by mulching – a process of putting anything that was formerly living, such as wood fibre, bark, wood chip or sawdust, on the beds.
For patios and potted flowers, he recommends hand weeding.
He adds that in an effort to clean up the space and make it like-new, power washing decks, fences, sheds and paths is a good way to do this.
Create a sheltered space
Brian also recommends creating a sheltered area outdoors to host people during the summer months and move some of the living space outside – no matter if its sunny or drizzling.
When designing your garden, Brian recommends: “Think about how the garden should be a reflection of how you live and what your priorities and preferences are.
“Think very clearly about the way you use the garden and that will inform a lot of the decisions that you make.”
Woodies is selling everything you need to prepare balconies, yards and garden spaces.
This includes outdoor paints, nourishing plant feeds and essential garden power tools.
Planting advice
In every Woodie’s store is a horticulturist to advise customers on summer planting.
Brian is a Bord Bia Bloom multi-medalist and is now taking part as a judge on RTÉ Super Garden.
The winner will have the unique opportunity to share their garden design at the Bord Bia Bloom this summer.
Brian is also judging the Woodie’s Budding Gardeners Competition which encourages children to discover “The Power of Plants”.
The competition is open to schools, families and households with closing date for receipt of all entries is on May 31.
Some of the items available in Woodies now includes Cuprinol and Hammerite outdoor paint which is now on offer with three for two, mix and match.
The Goulding All Purpose Lawn seed is now on offer, and shoppers can get two for €20.
Shoppers can pick up the Prolawn electric 53cm lawnmower with Hyundai engine for just €399.99, saving shoppers €50.
For plant lovers, one litre of Goulding All Purpose Plant Food is now two for €13.
There are a range of flowers included in a three for two, mix and match offer including Marigold and Petunia six packs.
The items are available online on Woodies.ie and in stores.
