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Peter Dowdall (1)

Peter Dowdall

Garden designer, horticulturalist and broadcaster Peter Dowdall creates sustainable rooms outside and is a passionate advocate for greener cities.

Peter Dowdall: St Patrick's Street sets the seeds for a cooler, greener Cork

Peter Dowdall: St Patrick's Street sets the seeds for a cooler, greener Cork

The new greening pilot scheme aims to make the city more welcoming as well as boost business and biodiversity

Thu, 20 Aug, 2026

Nature photography with tablet

Peter Dowdall: Summer shows us exactly what we need to do in our gardens

July is the perfect month to walk around our rooms outside, see what’s going on, make notes and take pictures

Fri, 17 Jul, 2026

Stachys byzantina (Lamb's Ears) flower in the summer garden

Peter Dowdall: Let's hear it for lamb's ear and other remarkably resilient plants

Some plants have evolved so that they not only survive conditions that leave everything else wilting but also look their best while doing so

Wed, 01 Jul, 2026

Garden Q&A: Our griselinea hedge is dying. What should we do?

Garden Q&A: Our griselinea hedge is dying. What should we do?

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026

Bord Bia Bloom 2026

Peter Dowdall: We might not have the budget or space for a show garden, but Bloom winners like this show us what is possible

Native plants alongside drought-tolerant species reflect the need for resilience and sustainability in modern Irish gardens

Tue, 02 Jun, 2026

Peter Dowdall: What to see and do at Mallow Home & Garden Festival this weekend

Peter Dowdall: What to see and do at Mallow Home & Garden Festival this weekend

'Long before social media, gardeners swapped plants and advice over fences. Festivals like Mallow continue that tradition on a larger scale'

Tue, 19 May, 2026

Gray tabby cat sniffing catmint in the summer garden

Peter Dowdall: Why these plants are catnip to every gardener

Alliums are bulbs we plant in autumn and come spring, they make us realise we've done rather well. They combine beautifully with catmint, nepeta, and geraniums

Wed, 06 May, 2026

Garden Q&A: Our hedge has black, withered leaves. What will help?

Garden Q&A: Our hedge has black, withered leaves. What will help?

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions

Tue, 05 May, 2026

Garden Q&A: My rhubarb has thrown up a flower spike. Should I cut it off?

Garden Q&A: My rhubarb has thrown up a flower spike. Should I cut it off?

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions

Wed, 29 Apr, 2026

In spring, milkweed (Euphorbia amygdaloides) grows in the wild

Euphorbia: the reliable, adaptable plant for every garden

Explore the adaptable beauty of Euphorbias, from resilient natives to stunning garden varieties like Tasmanian Tiger, perfect for year-round appeal.

Sat, 04 Apr, 2026