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Gardening

Your home for gardening tips, inspiration, news and features.

<p>The oak tree on the grounds of St Patrick's Church in Rochestown, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan</p>

home and gardens

Peter Dowdall: Trees like this oak in Rochestown in Cork root us in the wider story

'To stand in front of a tree that has lived far beyond our lifetime is to be reminded that what we do now will shape the world long after we’re gone'

<p>This year, when you go in search of some winter bling for the garden, instead of filling trolleys with plants that act like disposable decorations, perhaps you could think a little differently about winter beauty, writes Peter Dowdall. File picture</p>

home and gardens

Peter Dowdall: Walk on the wild side and seek out sustainable winter garden bling

<p>A hellebore among bulbs in a Christmas display pot. Picture: Alamy</p>

home and gardens

Gardening: How to make your Christmas bulbs last longer

Backyard after a Week of Rain

home and gardens

Garden Q&A: My lawn looks a mess this winter. What can I do?

A Jack Russell Terrier running in backyard with steel fence and green lawn.

home and gardens

Home Q&A: I want to adopt a dog, but my garden is not fenced

Interior design decor with potted orchid flowers and bookcase next to window

home and gardens

Peter Dowdall: How to keep your houseplants happy this winter

Close-up of frost on plant leaves in the Fall

Garden Q&A: What's the best way to protect trees and shrubs from frost?

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

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

I hated leaf blowers, now I love them: A convert's guide

I hated leaf blowers, now I love them: A convert's guide

What you need to know to blast bothersome leaf fall into submission

Sun, 30 Nov, 2025

First autumn frost in the garden. Dahlia flower bed damaged after first killing frost of the season. Frozen dahlia plants, end o

Peter Dowdall: Frost signals season's end for certain plants. Here's how to manage their downtime

The first real cold snap of the season always seems to catch us the same way, no matter how many years we’ve been gardening or how often we reassure ourselves that we’re ready for winter

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

Wild Mushrooms On The Forest Floor

Garden Q&A: Mushrooms are popping up in my lawn and flower beds. Why?

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

Wed, 26 Nov, 2025

Darmera peltata pink flowers with green background

Work with the weather: The dogwoods, willows, and irises that thrive in waterlogged Irish gardens

Some plants are happy in the wet weather

Mon, 24 Nov, 2025

Verbena Bonariensis flowers

GARDEN Q&A: Is it okay to cut back perennials

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

Sun, 23 Nov, 2025

Snowdrop flowers blooming in winter

Garden Digest: Winter flower demos and gala club events

Check out all the garden club demonstrations, talks, events, campaigns and online resources

Sun, 16 Nov, 2025

Camellia flower fallen leaves

Peter Dowdall: Stars of November shine brightly in our gardens

All the fluff and fuss of summer has gone now, and what’s left is structure, scent, and some real top performers

Fri, 14 Nov, 2025

How to create the perfect winter garden

How to create the winter garden of your dreams

From frost-hardy plants to bright-coloured foliage, here's how to grow a winter wonderland outside your own home

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

Planting spring flowers in the garden

Garden Q&A: Is there still time to plant spring bulbs in November?

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

Tue, 11 Nov, 2025

Daphne bholua 'Jacqueline Postill'

Garden Digest: Winter flower demonstrations and gala events

Check out all the garden demos, tours, talks, events, campaigns and online resources for the room outside

Mon, 10 Nov, 2025

Blue spring flowers (Scilla siberica) blooming in fresh soil amidst a garden setting

Peter Dowdall: Get out in the garden and get planting this weekend. Your future self will thank you in spring

If those bags of bulbs are still sitting by the back door, don’t feel guilty. November is the perfect time. The soil is still soft, and the temperatures are cool enough. Bulbs are wonderfully forgiving, and there’s still time for them to settle in

Fri, 07 Nov, 2025

Hemlock Water-dropwort - Oenanthe crocata

Revealed: The deadly plants gardeners and foragers need to know about

From the poisonous yew to beautiful blooms and the garlic lookalikes with lethal powers, here's what you need to look out for

Wed, 05 Nov, 2025

Autumn portrait of the little kitten wearing the pink-gray knitted scarf. Cat sitting outdoors on fallen yellow leaves in a gard

Garden Q&A: Should I still cut the grass on my lawn in winter?

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

Mon, 03 Nov, 2025

Close up of perennial sweet pea flowers

Garden Q&A: Why didn't my perennial sweet pea bloom this year?

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

Tue, 28 Oct, 2025

Autumn panorama in the mountains, in a remote rural area

Peter Dowdall: Compost turns fallen leaves from what we once called rubbish into riches

'In the wild, no one gathers up the fallen leaves or hauls them to the dump. They’re left to return to the soil. By spring, they’ve become humus that feeds roots, fungi, and insects'

Sat, 25 Oct, 2025

Blackcap; Sylvia atricapilla; female on holly berries

These berries will make your garden a magnet for birds

Our feathered friends prefer some berry-bearing trees and shrubs to others when stocking up for the season. Here's what you need to know

Wed, 22 Oct, 2025

Apple trees in an orchard

Garden Q&A: How can I combat the fungus that attacks my apple trees every year?

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

Mon, 20 Oct, 2025

Pile of fallen leaves is collected with a rake on the lawn in the park. Seasonal gardening.

Garden Q&A: Should I clear up fallen leaves or let wildlife enjoy them?

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

Wed, 15 Oct, 2025

Overgrown fruit garden with red apples and old water pump

Garden Q&A: Is October a good month to plant apple trees?

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

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Red apple growing on branch in summer sunshine

Garden Q&A: Why's the fruit from my apple tree so small this year?

Would thinning them out earlier have made a difference, and is there anything I can do to improve the size and quality in future?

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Autumn

Peter Dowdall: Putting your garden to bed for autumn and winter

It's time to consider what to cut back and what to leave

Sat, 27 Sep, 2025

Elegant Calla Lily Arrangement in Keukenhof, Netherlands

GARDEN Q&A: My calla lilies will not flower

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

Sun, 21 Sep, 2025

Apple tree in old apple orchard horizontal.

Peter Dowdall: Planting memories, not just apples

As well as producing food, apple trees are rooted in our culture

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

Joyful optimistic couple living together

How to create a dream garden if you’re renting a property

Chelsea gold-medal winner Jamie Butterworth has been a renter all his adult life. This is how he makes the most of his outdoor space

Thu, 18 Sep, 2025

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