Winter gardens in the making

Andrew Farrelly , head gardener at Ballintubbert, Co Laois, gives top tips for the new year garden

MANY people see winter as a time to ignore their garden, but there are plenty of things you can be doing through the winter months to ensure that you continue to enjoy the pleasures of gardening all year round and that you’re ready for the year ahead.

1 Make leaf mould: Rake and bag or stack fallen leaves then wait at least 18 months until you have black, crumbly soil. Keep it separate from your compost heap as it’s slow to break down. Leaf mould makes superb mulch for weed suppression and water conservation.