June Newsletter

Hello and welcome again to our monthly delve into the gardening world….I hope we find you well this day and wish you all good times this summer, here's hoping the good weather continues. In this months issue we look into how you can avoid your weekend being dominated by weeding, super shrubs to give you real colour this & every summer, some garden products to make your life easier, garden furniture to make your mouth water, Fathers Day presents, and we answer some of your gardening questions. Remember You can contact any of the NATIONAL AWARD WINNING Horkans team on 071 38870 for all your gardening queries or alternatively send them to us at info@gardencentre.ie and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. PLANT IN FOCUS PURPLE SMOKE BUSH How do I create year-round interest in my garden? Choosing trees and shrubs for the contrast in forms as well as colours helps to make the garden lively throughout the year. Combine shapes, including cloud-shaped trees with weeping ones or next to fastigiated types. Position deciduous trees and shrubs near evergreens, so that they emphasize each other's forms. The silhouetted tracery of the empty branches in winter complements the more defined shape of the evergreens. Vary the greens and have bluey-greens and limey green to add interest. Some conifers take on rusty tones in winter; pick these for the warmth they will bring to the scene. The rich purple-leaved shrubs and trees such as the Red leaved Norway maples, the deep purple-black of Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra' and smoke bushes, Cotinus coggygria forms such as 'Royal Purple' are all essential to create a year-round interest shrub border or garden. Tell me more about this Purple Smoke Bush..... Cotinus is unmistakable when in flower. In June the 6in long intricately branched flower heads appear. When flowering is over the flower stalks remain - it is these feathery stalks, which are the main attraction. With the basic species the wispy plumes are fawn at first but turn grey with age. This gives a smoke-like effect - hence the common name. Cotinus 'Royal Purple' is perhaps best grown on its own as a large and showy specimen shrub, although, if trimmed annually, the large flat leaves create wonderful contrast at the rear of a shrub border. For added effect in any shrub bed plant beside brightly coloured neighbour like the golden dwarf escallnoia 'Gold Ellen' or the ground covering silvery foliage of Juniperus 'Blue Star' for super effect. A plant which is much loved on television gardening shows and a favourite to gardening enthusiasts such as Irish's own Diarmuid Gavin of televisions Home Front in The Garden. How do I look after my Purple Smoke Bush? Your maintenance needs depend on how you are using your Cotinus. For example if you are growing your Cotinus as a lawn specimen or as a large individual shrub you simply condition the soil well, incorporating 20L of Nursery Stock Compost into the surrounding soil, then simply plant and enjoy. In following seasons you would feed in early spring and summer with Supergrow fertiliser. If perhaps, you are growing your Cotinus in a mixed shrub bed, you simple follow the above but also in early Spring you would prune your shrub well to maintain its shape and to promote the development of a full compact plant. Generally speaking, maintenance free, which is why this is a plant which everybody should try. Free advice from Qualified Horticulturists! Remember you can contact the Quality Award Winning Garden Centre team on 071 38870 for all your gardening and pet care queries, and also you can Email us on info@gardencentre.ie We look forward to hearing from you. What colours will it give? Apart for the afore mentioned flowers Cotinus 'Royal Purple' produces large luxuriously coloured redish/pruple leaves throughout the growing season which then give off tremendous autumn colour when they turn a strong orange colour. What sort of soil do they prefer? This is the best part, they actually like a good clayey soil! - perfect for your back or front garden. Remember, when planting always incorporate lots of Nursery Stock Compost (the one with the 12 month slow release Osmocote! and also added grit and bark for drainage) to provide the optimum growing conditions. I like to plant shrubs which benefit nature, how does Cotinus measure up? This is an important issue, as we cover up more and more land with houses we have to supply sources of food for all the wee chaps we're disturbing, that's why its vital that when we're designing beds for clients or suggesting plants we always take this into consideration. Birds and insects provide valuable interest and untold benefit to the garden each season. Cotinus is a super plant, providing lots of valuable nectar for bees and birds. For added attraction plant some compact Lavender or some Hebes as neighbours to your Cotinus, this grouping will act like a petrol station for your garden visitors, they'll be queuing up to refill! PLANTING WITH WEEDS IN MIND The task that every gardener hates to do is weeding, but unfortunately it is a job most gardeners do week in week out, week in week out, week in week out….etc. Why? Because when we are planting new shrubs beds, or maintaining established plots we simply leave too much visible soil between plants, this soil always proves to be a perfect breeding ground for fresh weed growth. Horky's says: The three ways to achieve quick total ground cover are to plant closely, to plant quick spreading plants and to feed the plants Supergrow to encourage growth. What you should do is plant ground cover plants to cover all your visible soil - Don't worry, there are plants out there to suit your unique areas! When close planting it is best to use only one type of carpeting plant. If you mix more than one species it is almost inevitable that one will be stronger growing than the other and will choke it. Speedy covers are fine if they have lots of space or if you can control them, but some are so rampant as to become weeds in their own right. The winter heliotripe (Petasites fragrans) and mints such as the Corsican mint (Mentha requienii) spread rapidly, not stopping to read the Tresspassers will be Prosecuted sigs. Nitrogen feeds will guarantee quick growth, but if applied regularly they produce weak plants, giving poor cover and subject to frost damage, so use Supergrow for good even growth. One Solution is to plant closely and them thin the plants before they grow into one another. Transplant the surplus into gaps or use them to extend the overall planting. Whats good for dry shade? A good plant for Dry shade is Doronicum Little Leo, this compact vigorous plant will provide lots of bright yellow daisy-like flowers in Spring. Another good plant to look out for is Perrywinkle (Vinca minor), this small leave Vinca is not as evasive as its bigger brother Vinca major and will carpet and area of ground with lilac-blue flowers all summer. Whats good for damp shade? Good summer colour can be achieved by planting Ladies mantle (Alchemilla mollis) and of course Astilbes are great for damp sites, with their large clumps of bright flowers these provide a welcome sight in any garden throughout Summer and well into Autumn. Hostas & Bergenias (elephants ear) are great plants for covering vacant ground under trees and tall plants. What about a bed that gets full sun? Sites in full sun should be the easiest to plant but soil conditions play a large part in determining suitable plants and can cause problems of their own. Soils that are not retentive of moisture are like mini-deserts and can be the death of all but the toughest of ground cover. Incorporating lots of Nursery Stock compost and moisture retentive material such as spent mushroom compost, rotted farmyard manure or leaf mould will help the soil hold water. Thorough watering until the plants become established, and heavy surface mulches of chipped bark, well rotted farmyard manure or fresh compost will be beneficial. Mulches must be applied when the soil is moist and frost-free (i.e. in late winter) to seal in the moisture. A mulching material spread on dry soil will prevent water from penetrating the ground, thereby making the problem worse. It is difficult to establish plants in clay soils, which dry out in summer and split like concrete right beside the plants. Tackle this problem whenever the soil is workable by digging in lots of Nursery stock compost. This will sperate the particles and open up the heavy soil, reducing the risk of it baking hard. Super plants for full sun include, Ceanothus var repens - a great plant with glossy dark green leaves and strongly deep blue flowers all summer long. And for some interesting foliage try Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star' which forms a dense carpet of blue foliage, giving weeds no chance. And for some summer colour try Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow' this intriguingly different "grannies-bonnet" with fully double flowers in green, deep pink and cream. The location of your garden can prove to be the biggest influence of the selection of your plants, for further advice on what ground cover plants will thrive in your unique conditions you should contact the EXPERTS at Horkans Garden Centres Sligo and Castlebar on 071 38870 or E mail on info@gardencentre.ie and we'll be happy to help. What about something for covering ground on a bank? Try Hebe pinguifolia 'Pagei'. This is a plant that won't let you down. It can tolerate a whole range of conditions and will spread to cover almost a square metre (about 9 square feet). The snow-white flowers are carried in late spring and early summer just above the small blue-green leaves. The herring bone cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis Variegata) makes a super plant for a bank, as it grows it will give the bank and 'stepped' look. And it will supply you with lots of Autumn berries and summer flowers. A GREAT PLANT. Euonymus 'Emerald 'n' Gold' is a brightly coloured evergreen able to swamp ground with its bright gold foliage. What about something for my alkaline soil? Sarcocca humilis, sometimes called Christmas box or sweet box, is a very adaptable evergreen plant tolerating shade and total neglect. The white flowers, produces in winter, are tinged with pink, deliciously fragrant, and are followed by blue-black berries. Spreading by suckers this superb plant will grow to a height of 2ft with a 4ft spread. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Horky's tip: Feed all your ground cover plants with Supergrow fertiliser, at regular intervals, to encourage strong healthy growth. For acid soils? Try the Alpine Phlox stolonifera, this superb ground covering Alpine produces lots of summer time pink flowers and will grow superbly in partnership to Pieris japonica 'Little Heath' and dwarf Azaleas like Joanna and Santa Maria. Remember… These are only a few glimpses to tantalise you a little, there lots of plants available for every area in your garden, the ones listed above are a few of my personal favourites. Why not call in today and speak to any of the qualified Horticulturists in both our centres Bundoran Rd, Sligo and Spencer Street, Castlebar 7 days a week to get some fresh ideas on what to do with that patch of visible earth. PLANT OF THE MONTH JOSEPHS COAT (Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon') This is a groundcover plant for marshy, damp, cool parts of the garden, and can even grow in shallow water. In the right conditions this plant makes a super spreader, easily providing colour beneath trees, hedges etc with its multi coloured leaves - bronze, red, yellow and dark green. Its two most distinguishing features are that it has marvellously scented leaves, with the aroma of citrus fruit, which turn reddish in the autumn. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR NORTH WEST GARDENS HORKANS GARDEN PRODUCT REVIEW Nobody likes to waste time and energy doing tasks which no doubt can be made easier somewhere along the line. In this section each month we like to bring you the very best in quality garden products which will make your gardening more enjoyable and who knows…maybe easier as well!! Armillatox Armillatox is a completely natural product that enhances the soil and is completely biodegradable. It is made from the phenols of growing plants and it is these phenols, which give plants their natural resistance to pests or disease. Armillatox is used for the treatment or prevention of Clubroot, Honey Fungus, Fairy Rings on lawns, Winter washing of Fruit Trees, Ant control, Black Spot on Roses, Moss on Hard Surfaces, the control of Moss on Lawns and Greenhouse/Polythene Tunnel Cleaning. With its huge amount of uses, Armillatox certainly is a trustworthy friend that no gardener should be without. Give your wallet a break and consider using Wolf Tools. These highly durable tools are made from high-tension galvanised steel. Wolf Tools are ideal because you only need to be the handle for the tools once and all the tools heads, for example a lawn scarifyer, just clip into the handle for rapid and immediate use. With a wide range of attachments already available, and with the range constantly increasing, this inexpensive range of garden tools have never been as popular. And with the Scarifyer and Aeration attachments now is the perfect time to start your collection. IS your lawn covered in weeds? Then you should be using Atlas. Atlas is a selective lawn weedkiller. This means that you can safely apply it to the entire lawn without it damaging grass - basically it kills anything with a wide leaf (daisys, dandelions etc) - leaving thin leaves (your grass) unharmed. We particularly like this product as it covers a large coverage of 1700m2 for only £15.99, which brings the chance for large lawn owners to get that lawn of their wishes without re-mortgaging the place! RELAX & TAKE IT EASY Over the past few years Horkans have been lucky enough to be able to stock a super range of Quality Garden Furniture made by Alexander Rose. Tables, chairs, parasols, and barbecues all hand made from Malaysian Teak and Iroko. These hardwood furniture pieces are like a magnet…..you just have to touch them, a bit like the first time you saw a BMW or Mercedes, you want to run your hand down the wing to feel the quality and expert craftsmanship which went into making a truly classy item, well this furniture has the same effect. View the entire range we have to offer at www.alexander-rose.co.uk or call in today to touch and view the items we have on display, you will be impressed. With full brochures also available for you to take away and drool over. Go on.....See what garden furniture was meant to look like! ALEXANDER ROSE - THE REASON YOU HAVE A GARDEN! Dear Horky....., The North West's only Gardening Agony uncle! THIS WEEKS STAR LETTER: Dear Horky, My wife, who is a very keen gardener, is expecting our first child this summer and I was looking to surprise her by planting a tree in the lawn to mark the special occasion. What would you suggest? -a proud dad-to-be in Frosses, Co.Donegal Dear fertile one, Firstly may I congratulate you both on the upcoming birth of your first child. Trees can serve a multitude of uses all around the garden, some of the most common being: A windbreak on exposed sights Adding privacy to your garden Breaking up large lawns Attracting wildlife to the garden Adding structure to a new garden Marking a special occasion, like the birth of a child or a special birthday. And of course, everyone should try to plant at least 1 tree per year to reward Mother Nature for all the good she does you. A tree which would be ideal for planting as a lawn specimen, or as a bright back-drop to large shrubs is the Variegated Norway Maple (Acer platanoides 'Drummondii') . This elegantly growing medium sized tree will provide you and your good wife with startlingly coloured broad leaves, (green centred with a creamy-yellow edging), for the majority of the year. It also makes for a good climbing tree when mature - so get planting now! When planting prepare a planting hole at least 3 time the size of the container, incorporate lots of Nursery Stock compost with your soil, plant your tree and secure it firmly to a stake for support. Dear Horky, My aspidistra seems healthy but the tips of the leaves are turning brown. What is causing this to happen? - An indoor gardener in Ballina Aspidistra leaves will become brown mainly because the plant is kept in a room where it is too warm and dry. Aspidistras are nearly hardy and are best kept in an unheated room (frost free) in a light position during the winter. If you have to keep your plant in a heated room, stand it on a tray of moist pebbles which will create humidity around it. During the summer the plant may be kept outside in a partially shaded position You can send all your gardening questions to Dear Horky, Horkans Garden Centre, Spencer Street, Castlebar and we'll make sure he replies to everyone. Keep those letters coming! Each letter printed will win £20 of plants for the garden. FATHERS DAY Fathers day is nearly upon us and we have a super selection of gift ideas available to brighten any father or grandfathers day.. Greenhouses, we offer a full greenhouse service which covers supply, delivery and full erection. Hobby tunnels, we offer a wide range of sizes which are all delivered right to the recipients door. Relaxing chairs, if a beautiful hand crafted chair to sit and relax in is your daddys ideal of heaven, then why not pop in and view some of our Teak and Iroko garden seats. Full selection of trees, shrubs, planted displays and plants for all round the garden. Simply ask any one of the qualified team for their recommendations. And if you're still unsure....Then why not try one of our Gift Vouchers which have no expiry date…so he can take his time in choosing an item which he deserves. All Fathers Day presents can be gift wrapped at your request.....Can we make it any easier? This months special offers: WATER HEAVEN Water features and ponds in garden are becoming increasingly popular, the main reasons being their soothing sounds, year round interest and their benefit to wildlife. And indeed the main reason is that we at Horkans are making them increasingly easy to install and we provide all the technical know-how, free of charge, on how to create a unique water feature that suits its environment. You don't have to have mains water feed-ins or huge technical know-how, with our Tubs 'n' Pumps range you simply fill with water, plug in and enjoy! Check out our range of Self contained wooden and stone water features and our extensive range of pre-formed pool liners in stock at the moment. Any Questions? Contact Mick on our WATER HEAVEN HELPLINE on 094 26997 for help with all your pond installation and maintenance problems. So you don't have to hire Charlie or the Ground Force team, call in and see how easy it is to create a water masterpiece. FANCY A BIT OF HOT ACTION? Then, why not check out our range of quality barbecues and accessories now in stock COMING SOON TO SLIGO........ The Famous Horkans FÁS approved gardening night classes will be running this Autumn…Don't be one of the many who missed out last time…Numbers are strictly limited so apply in either of our centres today! Horkans Gardening Helpline is 071 38870 or 094 26997. Remember for all your gardening questions we are only a click of the mouse away on www.gardencentre.ie and you can E-mail us on info@gardencentre.ie We look forward to hearing from you. June 2001 Newsletter January 2001 Newsletter November's Newsletter Back to Top October's Newsletter June's Newsletter Visit the Castlebar Website May's Newsletter