Midwest Radio Gardening Show

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Midwest Radio - Weekly Gardening Advice Show 25/09/2021 Sep 25, 2021

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Climbing plants are a great gardening staple at this time of year, with many coming into their own as temperatures dip. On this programme Paraic explains about the transition from green to autumnal colours and looks at some of great climbing options in detail. There's discussion on clematis winter beauty, pyracantha, passion flower, varietgated ivy and others with recommendations for planting right now. There's also information on taking cuttings from begonias, an in depth look at pruning apple trees and super tips rejuvenating old hydrangea plants. Questions from listeners addressed in this episode include caring for Arthur Bell roses, overwintering angels wings, olive trees and geraniums, suggestions for window boxes at this time of year, changing the soil in tulip pots, counteracting weeds in a new lawn and suggestions for plants on graves that will endure through winter.

Midwest Radio - Weekly Gardening Advice Show 18/09/2021 Sep 18, 2021

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As Autumn starts to take a firmer hold, this week Paraic looks at fruiting plants which can be sown in patio pots or directly into the garden soil right now, and there's a wealth of plants to choose from - raspberries, black, red and white currants, blueberries, strawberries, rhubarb, apples, pears and plumbs can all be planted now. September is also a great time to plant braodleaf trees, with many flower trees excellent for biodiversity. Trees that produce flowers and berries include sorbus, holly, malus and cotoneaster offering nectar, pollen and fruits to support insect and animal life. There's advice on putting in a new lawn, moving roses, treating wire worm in carrots and potatoes and trimming back red robin. Listeners questions include cutting back peoney roses, overwintering the coleous plant, sowing seeds of aqualegia, sweet william and lupins, dealing with ash dieback, sowing a hedge of holly, tips for helleborus and growing watermelon and aubergine in polytunnel.

Midwest Radio - Weekly Gardening Advice Show 11/09/2021 Sep 11, 2021

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As we head into Autumn this weeks programme looks at lawn care at this time of year. Paraic discusses how to prevent lawn problems before they start, there's information on getting a head start on moss, things to watch out for when lawns are hungry and need feeding and to steps that can be taken to keep weeds at bay. It's also time to think about planting up bulbs for winter and early spring colour. Paraic showcases a range of bulbs available now including narcissii, muscari, winter achonites and bluebells, and there's a reminder on vegetables that can be sown now including onions, mustard from seed, turnips and pea shoots. For those considering propogating cuttings Paraic outlines the key steps to ensure success. Listeners questions this week include brussel sprouts not growing very well, crows attacking potatoe tubers, how to control wild rhubarb, eradicating hard grass naturally, suggestions for a fast growing seaside hedge and trees for a church ground that would favour carbon absoportion.

Midwest Radio - Weekly Gardening Advice Show 04/09/2021 Sep 04, 2021

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In the first show for Autumn 2021 Paraic introduces the all new "capability" hand trowel, new to the market and a brilliant gardening tool for all gardeners as it cuts plants, hammers and serates in addition to digging soil. Early autumn temperatures have remained high which lends to super gardening weather. For those considering sowing a new lawn, September is the perfect time and Paraic discussed the steps involved in detail. There's also discussion on the benefits of planting green manure, particularly where potatoes or summer veg have been lifted. There's lots of options for those replanting vegetables and Paraic looked at different varities of purple broccoli, cabbage, kale and winter lettuce. There's a reminder of options for weed control and Paraic advocates regular use of the garden hoe for best results. This edition of the programme also features a round up of listeners questions including cutting back roses, pruning hydrangeas, harvesting potatoes and care of hedges among others.

Midwest Radio - Weekly Gardening Advice Show 26/06/2021 Jun 26, 2021

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With good weather promised, this week is an ideal time to start feeding flowering plants with liquid feed, and it's also a super time to propogate plants from cuttings or slips with some great tips on how to go about that this week from Paraic. There's also a reminder on treating for aphid damage which is expected to be prevalent in coming days. On foot of queries from listener's there's a further reminder on treating for blight and Paraic looks at some cottage garden plants that will add long term colour to gardens and borders with lilies, salvia and lobelia all featured. There's advice on disease in roses and how to treat, and what to do with aphid damage on lupins and how to manage lupins going to seed. Other topics this week include poor fruiting return on strawberry plants, sowing wildflower seeds in a lawn, the difference between short and long day plants and samples of each, and information on indoor plants such as aspidistra, colous and schefflera.

Midwest Radio - Weekly Gardening Advice Show 19/06/2021 Jun 19, 2021

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This programme opens with a reminder on treatment for blight on foot of a warning for the fungus from Met Eireann. There's a feature on cottage garden plants which are widely available in garden centres at the moment providing lots of different options for colour over the summer months. There's information on house plants too – Paraic discusses Easter and Christmas cacti and takes us through the steps for propogation and also looks at the growth and care of echeveria. Outside in the garden Paraic explains how to take cutting from roses and other soft woods, how to deal with slug damage on dahlias, dividing lilies, and growing choosian palm which does really well outdoors in Ireland. Listeners questions include yellowing on little gem lettuce, the best trees for absorbing carbon, root damage on pansies, greenfly on plum, transplanting and propogating chinese and chilean lantern, repotting dracena marginata, suckers growing on carpet roses and tips for starting water lilies in a pond.

Midwest Radio - Weekly Gardening Advice Show 12/06/2021 Jun 12, 2021

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Warmer temperatures and humidity triggers a blight warning from forecasters and this week Paraic advises treatment as soon as possible and discusses the various treatment options available, from the more traditional to those currently available in stores. There's also a focus on watering plants and containers with a recommendation to water the soil rather than the plants themselves. There are really good planting conditions at the moment so there's lots of options for planting into borders and bringing some colour to patio pots and containers, and June is also a great month for sowing and reseeding lawns so Paraic has some great tips on how to encourage new growth and get new lawns looking their best as soon as possible. Plants in focus this week are the Trapaeolum Speciosum or the perennial nasturium (Scottish flame creeper) which is very fast growing but can be difficult to propogate, while peoney roses, lupins and sweet william all come in for some attention. Listeners questions in this edition of the programme address problems with the Ermine Moth Larvae in whitethorn and blackthorn, plants suitable for large containers, cutting back seedum, aphid attack on leylandii, repotting anthurium, sowing hardy annuals from seed and trimming back buxus and rhodedendron.

Midwest Radio - Weekly Gardening Advice Show 05/06/2021 Jun 05, 2021

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This week's programme opens with a reminder about the virtual Bloom at Home event taking place this weekend which features live demonstrations on gardening, food and wellbeing for the bank holiday weekend. For those venturing into the garden this coming week Paraic reminds us that planting is still excellent with plants growing really well right now. There's a feature on herbaceous perennials for those new to gardening including campanula, salvia, lupins, perennial geraniums and phlox among others. As potatoes start to come in significant growth there's information on applying a protective spray in advance of any significant warning being issued and Paraic explained how blight resistant varieties work. Listeners questions in this episode include planting dogwood in damp areas, pests attracted to cherry trees, winter hedges, black spot on roses, rhubarb going to seed, moisture loving plants and yellow leaves on petunias.

Midwest Radio - Weekly Gardening Advice Show 29/05/2021 May 29, 2021

Show notes

Virtual Bloom is just around the corner and this week Paraic reminds listeners how they can register for the event and take part. Hanging baskets can be put out now as plants burst into flower over the next few weeks. Non stop begonias, dahlias and geraniums can finally be planted out and there's a reminder to stay on top of the slugs and snails as they've been relishing the recent damp conditions. Plants featured in this programme include the spectacular Bombina begonia and the peniculata varieties of hyndrangea. There's information on watering and trimming back excess growth on tomatoe plants and advice on dealing with weed growth in new lawns. Problems with laurel hedges are also addressed – Paraic gives recommendations for hedging more suited to wet soil and looks at how laurels already planted in water prone ground can be improved. Listeners questions feature summer bedding, moving peoney roses, trees for coastal areas, feed rhubarb, planting cherry blossoms, moving formium and giving the chelsea chop to dahlias and pelargoniums.

Midwest Radio - Weekly Gardening Advice Show 22/05/2021 May 22, 2021

Show notes

Seeds in general can be planted right now – flowering, herbs and vegetables – and many seed varieties can be sown directly into your garden soil. As it's also a great time to repair damaged patches and plant up new lawns week Paraic advises on how to get your lawn in tip top condition. There's inforamtion on treating Mare's Tail weeds which are becoming very prevalent right now and it's ideal tomatoe planting time, while peppers and chillies can also sown at the moment. There's a timely reminder to feed plants in order to maximise any damp conditions before warmer temperatures take hold, and some great tips on growing strawberries including the use of mytex to protect fruit and supress weeds. Listeners questions include aphid damage on magnolia leaves, transplanting lupin seedlings, scorched variegated grisilinia, problems with macrocarpa goldcrest, sourcing pink english lavender, planting out canna and calla lilies, tips for sowing berberis and whitethorn, ideas for pots for July, californian lilac and daphne not flowering, and what to do with an uprooted eleagnus.

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