Gardening

This week in the garden: order seed catalogues and give indoor plants TLC

Gardening this weekend? Fionnuala Fallon has some tips on what you should be concentrating on and some dates for your gardening diary

Thu Jan 7 2016 - 14:00

If the awful weather doesn’t tempt you out of doors, then now’s a good time to

give your indoor plants some TLC

. Remove dead leaves/flowers and use a damp cloth to clean down dusty leaves. If you spot signs of insect pest infestation, then treat with a homemade spray using a drop of washing-up liquid, a teaspoon of vegetable oil and four fluid ounces of warm water mixed together. If that doesn’t work, then spot-treat using a cotton bud dipped in surgical spirit

Order or download seed catalogues

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and start making a note of which varieties you’d like to grow for 2016. As regards new/unusual varieties, stock can often be limited so it’s best to get orders in early. Pooling orders with friends is a great way to share seed and costs.

Check trees/shrubs for signs of storm damage

such as broken or damaged boughs that may pose a safety risk. With large specimens, it may be necessary to employ the services of a tree surgeon, but always make sure that they are properly qualified. If in doubt, contact the Irish branch of the Arboricultural Association (

[ Goodwin-arborist.com ]

) for advice.

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

Wednesday January 13th, 8pm,

South County Dublin Horticultural Society: Carmel Duignan, gardening writer and former television producer, will talk on “The Making of a Plant Anorak”. Kill O’The Grange Parish Centre, Kill Lane. Admission €5.