Gardening

New podcast, 'Wise Words', caters exclusively for retirees - presented by David Hamilton

Over-65 spends less than an hour a day talking to other people

A month after sowing all full milk jugs have young seedlings.

Bedding down for winter and an early surprise

Spuds and sprouts fresh from the garden.

Spuds, sprouts and radishes… digging for your dinner

‘Seeds of Change’ has been launched by HMPPS as part of a new recruitment drive that encourages people to combine their passion with their career for something more fulfilling

Community Payback roles are open to outdoorsy and garden-loving people

Chopping and dropping to create a mulch and feed the soil.

Chop and drop and planting for spring - Gardening with Brendan

Winter sowing in milk jugs: Experimenting with a method popular in the US.

Winter sowing method - Gardening with Brendan

The ingredients for the green tomato chutney.

Using up the left over harvests in autumn - Gardening with Brendan

Collecting seaweed on the shore.

Supercharging gardens with seaweed: Gardening with Brendan

Dobbies garden centre closing stores across UK in bid to cut costs.

Garden centre chain closing stores across UK

Dimming daylight means its important to get everything potted on as soon as possible.

Preparing young plants for overwintering - Gardening with Brendan

I've been collecting and drying seeds for next year as the flowers die back.

How to save a few quid in Autumn: Gardening with Brendan

A poll of 2,000 adults revealed the quirkier strategies those who garden adopt to help their plants grow - including throwing teabags onto the soil

Here are the unusual hacks people use to help gardens thrive

Late summer bloomers- top row l-r: calendula, godetia, miniature sunflower, hollyhock and sweet pea. Middle row: cosmos, night sky and pink petunias. Bottom row: hydrangea, oxeye daisy, and schizanthus and lobelia.

Gardening: Last of the summer bloomers

You can achieve a colourful cottage garden effect from pots and containers.

Gardening by containers is often a better idea

The edible flowers I am using in the salad.

Making a 7 flower salad - Gardening with Brendan

July offers a second window for sowing many different seeds.

What seeds can you sow in July?
If you fancied creating your own plants from scratch but you've missed the spring window for this year for seed sowing, don't worry as July provides another opportunity to get going for some late summer / early autumn colour in the garden, autumn / winter vegetables. You can even a head start for an impressive garden display next spring.
Brendan McDaid

Gardeners wanting to create an idyllic space for Summer can find savings on tools

Gardening Amazon Prime Day deals includes high-rated patio tool

Holiday

How to fill your retirement

The first pansies, nasturtium and baby tomato, all grown from seed.

Gardening with Brendan: Throwing in the trowel and nature's power to surprise

Thriving or at least surviving: Clockwise from top left: Alpine strawberry seedlings, last year's strawberry plants in bloom again, young blueberry plants, blackcurrant, tomatoes in pots and redcurrant.

Which fruit grows best in Ireland? - Gardening with Brendan

Japanese anemone by Drew Avery via https://www.flickr.com/photos/33590535@N06/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Pretty monsters: Invasive plants that can become a nightmare

Optometrist warns against the 6 summer jobs you need to apply protective eye-wea...

Pictured are some of the seedlings that have come up thus far and cell trays containing newly sown seeds.

Gone To Seed: Gardening with Brendan Vlog Week 2

Hello there! I'll be uploading weekly videos giving updates on successes and failures and hints on growing from seed.

Gone To Seed: Gardening with Brendan Vlog Week 1

Some of the seeds I have been planting.

Gone to Seed: Gardening with Brendan Week 2 - Sowing seeds

I've planted probably too many seeds at the same time but we will see what comes up and does well.

Gone to Seed: Gardening with Brendan Week 1 - Introduction

Top ways to enjoy gardening and keep your hayfever at bay Sue Wilkinson

Eleven calorie-burning household chores

Have you come across this plant before? (Photo: RHS)

Common euphorbia plant is “toxic” and can cause “blistering” if touched

Jenni Barkley, Communications and Corporate Responsibility Manager, Belfast Harbour, and Neville Walker, Conservation Projects Development Officer, The Conservation Volunteers.

Groups encouraged to get involved in '˜Community Makeover Competition'

A bored child

Kids get bored after just ten days of the summer holidays

Jonathan Lyttle from North West Regional College.

Jonathan Lyttle