For plants day length is important as it triggers growth, flowering and fruits

The calming power of nature is huge and all you have to do is immerse yourself in it - and it is free!

Planting up pots and containers are the big thing nowadays and nothing could be simpler

Top tips for the perfect climbing plants for your garden

Perennials are fairly trouble free once they become established

At this stage growing conditions are close to ideal so definitely get out there and sow

All summer plants will need new compost as last year’s will have been depleted of food and there might be a buildup of pests or diseases

There are certain flowers that we suggest for beginners and school projects as they are almost foolproof and can be sown directly outside where they are to flower

Growing vegetables would have at one time been regarded as down in the social scale of gardening but it has been elevated to a higher level

This month is a period of relative calm in which to get aspects of the garden going, such as preparing areas ready for vegetables and flowers but holding back on planting those that are not frost hardy

Growing edible crops, which mature this season, means that this part of gardening cannot be neglected

There are many varieties available but go for the pack of seeds that states they are strongly or very fragrant

Whatever your interests are, now is the time to plan and mull over what can be done for the upcoming growing season

Anyone who is interested can be good at gardening and in time earn the coveted title of ‘Green Fingers’

It is quite possible to integrate food crops within your general garden

There is no doubt that a winter garden during our long dull days is quite beautiful and can mesmerise anyone who visits one

There are plants in the garden which might have looked insignificant before but now are coming into their own with coloured berries, stems or flowers

Everyone has their own idea or opinion about what Christmas means to them, regardless of where they are coming from

The Winter Solstice is one of the oldest winter celebrations dating from pagan times

The easiest plants to grow are those that like our soil and weather conditions, and from this we can choose those plants that will please us most.

I have gathered natural materials to provide decorations later on, and these include sprigs of holly, pine and larch, cones, some mossy twigs, scarlet willow, ivy and fir branches

Gardening in the spring has a sense of urgency about it, which can take the edge off totally enjoying the activity.

Native plants such as the guelder rose and spindle provide reliable orange-red colours and also have berries to complement the show

There are a whole range of possible fruiting plants that you can grow in your garden

The best plants for a show of gorgeous autumn colours

It is very satisfying to be able to pick some fruit from your own garden and eat them immediately

Melanie Dool in association with Orchardstown Garden Centre

If you love tulips and daffodils in spring they must be planted about six months ahead

With a little patience you will have the best of both worlds, which can mean a sea view garden with many pretty flowers

All gardens need some management otherwise they become unkempt and generally neglected

It has been one of the oddest years for anyone growing crops, including the legion of amateur gardeners

The vast majority of plants that we grow in our gardens are alien or non-native and are well-behaved

From pretty rock roses to swathes of floating lavender, here are some delightful plants for dry and coastal conditions 

The urgency or panic to get things done is over - now is the time for relaxing

There are still a limited range of young plants available for planting out direct

The mixture of premium perennials available now contains some that were popular years ago but had gone out of favour

The iris family is a beautiful group of versatile flowers 

There are 28 native species of butterfly in Ireland

The next four or five weeks are crucial to achieve a beautiful floral display 

For most people available garden space is limited and choices have to be made as to what you want to grow

This is Chelsea week, one of the greatest garden shows in the world

This is Chelsea week, one of the greatest garden shows in the world

The feel good factor of being in the great outdoors