Saint Patrick’s Day Gardening

Saint Patrick’s Day is typically a time to reunite with friends and family in the name of our patron saint. Hosting a themed garden party may be on your ideas list, or maybe you would just love to give your outdoor living space a good old spring clean. Either way the green fingered guys at MonkeyPuzzle.ie are at hand to help.

In this blog we highlight some of the most important tasks to carry out in the garden to make the most of the glorious mid-March weather. 

On a crisp and sunny March bank holiday there really is nothing like some light gardening to help your garden reach its full potential.

It's time to roll up the sleeves and get cracking preparing seed beds, sowing seed, cutting back winter shrubs and sprucing up your outdoor living space for the arrival of friends and family over the holiday.

Our gardening goals for Saint Patrick’s Day

Mow the lawn

Cut back Salix (willow) and Cornus (dogwood)

Kill weeds before they get too unruly

Add fresh compost to plants that need some

Remove pond heaters if the temperature is optimal

Open the greenhouse/conservatory doors and vents on mild days

Plant shallots, onion sets and early potatoes in a vegetable patch

Protect new spring shoots from slugs

Plant summer-flowering bulbs

Claim €595 to €4,050 back on all home and garden improvements with thanks to the new HRI scheme!

Did you know that right now, with thanks to the Home Renovation Incentive you can have the garden of your dreams for a lot less!

The Irish government has just introduced a new Home Renovation Incentive allowing you to claim tax relief by way of a tax credit at 13.5% of qualifying expenditure on any repair, renovation or improvement work carried out on a principal private residence.

·       The work must cost a minimum of €4,405 (exclusive of VAT) which would attract a credit of €595

·       Where the cost of the work is on or above €30,000 (exclusive of VAT) a maximum credit of €4,050 will apply.

The VAT amount at 13.5% of your overall cost, up to €30,000 may be reclaimed through your tax returns for the following 2 years.

This means you can now get back anything from €595 to a maximum of €4,050 on all garden/landscape repairs, renovations or improvements!

Why would the Government give homeowners such an incentive out of the blue?

It is hoped that this scheme will help the construction trade get back on its feet after the recession and discourage people from using contractors operating in the “black market” to carry out home repairs and improvements.

Why choose MonkeyPuzzle to carry out my garden/landscape repairs, renovations or improvements?

ü  Here at MonkeyPuzzle we are a fully tax compliant service provider.

ü  We meet and often exceed our customer’s high gardening expectations.

ü  Our services are carried out by a team of energetic and highly experienced staff.

Our team of gardening experts are passionate about garden design and love to present innovative, budget conscious and tailored solutions to your outdoor landscaping needs. We will fully cooperate with and adhere to the guidelines set out in the HRI Scheme.

Call 012897751 or Email us info@monkeypuzzle.ie for your FREE Quotation today.

Further details on the Home Renovation Incentive are available at:

• www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/reliefs/hri/hri-general-faqs.html
• www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/housing_grants_and_schemes/home_renovation_incentive.html

January / February in the Garden

While we have had a very mild but wet and windy  January, history suggests that a cold spell may yet manifest itself in February.  Beware of any false spring weather just yet, keep delicate plants indoors and covered.  Any  ground preparation for spring planting should only be done when weather permits.

LAWNS

On established lawns you can aerate and scarify in dry conditions. Perhaps apply lawn sand and treat for worms.

ROSES

Complete any planting only if weather is dry enough or there is no frost. Don’t forget to support new plants from gales.   

HERBACEOUS BORDERS

Clear dead buds if they are still there. In established borders you can top dress with fertiliser and then dig it in.

TREES & SHRUBS

Plant  deciduous trees and shrubs in kind weather. Now is the time to clear moss from trees with tar wash. Prune hard any summer flowering shrubs such as clematis or spiraea. Remove inward growing branches on fruit trees.  

HEDGES

Cut back overgrown hedges by end February if weather is milder. Destroy weeds under your hedges with heavy weed killer.

Rest for the coming season as it is not far away

Monkeypuzzle.ie will be delighted to help with any of the above or any other garden or landscaping matters.  Please call Daragh at 012897751  or 0860476355

Christmas Greetings

Christmas Garden Tips

December is the month of holidays, family and Christmas jollity. Yes there are still a few tasks that can be done in the garden - weather permitting.  Tidy pots, prune trees and take precautions for the frosts ahead. Time to service lawnmowers, sharpen tools and repair anything in your potting shed.

LAWNS

Dig over areas for spring seeding. Treat lawns against leatherjacket. Clean and service lawnmowers. Because it is still mild moss is thriving so spike we and aerate well to drain that moisture.

ROSES

Complete any new planting but only if the soil is not too wet. Trim back established rose beds for winter and prune long growths to about a meter and a half. Ensure earlier planting is firm in the ground.

HERBACEOUS BORDERS

Finalise any tidying of beds, cut back unwanted roots. Prune any overhanging branches from trees or shrubs. Order any plants for March planting.

TREES & SHRUBS

Keep any grass away from the trunks of shrubs and trees. And remove any self sown trees or shrubs such as sycamore or ash. Prune shrubs that have finished flowering.  Plant deciduous trees and shrubs towards if the weather is mild. Tie young conifers together with sacking as a protection from frost.

PATIOS & DECKING

That patio needs a good clean or power-hosing  to remove moss, funghi and algae. Remove plants that are past their best and move others to a shady place. Clean out pots not required for winter and store. Cover any pots and shrubs for protection against oncoming frost.

HOUSE PLANTS

Keep plants on the dry side and let them have plenty of light.

FRUIT TREES

Spray all fruit trees with tar oil or winter wash once they have shed leaves and fruit. Another solution is a grease trap, a sticky band that you just wrap and tie around the base of the tree. Continue pruning. Cut back newly planted apples pears and all forms of berries such as raspberries.

Monkeypuzzle.ie will be delighted to help with any of the above or any other garden or landscaping matters.  Please call Daragh at 012897751   

November in the Garden

Time change means time to put much of your garden to bed. Take in any delicate pot plants to protect from frost. Don’t leave pot trays under pots as your plants will sit in water for too long.

LAWNS

Drain and aerate established lawns. Apply an autumn fertiliser and finally take your lawn mower for its annual service.

ROSES

This is a great time to plant roses, so prepare the ground. Then stand the roots of your new roses in a bucket of water for an hour before planting. Make sure your hole is large enough to allow the roots to spread. Add compost to that hole, plant the rose spreading the roots, fill in and firm the ground around the newly planted roses. Do not plant roses any deeper than the old soil mark on the stem.

HERBACEOUS BORDERS

Dig the beds where winter weathering is needed, tidy and cut down tall plants.  Dead tops of plants make good compost. Collect fallen leaves , these can be used as protection around the base of tender plants over winter months.

TREES & SHRUBS

Now is the time to plant new or move old conifers or evergreens. Water new growth in dry weather. Autumn pruning of fruit trees should be done before the weather gets too cold.

PATIOS & DECKING

This is a suitable time to plant trees and shrubs in containers.  These can be left on your patio. Tidy up and clean down your decking giving it a good scrub, Repair any damage ahead of frost.

VEGETABLE GARDEN

For an early crop of Broad Beans next year sow seeds in a sheltered area. Mould up any rhubarb. Protect any winter crops with straw.

Monkeypuzzle.ie will be delighted to help with any of the above or any other garden or landscaping matters.  Please call Daragh at 012897751   

October in the Garden

Monkey Puzzle  

Hi again.

Despite the fact that we still have touches of that Indian summer with temperatures un-seasonally high it is time for Octobers Garden Tips

Showery conditions are the norm and temperatures will drop.  You may need to continue with pest control throughout the garden. A good time for digging, yes soil will benefit from winter frost by being broken down at this stage. There are still a few chores, such as clearing finished crops and plants to be finished this month. Be sure to complete those landscaping projects.

LAWNS

Apply sand or autumn feed and aerate lawns to maintain healthy growth.  If you have a patch that is damaged or heavily infested then repair it or lay new turf in that area. You still have time for lawn repair. Your renovated lawn will appear over the next two weeks.  

For the established lawn now is the time to cut back on mowing and only mow when the blades are 3 inches high and do not cut so low from now on. Don’t forget to trim the edges.

HEDGING

Plant new evergreen hedges  but complete this task sooner rather than later.

WHAT ABOUT SOME COMPOST

Well this is the perfect time to start your composing. Fallen leaves the last of the lawn cuttings, border debris can all be added together mixed and placed in a bin. Add large quantities slowly to the main composter and just wait for it to darken go crumbly and smell sweet and earthy next year.

ROSES

Continue with pest control.  Remember to hoe the soil for aeration. Since in September you thought about the plan for late autumn planting for next year, October is the time to get out there and do it.

HERBACEOUS BORDERS

As for Roses October isthe time to plant herbaceous perennials.  Plant bulds between shrubs for spring flowering.  Plant Daffodils and tulips for spring and Irises for next May . Dig the ground for winter weathering and Spring planting.

Cut back Dahlias as soon as they are blackened by frost. Either winter chrysanthemums by leaving them in the ground or lift nad house them . Tidy Iris beds before winter and remove dead leaves and weeds.

TREES & SHRUBS

Keep any grass away from the trunks of shrubs and trees. And remove any self sown trees or shrubs such as sycamore or ash. Prune shrubs that have finished flowering.  Plant deciduous trees and shrubs towards the end of October avoiding frost if there is any.

PATIOS & DECKING

That patio needs a good clean or power-hosing  to remove moss, funghi and algae. Remove plants that are past their best and move others to a shady place. Clean out pots not required for winter and store.

VEGETABLES

You can still sow winter cabbage seeds but only in warm area and also lettuce for early winter. Try sowing lettuce under glass. Set out brussel sprouts in a nursery bed. Lift such vegetables as beetroot and marrows and store in a dry place.

FRUIT

If you haven’t done so yet now you should harvest fruits  such as apples, pears and plums as they ripen and store in a cool dark place. Pick late varieties of strawberries and raspberries.  Prepare ground for new trees  and plant late October. Remove dead canes of rasberries. Don’t forget to put grease bands or moth traps around fruit trees to catch winter moths.

Monkeypuzzle.ie will be delighted to help with any of the above or any other garden or landscaping matters.  Please call Daragh at 012897751