Diarmuid Gavin

Ireland, United Kingdom

Garden Designer and Contributor at Freelance

Garden/product designer, writer, lecturer. This is my official Twitter sharing my design inspirations and solutions for outdoor design and planting

Articles

Gardeners with bird feeders warned of 'dangerous mistake' to avoid

1 week ago | chroniclelive.co.uk | Diarmuid Gavin

Gardens and avian life are a harmonious pairing, offering immense joy whether you're toiling away or simply enjoying the outdoors. To draw more feathered friends to your garden, purchased bird seed in feeders can be an effective lure, but it's crucial to maintain cleanliness to prevent the spread of avian diseases.
Diarmuid Gavin: My tried-and-tested pick of herbaceous perennials and how to plant them

1 week ago | belfasttelegraph.co.uk | Diarmuid Gavin

Prepare the soil well and match your chosen varieties to shady or sunny spots your gardenWith a beautiful spell of warm weather kicking off April, we are now in full gardening mode. The soil is heating up and there’s plenty of sunshine. It’s the perfect time to plant herbaceous perennials in your garden. These are plants that will flower this summer, die back over winter and return year after year. They are often low-maintenance and, once planted in the right spot, will give you a great return.
Warning to anyone with a bird feeder in their garden making dangerous mistake

1 week ago | mirror.co.uk | Diarmuid Gavin

Warning to anyone with a bird feeder in their garden making dangerous mistakeThe sound of birdsong is one of the joys of the season, but bird feeders can attract more than just our small feathered friends - they also welcome disease and vermin... Gardens and bird life go together – it’s one of the immense pleasures of working or even sitting outside.
Diarmuid Gavin: My tried-and-tested pick of herbaceous perennials and how to plant them

2 weeks ago | independent.ie | Diarmuid Gavin

Prepare the soil well and match your chosen varieties to shady or sunny spots your gardenWith a beautiful spell of warm weather kicking off April, we are now in full gardening mode. The soil is heating up and there’s plenty of sunshine. It’s the perfect time to plant herbaceous perennials in your garden. These are plants that will flower this summer, die back over winter and return year after year. They are often low-maintenance and, once planted in the right spot, will give you a great return.
Warning to anyone with daffodils to act before making costly mistake

2 weeks ago | msn.com | Diarmuid Gavin

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Diarmuid Gavin: My simple guide to sowing spring seeds

2 weeks ago | belfasttelegraph.co.uk | Diarmuid Gavin

From poppies to calendulas, pick hardy annuals to enjoy a beautiful floral display this yearThe clocks moved forward last weekend and, with the longer evenings and warmer days, there’s definitely a feeling of spring in the air. Magnolias and cherries are blossoming away and it seems to be a particularly good year for them. Spring is the traditional time to sow many seeds, and you’ll have spotted packets of them in the supermarkets and garden centres.
Warning to anyone with daffodils to act before making costly mistake

2 weeks ago | mirror.co.uk | Diarmuid Gavin

Warning to anyone with daffodils to act before making costly mistakeThey're the herald of spring, adding their pop of yellow around Britain and Ireland, but how you treat your daffs now will influence how well they grow back next yearWe're still enjoying the cheerful sight of daffodils in our flowerbeds and borders but they still needs some care and attention - especially if we want to see their sunny presence again next year.
Diarmuid Gavin’s dummy’s guide to sowing spring seeds

3 weeks ago | independent.ie | Diarmuid Gavin

If you’ve never planted anything before, it can seem a bit daunting, so here’s all you need to know... The clocks moved forward last weekend and, with the longer evenings and warmer days, there’s definitely a feeling of spring in the air. Magnolias and cherries are blossoming away and it seems to be a particularly good year for them. Spring is the traditional time to sow many seeds, and you’ll have spotted packets of them in the supermarkets and garden centres.
Diarmuid Gavin: Why your garden spring clean should wait until insects have woken up

3 weeks ago | belfasttelegraph.co.uk | Diarmuid Gavin

Disturbing butterflies, bees and decomposers too early can be detrimental to their survivalSome balmy spring weather this month has tempted many of us outdoors to assess our plot and see what needs to be done to get it ready after its winter dormancy. The birds are busy singing to each other and preparing nests for their young. A woodpecker in my garden taps away every morning, the distinct hammering on wood his message to other birds that this tree is his territory.
Sow this seed before the end of March for delicious results in your garden

3 weeks ago | mirror.co.uk | Diarmuid Gavin

Sow this seed before the end of March for delicious results in your gardenGet to work this weekend with key jobs of the season including spring cleaning your borders, feeding soil and planting your veg outsideSpring is marching on and as the clocks go forward we are well and truly reminded that winter is behind us. What does that mean for your garden? Well, it's time to start planting many of your vegetables outside. You'll also need to help revive soil with fresh compost and fertiliser.