WINTER INTEREST

Fatsia Japonica

I would like to plant some shrubs in my garden that have some winter interest. Have you any suggestions please? Regards F.N. Newtown.

Reply. This fits in well with the winter fragrance shrubs I just mentioned. There are others that you could consider as well, some of these listed give off a smell but others are just nice to look at.

Cornus mas: This shrub has an open, spreading habit and produces a mass of yellow flowers in late winter.

Eleagnus macrophylla: This is a great shrub for the coast. It has pretty silvery, evergreen leaves and produces fragrant flowers, which are also silvery around late autumn time.

Fatsia japonica: (False caster oil plant) This evergreen shrub is a great addition to any garden. It has exotic white flowers in early winter. There are some fine examples around the peninsula and they add a touch of the Mediterranean to the area. They don’t like being cut back though so just cut out dead wood in spring.

Prunus subhirtella: (Autumn cherry) This is, in fact, a tree, but it is compact enough to grow in a container. ‘Autumnalis’ has semi-double; white blooms and can flower between late autumn and early spring. Both of these small trees will enhance a patio planter throughout the winter.

WINTER SHRUBS

Daphne mezeruem 'rubra'

WINTER FRAGRANCE
There are wonderful fragrances around in the plant world at any time of the year. One in particular that evokes memories of summer evenings is the honeysuckle. The smell of their flowers in the evening is very distinctive. Just because we are heading into the dormant season doesn’t mean that we are lacking in outdoor scent either, if you use your nose when out for a walk you will still notice some lovely aromas. To start with autumn itself has a wonderful earthy smell. Individual plants such as the Christmas box (Sarcococca), which can be planted even in the smallest garden, are delightful. There are loads of other plants that will give your nose a bit of pleasure; here are a few more common plants that you should find in the local garden centres now.

Daphne mezereum: This deciduous shrub has bare branches wreathed in sweetly scented, pink or white flowers. The shrub is very hardy and shouldn’t outgrow its site for many years. There are less common types as well; the Daphne ‘Aureo-marginata’ is a variegated evergreen is also a good choice as it thrives on acid soil.

Mahonia Japonica: This plant has other hybrids as well that are equally popular such as ‘Charity’ and ‘Winter sun’ but the original Mahonia still has the most powerful fragrance. The rosettes of holly shaped leaves set off the yellow flowers brilliantly. The smell is similar to the Lilly of the Valley plant and has a very long season of flowering. It can grow big but you can keep it in shape by pruning out the old wood.

Hamamaelis mollis: (Chinese witch hazel) and its hybrid H. japonica will eventually grow into small trees, but will stay as a medium shrub for years. The flower colours vary from yellow to bright orange, depending on the variety you choose. The wispy petals seem unaffected by even the heaviest of frosts and the scent can penetrate from one end of the garden to another as soon as the sun comes out and the day warms up. If they are planted in a sunny spot in rich soil then they will also develop the bonus of bright autumn colour.

Chimonanthus praecox: This plant will thrive on alkaline soil and the flowers have a spicy winter fragrance. It will make a smaller bush than the Witch hazel and will need a sunny site to get the best results.

Viburnum x bodnantense: I saw some very good examples of the ‘dawn’ variety in the garden centre last week. These hardy shrubs do very well around Inishowen. There are other varieties such as ‘Charles Lamont’ or ‘Deben’ that are equally as good. These shrubs seem to do well in any soil and have small, sweetly scented tubular flowers between autumn and spring

ME AND MY MOTOR-DONAL MCKINNEY

The old garage has now been demolished

IT’S BUSINESS AS USUAL AT PIT STOP TYRE CENTRE IN BUNCRANA

The original building where Donal McKinney runs Pit Stop Tyre Cenre in Buncrana has recently disappeared but it’s still business as usual for the highly successful company. Donal started Pit Stop Tyre Centre on Ferris lane in Buncrana, just off of the main street nearly ten years ago and the time has come for a new purpose built workshop to be erected in its place. The new state of the art building will be here soon! You can still contact them on the usual number (074) 93 61386

Donal is driving a 2004 Fiat Doblo 1.9 diesel van


Why did you choose an Italian van?
I have always had a passion for Italian cars. My brother and I used to work on my father’s Fiat 127. We reconditioned replacement engines to be on standby for when the one in the car packed up. We could replace the engine in no time. It made me very familiar with Italian engineering. Since then I have owned a Lancia Delta, a Fiat Punto and Alfa Romeos.

How long have you had the van?
I bought it new four years ago. It replaced an old transit van and the Fiat’s small size makes it very handy for running around the towns. I have a larger pick up truck for the bigger jobs but most breakdowns that I deal with are either tyres or batteries and the van is perfect for dealing with these types of problems.

Is it reliable?
Yes. Italian cars can have a bit of a reputation for being temperamental but I have had no problems with the Doblo. It has a great driving position too.

How often do you wash it?
Nearly every day! In the quieter moments the young lads who work with me take it to the pressure washing facilities that we have. I think the lads enjoy it as well because it gives them an excuse to do a bit of driving.

Are there any modifications?
The car has alloy wheels, that’s about it. The performance and style are sporty enough.

What would you really like to be driving around in?
It has to be Italian. The new Alfa Brera would do nicely.

NEWPORT COUNTY MAYO

Our old house

GARDENING HIGHLIGHTS

Swans at Westport house

Highlights of the Gardening Year

Well what was your gardening highlights this year? How did the wet summer and the beautiful autumn treat your plants and crops? Our garden has developed a bit more this year, and the wet summer seemed to do the plants good. The only plants that seemed to suffer a bit were plants in hanging baskets. They tended to get a bit of a battering in the storms we had. There were certain plants that didn’t do well at all and I won’t be growing them next year. I will be concentrating my efforts on plants that will tolerate adverse conditions.

As for the veggies, our crops did OK generally. We didn’t get as many peas as we got in previous years, but we got a good crop of courgettes and broccoli. We got quite a few spuds too and we haven’t planted any for 2 years! Most of them came from potatoes left in the ground after harvesting. They kept us going about 6 weeks. We sat down to Christmas dinner with vegetable spaghetti squash and Brussels grown in the vegetable patch this year. I think I’m turning into my parents on this matter. I remember when I was young and my parents used to go on about the homegrown vegetables on my plate. I remember muttering under my breath that their time would be better spent growing me some chocolate. It’s my turn now to be ignored by my children on the virtues of home grown produce.

More mulching
A few years ago I was living in Westport, Co Mayo, and I was looking after a five-acre garden. The garden had twelve large raised beds for growing vegetables, and when I took over looking after them, they were very overgrown with weeds. At the time I took a whole day to clear the weeds out of one bed, then I had to find somewhere for the weeds to go. The whole process was hard on the back, painfully slow and tedious. What I have learned this year is that there is an easier way. That easier way is mulching. If I were to have used old cardboard and mushroom compost the bed could have been ready for planting in an hour without breaking into a sweat (far more cost effective for my employers who were paying me by the hour)! Mulching has for me made my life so much easier in the garden, no more tedious weeding for me.

RECYCLE SILVER FOIL

Top Tip – Recycling Silver Foil.
Before you throw out all the silver foil that is wrapped around the left over food in the fridge, try using it as a way to keep greenfly off your prized plants. If the foil is laid out underneath the plant, the suns rays reflect onto the underside of the leaves. The pests find things too bright and move on to pastures new.

FESTIVE TIPS

Christmas on the Gold Coast

Keep you’re washing up cloth clean and germ free this Christmas. If you don’t want the hassle of putting it in the washing machine, pop the damp cloth in the microwave. In just thirty seconds your cloth will have had all the germs zapped. Careful when you take it out as it will be hot.

A friend of mine dries his socks in his microwave; we used to do this a lot with the children’s clothes to get them warm when we lived in a cold, damp house. Unfortunately on day we left them in too long and burned them to a crisp!

Talking of hot things, do you ever set alight to your Christmas pudding? If you are disappointed with the feeble flame then try warming things up a bit. Warm the plate that the pudding is on and warm the brandy in a soup ladle over a flame. You will find the effect far more exciting.

Warning: Be very careful when doing this and make sure whoever is doing it isn’t indulging in too much festive spirit!

CHRISTMAS TREE

There are some cultures that decorate sticks instead of Christmas trees. This sounds as if it should be very disappointing for the people concerned but it can be quite the opposite. Many people now are opting for a minimalist effect in their home, with little or no furniture and ornaments. There are even homes being built that don’t even have a kitchen, too much clutter. What better way to complement this effect than to have a stick in the corner of the room with a couple of baubles hanging off it and a string of fairy lights wrapped around the bare stems. I actually tried this one-year and found the effect very satisfying. Visitors had other thoughts though and every one that visited took pity on me and offered to go out and buy me a tree that had a bit of greenery on it. I declined of course and insisted that I was ahead of my time.
Christmas trees, whether they are real or artificial are as popular as ever. The plastic trees with the fibre optics in them are proving to be especially well liked. For some people though there is no substitute for the real thing.

CHRISTMAS TREES
One important factor to take into consideration when choosing a real tree is to make sure that it comes from a managed source. Coillte, yet again are the safest bet to get a decent tree from and as usual they have a very wide range. Here is a rundown on the three most popular.

Norway spruce: These have the sharp needles and are the ones most prone to needle drop. When buying, make sure the leaves are fresh and green. Place the tree in a watertight container and secure with bricks or stone. Fill the container with moist sand; this will help supply the tree with water, which will slow down the needle drop. These trees are best suited in the porch or outside. Top up with water regularly avoiding the electrics.

Lodge pole pine~ These have softer needles and hold their needles; they have a loose growing habit and are good for indoors.

Noble fir These have a tighter growing habit, they have blue green needles and hold them very well.

Seee other article below for more tree types.

HOLLY

The story of the holly bush could have gone in the Up the Garden Path section but I thought that it needed a mention here, as there is a prediction that the holly bush could become an endangered species in Ireland. I have witnessed first hand the damage that can be done by people wanting to make money out of selling the twigs at Christmas. I was in a wood recently and saw that whole bushes cut to the ground so a few twigs with berries on at the top could be cut. Like the trees, make sure you buy holly from sustainable sources. I have noticed that the birds have already been busy picking the berries from the holly. This might give the bushes a chance to re grow as the cuttings aren’t as sought after without them.

CHRISTMAS CALF

CHOOSING A CHRISTMAS TREE

Christmas tree, Brisbane.

CHRISTMAS TREES

Did anyone buy a real cut Christmas tree when they first came into the shops about three weeks ago? If you did please let me know if it is surviving the long wait until Santa comes. Maybe people have started to buy two trees, one for the run up to Christmas and another for when that one looses all of its needles on the front room carpet. We like to buy our tree quite close to the holiday, that way there should still be a few bits of green left on the branches to hang the chocolate ornaments. The only drawback to buying the tree later is that we tend to be left with one that is a bit miss-shaped, so the pruning shears have to come out to perform some cosmetic surgery. The amputated branches can be used for decorating the table and around mirrors though, so nothing goes to waste as it can all be mulched in the New Year (Definition of mulching- throwing at the bottom of the garden and left to rot down!)

KEEPING IT REAL
The real Christmas tree is a living resource, which can be recycled, while the plastic tree consists of metal and plastic materials, which cannot be broken down naturally. This impacts the environment during manufacturing and after use. Plastic Christmas trees are often made of PVC, which also has many negative environmental qualities. They do look pretty though and you don’t have to vacuum the dropped leaves every day!

SELECTION AND CARE OF YOUR TREE
When you are selecting your Christmas tree always bear in mind where you are going to place it in the house. Make sure the size suits your home and the room you are going to put it into. For most modern homes a 6ft Christmas tree is very suitable.

Make sure it has a straight stem, even dense branches and a fresh colour. When you bring your Christmas tree home, cut an inch or two off the bottom of the stem and stand it outside in a bucket of water. Shake off any loose needles before you bring it inside and stand it in a special Christmas tree stand or in a bucket of wet sand with a water bowl to which you should add a pint of water daily (avoiding the electrics!). Try not to let the tree dry out, as the base will re-seal itself and stop taking in water. Water is important as it prevents the needles from drying and dropping off and the branches from drooping. Water also keeps the tree fragrant. Place the tree in the coolest part of the room away from fires and radiators, as central heating is the worst enemy of a tree.

If you have a big garden, then why not consider buying a rooted tree in a pot. Rooted trees in pots have the best chance of survival if they are kept in the house over the Christmas period. If you water them well they should still be alive at the end of the holiday and you can plant them outside in your garden. I have known people successfully re-use their trees for a couple of years. They were planted into a bigger pot every year and it was a good while before the trees got too big for the house. It can be a lot of work keeping them watered in summer though.


TREE SAFETY
Make sure your tree is properly secured and positioned clear of doorways, stairs, heaters and open fires.
Christmas tree lights can be dangerous if not properly wired. There are a lot of different types to go for in the shops. Look for the approved safety standards sign on the box. Remember to unplug tree lights and other decorations when out of the house or going to bed at night. And if you have a cat, make sure that it doesn’t jump up the tree to get to the shiny baubles and bring the whole lot down.

TREE TYPES
The most popular types of Christmas tree sold in Irish garden centres include:

Norway Spruce - the most traditional looking Christmas tree - has a mid-green colour, a fine, delicate foliage and a distinctive 'Christmassy' scent.

Scots pine - a really fragrant native conifer with attractive blue-green foliage and soft needles

Lodgepole pine - a cheerful green colour, tinged slightly with yellow, and a sharp fragrance

Nordmann fir - has distinctive broad, bold green needles with whitish underside
It’s all down to individual taste as to what tree you like the best, so happy hunting!

Horticultural.

LAWN CARE

This month is a good month to seed or lay new lawns. It is also a good time to fill-in the bare spots of the old lawn caused by children playing or dogs burying their bones.

If the lawn needs moss and dead grass removing (scarifying) then gat a springbok rake which will remove all of these. The existing grass will be able to establish better and if there are any bald patches, these can be re-seeded. Most garden centres stock a range of grass seeds in small quantities, which are ideal for repairs. Fertilise after this is done if you want as this will green up the grass over the winter. It might also mean that you have to go out on Christmas day to cut the grass….you have been warned!

This is a good time to sow new lawns. Sow lawn seed into well-prepared, fine soil. Roll lightly when 1in high if the ground isn’t too wet, and when it has grown again top it off lightly with the mower set at 2in, again only do this when the ground is dry as it could cause nasty ridges in the lawn.

Remove the worst broad-leaved weeds from newly seeded lawns by hand; it is too soon to use selective weed killers.

ME AND MY MOTOR-JOHN BARR

John Barr is better known as a local businessperson than a car fanatic. In fact John doesn’t even know the make of his own van. Better still, on more than one occasion, he has been known to get into the wrong white van and try to start it up! (“They all look the same,” he claims) John might not know what his van looks like but he certainly hasn’t lost his edge as a trader. “I might not know any make of cars on the road but I could tell you the price of anything in 1972”. His van is a 2000 VW Caddy by the way.

John has been trading for thirty years and Barr’s shop has been open in Buncrana for 160 years. As well as clothing and flags, John also supplies a whole range of printing and embroidery items. Whether it is a corporate logo, workwear on a large scale or just a few shirts for a hen or stag night, John can supply the lot. (That’s if he can find his van!)


How long have you had the van?
Let me think….about five years now. I bought it used and as I don’t know the first thing about cars I couldn’t even tell you the registration number.

Any plans to change?
It will get replaced when it stops working.

Is it reliable?
Yes. Patrick Grant here in the town takes care of all of the servicing. He just appears and drives it to his garage then brings it back all serviced and ready to go.

Best and worst thing about the van?
The worst thing is that I have to drive it. The best is that it starts and moves when I want it too.

How often do you wash it?
I have never washed it in five years! It does get cleaned every two years. Patrick cleans it for me before it goes to get an NCT.

What was your fist car?
I had a Fiat 850 bubble car. I bought it for £25 and spent £25 putting in an engine. Putting in the new engine only took a few hours and we were out on the road the next day. It was only small but we could squeeze seven people in it! I drove it for six months until the brakes seized up (at least I think that was the problem) outside the Culdaff Arms. I had to get a lift home but not before I sold the car to someone as it sat on the street for £60. I got a Ford Escort after that but it was a nightmare. I remember it always overheated but I had to travel to Dublin every week. Poor Afke (my wife) had to get out and push many a time - much to the disapproval of the pedestrians on O’Connell Street! I must point out here that I didn’t push because Afke couldn’t drive at the time...honestly!

What would you do to help motorists given the chance?
Do away with cars and get Scotty from Star Trek to beam us where we wanted to go. I think a few good manners on the road will have to do in the mean time.

POND CARE

You mentioned about stopping putting food out for the fish in winter a week or two ago. Is their anything else that I could do to protect the fish and the pond as winter approaches? L.E.

Reply.
I mentioned that fish don’t feed in temperatures less that 48-50 degrees Fahrenheit. They will eat the algae on the sides of the pond if the temperature rises at all in the winter months. Our goldfish that lives in the bathroom has to survive quite often on the green gunge that grows on the glass of the tank as we forget to feed him quite often. This does him no harm at all. The other point about the fish outdoors is that there should be a deep place in the water (about 2 feet minimum), where the fish can hide from the frost and herons. Here are some other jobs to do if you have a pond.

Keep the pond clear of fallen leaves and other debris. The rotting leaves can poison the water by becoming gungy and rotten. If there are a lot of them they could block out all of the natural light. The quality of water in the pond should be maintained even during the winter months to insure the survival of the pond inhabitants. Remove debris and decomposing leaves with a net often

Frost tender floating plants should be removed from the pond before they start to deteriorate and foul the water. Try to keep them over winter in a bucket in a sheltered spot you never know, they might survive.

Tropical marginal plants that live on the edge of the pond could be moved inside and treated as houseplants during the winter months. For better appearance, trim any roots that have grown outside the pot. Keep them in a cool, frost-free place and make sure they have plenty of light so they don’t grow straggly.

Hardy marginal plants just need to be trimmed and moved low enough into the water to avoid freezing. All dead foliage should be cut off and discarded.

Hardy Water Lilies will survive winter in the deeper parts of the pond and the fish can hide from the herons as well. Tropical Water Lilies will have to be brought inside or put in a bucket and put in the same sheltered place as the marginal plants.

Submerged oxygenating plants can be trimmed back at this time. They can be left in as they will keep the water fresh in the winter months.

Disconnect, clean and store away external filters. Drain all pipes and tubing to prevent bursting during freezing weather.Electric pumps can be left in the pond if they are located well below the freezing line. In ponds with a large fish population it may be necessary to continue to run the pump to keep a sufficient supply of oxygen. The pump should be moved just below the surface of the water under these circumstances to avoid cooling the lower layers of water too much

Horticultural.