Solis

Mac’s garden centre
Whilst some of us have had a long break from any form of gardening duties, there are some dedicated horticulturalists that work through all weathers. There doesn’t have to be blooms in the borders for landscapers like John McDermott from Mac’s Garden Centre in Ballymagan to be out working. John and his team have spent the last few months undertaking a large landscaping project at the Solis Lough Eske Hotel, the only 5 star hotel in Donegal. The hotel boasts a 43-acre garden only 5 kms from Donegal Town. Creating a new garden around the Elizabethan style hotel wasn’t all that John has been doing. John started selling plants last year and because the demand is so great he has had to expand. The multispan polythene tunnel is full of summer promise and the display areas are bulging with new stock ready to adorn the gardens of Inishowen. John is also taking orders for hanging baskets and window boxes, for lots of colour this summer.

Architectural planting schemes
John is a firm fan of architectural planting schemes, especially grasses. Phormiums grow well in Inishowen. Planting smaller grasses around these add all year interest as they catch the low sunshine and wave in the wind. John has a fine selection of ornamental grasses, such as Acorus, with their compact habit. Astielia westland red and the spiky Fascicularia bicolour. This plant is actually a bromeliad and rewards us with a fantastic blue flower and white bracts, so not all architectural plants are flowerless. Planted close together to form a dense mat, these plants will give years of pleasure for very little work. Placing them into an area that has been covered with weed block material and given a surface dressing of stone or woodchip will make the job all the more maintenance free, allowing you to get on with planting those early vegetables.

Planting the vegetables
April is a good time to be planting vegetable seeds and in the garden. Asparagus, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, courgette and spinach are just a few of the seeds that can be planted out now. If you are limited for space to grow your own seedlings under protection, then small plants might suit you better. Local shops are now stocking packets that can be planted straight outside. Salad crops can be planted from seed now. Basil, chives, lettuce, radish, parsley and spring onions can all be placed out into warm prepared beds or containers.

Clean up your pots for the summer
If you are thinking about using plant pots and containers from last year, these could do with being cleaned too, before anything is planted into them. All sorts of pests and diseases can lurk in the crevices. It isn’t uncommon to find a nest of woodlice or loads of baby slugs living in the gaps in between each pot. (Sorry if you are eating your breakfast!) These could go undetected until they have eaten all of the young plants that you placed in them. Don’t let the dirt build up on your favourite garden ornaments either (unless of course you want that old style look) Get the brush and soapy water out and start scrubbing.

Early flowering plants
John has some fantastic early flowering plants in at the moment. Camellias are just about out and there are two types to choose from, Japonica, supreme red, and Williamsii donation ‘pink’. The rhododendrons and azaleas are looking good at the moment too. I always think it makes sense to take regular trips to the garden centres at all times of the year to buy plants that are looking good in season. This way you will be guaranteed something of interest all year round. Just because we don’t like to go outside when it’s cold and wet, doesn’t mean that plants don’t thrive on it!