APRIL has come to us with sunshine and lots of colour to brighten up things in the garden and in the pots.

Summer bedding and summer trailing plant are available at the garden center. One of the main questions I get each year is how many plants should I use for my baskets.

When planting baskets the main thing to consider hw much room do your plants have to expand. So for a 14” basket I use 4 plants and I use a filler for extra colour and some- times I add a centre piece to them like a geranium or even a Bidens. But of course, you can squeeze more in but you aren’t leaving the room for growth.

Mixed baskets are very popular and you don’t necessarily need to put in trailer.

Choosing what to grow can be confusing but a few things to consider are do you want a centre piece with a bit of height, do you want trailing, are you going with a theme or one type of colour.

Hopefully these pointers will help you when filling your containers and hanging baskets.

There is lots of gardening going on at the moment and lots of rockers getting new life put in to them.

Some of the most popular plants at the minute are Aduja repens a lovely ground cover perennial with a blue flower. Saxifraga is a lovely red or white flowering perennial one of the most popular is Aubrieta is has a lovely spreading habit and can overhang on the edge of rockery it comes in shades of purple and red.

The following ones I love because they are great to self seed and give back extra plants; Aquilegia commonly known as grannies bonnet, America known as seathrift and pop- pies. They come in a selection of colours and they are stunning .

Heather are ideal for the rockery area and are great for slopes and will spread and give great colour.

We have a lovely selection of standard Trees at the moment so if you have a small garden these are ideal. The cherry blossoms and weeping willows are fantastic and ideal even standard roses are lovely when in flower.

So on that note I will just leave you with this tip to keep your plants watered while we are enjoying this dry spell of weather.

Happy Gardening everone.

Related News

IMG_4263
‘Mum could see the signs when I was a toddler’ – aspiring Clare journalist on living with ASD
Kevin and Michelle McNamee
McNamee’s Londis in Co Clare Raise over €20,000 for Irish Hospice Foundation’s Nurses for Night Care Service
shannon sun 26-05-26 1
Clare records hottest day in May & sunshine brings business bounce
Tom Micks Photography
Surfers come to rescue in Lahinch as lifeguards spring into action earlier than usual
Latest News
eugene nugent 2
Pope appoints Scariff's Nugent as Papal Nuncio to the Czech Republic
longford vs clare 23-05-26 paul madden 2
Madden to have 'serious review' on Clare future
clare vs cork u20 06-05-26 barry walsh eoghan gunning 1
Eoghan Gunning for chance to lead Clare to All-Ireland success
Irish Sport Industry Awards 2026
Torpey Leads the Way with Best Sports Business Award
IMG_4263
‘Mum could see the signs when I was a toddler’ – aspiring Clare journalist on living with ASD
Premium
'There was never a doubt in my mind about coming back' - Maura returns to work in Carrigaholt post office
Penalty practice makes perfect for Fred Hegarty & Clare U20s
Justice Minister defends actions during fuel protest & 'doesn't care' if it weakens chances of becoming Fianna Fáil leader
Clare's immense appetite makes U20 success taste much sweeter for Kilroy
'Trust your instincts' - Sheedy shows nerves of steel with superb shootout saves

Annual Subscription!

The Clare Echo annual subscription for just €69.99 a year. 

Prefer to pay monthly? Click the monthly option and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. 

Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.