I’m a gardening expert – here’s how to create dream outdoor space on a budget & there’s cheapest time to buy plants

AN expert gardener has revealed how even complete beginners can create their dream outdoor space by following three simple steps. 

Cillian McDonald, based in Dublin’s family-run Windyridge Nurseries, said more people are keen to try their hand at planting in the height of summer. 

journalist collect

Cillian explained how to grow a garden on a budget or in a small space[/caption]

journalist collect

Feeding, watering and deadheading are the three top tips[/caption]

The landscape gardener shared insider tips on how to get the green thumb if you’re a newcomer to the hobby, if you’re on a tight budget, or if you only have a small outdoor space.  

Cillian told The Irish Sun: “I think the biggest mistake people make is they don’t understand their space, so if you just know I get lots of sun in that spot, I get lots of shade in that spot, it’s that simple. 

“But the problem is people arrive and they just grab colours they like, oh I like that, I like that, I like that. 

“So then there’s different areas, some things will only survive in a shady spot, some things love sun, if you know your space or even show someone on Google Maps, they’ll be able to say, ‘okay this is what you’re dealing with, this is your aspect’, and even again some people mix up their aspect and they think they’ve got a south facing garden but it’s small and it’s walled in, so you’re south facing but not full sun. 

“Just understanding your space is the biggest thing.”

Cillian advised those first taking up gardening to ask for advice in a local garden centre before buying. 

He explained: “For complete beginners, come to a garden centre, say this is what I’ve got, this is what I like, that’s the easiest way. 

“The most important thing is to know what your plants do and don’t like, it’s like asking a fish to go in a dog bed, it’s not going to work. 

“If you put a shade loving plant in a sunny spot, it’s dead. 

“A lot of people consider watering plants as far as the can goes, you need to drown plants, all plants.”

And he said the top three tips are “feed, water, and deadhead”. 

Cillian said: “If you do those three things, you’re away. 

“Cut all flowers to encourage new growth, water well, not just a little bit, you need to water deeply, especially in pots. 

“People have this idea, it’s getting loads of water from the rain, the leaf will block off 90 per cent of the water coming in there. 

“Water, feed, deadhead, if it’s feeding, it’s once every two weeks in the growing season, but you don’t need to feed once it’s below 12 degrees. 

SLOW AND STEADY

“Knowing your plants is the biggest one and knowing your compost, a lot of people just think throwing a load of multi purpose in, and a shrub doesn’t like multi purpose, it’s a vast area, but a lot people just say loads of bags of multi purpose, and it’s actually not fit for purpose. 

“Different soils do different things, it’s a vast vast area.”

Cillian advised any new gardeners not to overreach by buying more plants than they can look after. 

He said: “So any beginner, don’t take too much on. You want to go slowly and steadily.”

And he said there’s a common misconception that gardening is an expensive hobby. 

RIGHT PLANT, RIGHT TIME

In reality, a beautiful outdoor space can be created on a budget if gardeners buy the right plants at the right time.  

Cillian explained: “If you’re talking about budget, buy young, so say if you bought lots of plants earlier in the season they’d be a lot cheaper, so buying them in the height of the season they’re in their biggest size, they’re therefore the most expensive. 

“Buy early, buy young plants, they’ll establish better in your garden, they’ll be happier in the long term. 

“There are some plants that are worth investing in like trees, tree ferns, stuff that’s very slow to grow, it’s worth investing in them because they show almost instantly and take a very long time to establish. 

“But annuals, perennials, buy them young. 

MONEY SAVER

“If you have a good pair of pruning shears, gloves and a trowel, there’s not much else you essentially need. 

“It’s like any hobby the more you get into it, but you don’t need to buy every tool in the tool shed, a good bypass secreteurs (pruning shears), a trowel, will get you where you need to go. 

“Thinking permanently will always save you money, I would always say that’s the thing, a lot of people do temporary solutions, in gardening you have to think long term, especially in small gardens, that’s the trick really.”

Another top tip is: “Think right plant, right place.

“You buy one plant and put it in the right place and it will go forever, you won’t need to do it again, that’s the real trick to saving money.” 

IMPORTANT RESEARCH

Cillian also explained how those with a balcony or small garden can make the best of their space. 

For those who live in cities or built up areas, thinking outside the box to find what works for your garden is key. 

Cillian said: “Do your research. 

“If you buy young plants that are going to grow into the right size, that’s the real cheat, understanding your garden and buying things to the right scale. 

“If you’ve got a small garden, buy dwarf. 

THRILLER, FILLER, SPILLER

“If you’re in an apartment you need to know that your plants are gong to dry out really really quickly because of wind, not because of sun, even if you’re in a shady spot, the wind will dry them out really quickly. 

“There’s a good rule actually, thriller, filler, spiller, if you’re doing your pots, so one thing is a thriller it’s called, a big kind of showy plant in the centre, a filler, something surrounding it, and a spiller, your ivy, coming out. 

“If you keep that in your head while planting your pots they will always at the very least look interesting. 

“And then water well, think right plant, right place, water well. 

“Small spaces, definitely understanding the scale of your plants when you put them in, you can get into design, mirrors are your friend for sure, hiding boundaries is always a really good idea, if you’ve got four walls and you don’t know where it ends and the plants fill the space, you don’t know that you’re in a small space. 

“Think vertically as well, get climbers, that’s another one in small spaces.” 

JOURNALIST COLLECT

Thousands of people take up gardening in the height of summer[/caption]

JOURNALIST COLLECT

Knowing your plants and knowing your garden space is essential[/caption]

JOURNALIST COLLECT

Cillian shared insider tips on how beginners can create the perfect garden[/caption]