Advertise on podcast: KCLR's The Garden Show with Paul Smyth

Embrace the official start of summer with Paul Smyth on The Garden Show! This week, we explore the fascinating world of "edimentals" with guest Orlaith Murphy, discovering how to grow a garden that looks as good as it tastes. Learn why you should be pickling magnolia petals for a gingery treat and how to infuse fig leaves into your next batch of homemade ice cream. Our Plant of the Week is the iconic Hawthorne (or "fairy tree"). Paul delves into its rich Irish folklore and its traditional use in supporting heart health. Plus, Ann Sinnott from the Arboretum joins us to share essential tips for beginner vegetable gardeners, emphasising the golden rule: "feed the soil, not the plants". In our Expert Q&A, we tackle: The right way to use coffee grounds and aged farmyard manure.Top picks for evergreen hedges in the countryside, featuring Yew and Holly.How nematodes provide a safe, biological solution for "gruesome" but effective slug control.Brought to you by Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven, it’s time to get your green fingers ready!

Get ready to transform your garden! Join Paul Smyth on The Garden Show for an episode dedicated to the foundations of a thriving landscape. Special guest Richard Bradley dives into the science of "cooking" compost, revealing why you should actually water your heap and the importance of a 2:1 woody-to-green material ratio to keep the bacteria happy. Tony Breen from the Arboretum also provides a masterclass on lawns, covering everything from moss control with Moactor to the pros and cons of seeds versus rollout turf. Our Plant of the Week is the Tulip. Paul explores their phototropic nature—how they move toward light even in a vase—and the wild history of 17th-century "Tulip Mania," when a single bulb could cost more than a house.In the expert Q&A, we tackle: The dangers of using fresh sawdust and how it can starve your plants of nitrogen.The benefits of "No Mow May" for supporting local pollinators.Why manure and seaweed are better long-term choices than "one-hit wonder" liquid feeds.Brought to you by Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven, it’s time to get those green fingers ready!

Spring has finally arrived! Join Paul Smyth on The Garden Show for a sunshine-filled episode packed with seasonal wisdom. This week, we dive deep into the world of the daffodil, exploring its roots in Greek mythology and its surprising role in modern Alzheimer's treatment. Special guest Dave Hardy from Esker Farm Daffodils reveals the "labour of love" behind breeding new varieties, a meticulous process that can take up to a decade to reach your garden. Ann Sinnott from Arboretum also joins the show to share essential tips for spring maintenance, from feeding your soil to planting summer-flowering bulbs like Dahlias and Lilies. In our expert Q&A, Paul tackles your toughest gardening dilemmas:  The "brute force" method for removing brambles—and why you might need a goat! Why you must never thin out bulb leaves if you want blooms next year. Using vinegar and lavender to deter ants in polytunnels. Why Hellebores are the one plant you should never attempt to split.Brought to you by Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven, it’s time to get your green fingers ready!

In the last episode of this series of The Garden Show, Paul Smyth talks to Ciaran Fitzgerald of Johnstown Castle, Wexford, ahead of their garden festival this weekend. He chats to Anne Synnott of the Arboretum about gardening for the future. His plants this week are the fern and the hydrangea and Paul finishes the series by tackling a final batch of listener questions

On this week's Garden Show, Paul Smyth brings us on a tour of An Ghairdin Beo, led by Sr Mary Carmody and John McHugh. He talks about vegetable gardening with Ann Synnott of The Arboretum, his plant of the week is the dahlia and, as always, he tackles listener questions.

On this week's episode of The Garden Show, Paul speaks to James Connolly of Arboretum, Kilquade about the importance of ponds. He catches up with Robert Miller who celebrates twenty-five years at Altamont Gardens. Paul's plant of the week is the orchid and as ever, he tackles listeners' gardening questions.

On this week's garden show Paul Smyth brings us to Garden Show Ireland, at Antrim Castle Gardens, where he chats to Marie Staunton, Andy McCormack and Niall McCauley, about flower farming and garden priorities at this time of year. Shirley Lanigan, author and deputy editor of The Irish Garden magazine joins Paul in studio. Paul's plant of the week is the sweet pea and,  as always, he answers listener questions Brought to you by: Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven Transform your garden with our unbeatable range of plants, trees, tools and garden accessories. See Arboretum.ie

On this week's episode of the Garden Show, Paul Smyth talks to Tony Breen of the Arboretum. Tony gives advice on plants that work well in shaded areas and how to create shade with plants. He catches up with Colin Jones, Head Gardener at Salterbridge Gardens. His plant of the week is the rose; he gives advice on good varieties to look out for and on how to tackle pruning. Finally, he tackles listeners questions.

On this week's garden show Paul Smyth brought us a lovely flavour of a delightful weekend spent at Bloom, where he caught up with Hazel Woods, Carol Marks and Diarmuid Gavin. Paul's plant of the week is the peony. He answers listener questions in relation to that particular flower and other gardening matters. Finally, he spoke to Tony Breen of the Arboretum Kilquade about annuals and beddings

The second episode of the third season of The Garden Show with Paul Smyth is here thanks to The Arboretum. On this week's garden show Paul Smyth talks to a Plant Scientist, and is joined in studio by Rachel Doyle, Director of Arboretum Home and Gardens. He talks about festivals and garden shows as he looks ahead to Bloom, which takes place this weekend, and the upcoming Carlow Garden Festival. He talks trees and shrubs and answers listeners questions as gardens have burst into life following recent rain.

The first episode of the third season of The Garden Show with Paul Smyth is here with thanks to The Arboretum. The theme of this episode is Spring Into Summer. Paul spoke to Anne Synott, Kitty Scully and Dan Bristow about getting ready for the season ahead, The Chelsea Flower Show and what is trending in gardening for 2025.

On this evening's Garden Show, Paul spoke to Robert Miller and Harriet from the Aboretum. The plant of the week is the Hydrangea.

On this evening's Garden Show, Paul spoke to Rachel Doyle of the Arboretum and spoke about the history of the Arboretum and about her new book “My Tree of Life". The plant of the week is the rose.

On this evening's Garden Show, Paul spoke to Diarmuid Gavin about his thoughts and memories of the Chelsea Flower show and Paul catches up with Patrick from Connecting to Nature in Waterford and talk all things wildflowers. The plant of the week is the peony.

On this evening's Garden Show, Paul spoke to Emma Hanley The Flower Fairy, Kerrie Gardiner the show garden manager for Bloom in the Park and he spoke to some garden volunteers from RHSI Bellefield. The plant of the week was the hawthorn.