Master My Garden Podcast

June 2026 consultations available to book here 
https://mastermygarden.com/consultation/
You can spend months staring at your garden and still not know what to do first, especially after a new build, a renovation, or a big change in how you want to use the space. We’re sharing a short, practical announcement episode about a service we’ve brought back: online garden consultations that help you move from ideas to a clear, doable plan.

We explain exactly what you get from a one-hour-ish Zoom garden consultation, including a simple pre-call questionnaire to clarify your goals, what’s blocking you, and the budget you’re working with. This is not a garden design service. It’s hands-on garden coaching focused on actionable next steps, smart sequencing, and the kind of decisions that stop you wasting money on plants, trees, and materials that don’t suit your site.

You’ll also hear real examples of what people bring to these calls: a 1970s house renovation needing boundary, pond and patio guidance; a steep, tricky site that needed a staged landscaping plan; a new build with a paper plan that didn’t match real conditions; and even an outdoor classroom garden designed to feel private, welcoming and rich in pollinator-friendly planting.

We keep availability intentionally tight with only two slots per month, and we share the current booking details, price, and how to secure a time. If you want tailored garden advice you can act on straight away, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who’s stuck, and leave us a review.
Support the show
If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email:  info@mastermygarden.com   

Check out Master My Garden on the following channels   
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ 
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/  
 
Until next week  
Happy gardening  
John

This weeks sponsor: 
Crann From  Probio Carbon 
https://www.probiocarbon.ie
Your seeds are not “mysteriously bad” overnight. When carrots, peas, and lettuce fail again and again, the real culprit is usually the same thing we have all been living through: wild swings in soil temperature and moisture, plus bursts of intense sun followed by heavy rain. We break down what those swings do at the exact moment seeds try to germinate, and why the first few days after emergence are the most vulnerable stage of the entire growing season. 

We get specific about the tricky crops. Carrots can sit in cold, wet ground and do nothing, or they can germinate and then vanish when the surface dries before roots establish. Lettuce brings a different problem: once temperatures climb above around 20°C, lettuce seed may refuse to germinate at all, especially in a polytunnel or greenhouse that can hit extreme heat. We also talk about the frustrating stuff that looks like a germination failure but is actually slug and snail damage, plus why seed quality is worth considering even if it is not the most likely cause. 

Then we lay out a simple, practical rescue plan to save your season and avoid a harvest gap: sow peas and lettuce in trays and in the ground for a staggered backup, manage heat with shade during germination, keep compost evenly moist with quick daily checks, and use plug plants strategically to bridge missing weeks (with a clear warning on carrot plugs). If you have been doubting yourself, this is your reminder that even seasoned growers get failures, and the best growers adapt to what their own garden is doing. 

Subscribe for more practical vegetable gardening advice, share this with a friend who is re-sowing for the third time, and leave a review so more growers can find the show. What crop is giving you the most trouble right now?
Support the show
If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email:  info@mastermygarden.com   

Check out Master My Garden on the following channels   
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ 
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/  
 
Until next week  
Happy gardening  
John

This weeks sponsor: 
Crann From  Probio Carbon 
https://www.probiocarbon.ie
Rain that never seems to end, sunshine that vanishes in minutes, and wind that flattens the best-looking borders can make this June feel like a constant battle. We’re not trying to “beat” the weather, but we are determined to stop it stealing the best part of the gardening year, especially when roses, peonies and early summer perennials should be putting on a show.

We talk through the real damage caused by this mix of warmth and moisture: flowers that hold water and rot, stems that snap after repeated rocking, and the rapid rise of fungal problems like mildew and botrytis. Then we get practical. We share a ruthless deadheading approach that protects the next flush of blooms, simple support methods for tall plants, and the key housekeeping that boosts airflow and reduces disease pressure. We also cover container gardening tactics that make a huge difference, from bringing hanging baskets into shelter for a “breather” to moving pots into a less exposed spot so they can recover and thrive.

You’ll also hear how to spot the plants that are genuinely unbothered by rough weather, and how to use that information for smarter planting choices later. Finally, we explain the Chelsea Chop, when it still makes sense to do it in a late season, and which perennials respond best with bushier growth and a longer flowering season.

If you want more flowers and fewer disappointments this summer, hit subscribe, share the episode with a gardening friend, and leave us a review so more people can find the show. What’s taking the biggest beating in your garden right now?
Support the show
If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email:  info@mastermygarden.com   

Check out Master My Garden on the following channels   
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ 
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/  
 
Until next week  
Happy gardening  
John

This weeks sponsor: 
Crann From  Probio Carbon 
https://www.probiocarbon.ie
Conifers have spent years stuck in the “dated garden” box, but we’re starting to see them differently and for good reason. After spotting standout examples in show gardens and design work, we talk through why conifers are quietly making a comeback and how a single well-chosen evergreen can add structure, texture and calm to a border all year round. If you’ve ever thought “conifers aren’t for me”, this is the rethink. 

We also unpack a very real gardening problem: weather whiplash. Going from cold conditions to near 30°C heat and then straight back into wind and heavy rain doesn’t just feel dramatic, it changes how plants grow. We share what we’re seeing on the ground, from scorched seedlings in polytunnels to onions, garlic and leeks starting to bolt after heat shock, plus why fluctuating moisture levels can push plants into stress. 

With wetter conditions back, we flag what to watch for right now: slugs and snails appearing in big numbers and potato blight risk rising quickly, especially where soft growth has been knocked about by wind. Then we move into practical, listener-friendly conifer picks and care tips, including compact pines, classic trees like Cedrus deodara and Metasequoia, and evergreen staples such as Taxus baccata for hedging and clipping. 

If you enjoy these practical garden check-ins and plant-focused deep dives, subscribe to the podcast, share the episode with a gardening friend, and leave a review so more people can find it. What conifer would you actually plant in your garden?
Support the show
If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email:  info@mastermygarden.com   

Check out Master My Garden on the following channels   
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ 
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/  
 
Until next week  
Happy gardening  
John

A good garden festival should leave you inspired, better informed, and itching to get back into your own patch and Buds and Blossoms in County Laois aims to do exactly that. We’re right in the heart of garden festival season, so we record this bonus guide to help you decide if the Laois Garden Festival is worth the trip and how to plan it properly, especially if you want to turn it into a full weekend away.

The main festival day lands on Sunday 7 June at Spink Community Grounds (12 to 6), and the speaker line-up is built for mixed interests. We talk through what you can expect from Edward Hayden bringing the cooking and food angle, Kieran Fitzgerald sharing insights from restoring Johnstown Castle with a strong ecological gardening ethos, and Darragh McCullough on the modern reality of a diverse Irish farm that blends farming, cut flowers, bulbs, and more. If you like gardening talks with real substance plus a bit of variety, this programme delivers.

Saturday 6 June adds another layer with Laois Garden Trail events, from open gardens and a pollinator-focused beekeeping session to yoga and meditation in woodland pathways and a hands-on willow workshop. We also run through a long list of vendors and specialist nurseries so you can target the plant stalls that match your garden, whether you’re after shade plants, trees, David Austin roses, scented pelargoniums, wildflowers, or something truly unusual. Add food stalls, a kids’ area, and nearby gardens like Emo Court and Heywood Gardens, and you have a ready-made Laois gardening weekend.

Subscribe for more practical gardening chats, share this with a friend who loves a plant fair, and leave a review if the show helps you plan your next garden day out.
Festival website: 
https://laoisgardenfestival.com
Support the show
If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.
Email:  info@mastermygarden.com   

Check out Master My Garden on the following channels   
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ 
Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/  
 
Until next week  
Happy gardening  
John