Interiors

Outdoors

Regular weedsare a problem inany garden, butreally peskyspecies can betricky to shift

YOU MIGHT think thatwhen it comes topreparing an overgrownor new site for a fruit and

vegetable garden, things shouldbe quite straightforward. You dig,you weed, you manure, you rake,you sow and then you harvest,right?

Well, no, actually. In fact, muchdepends on the particular site, theinevitable restrictions of time,money and labour, and of coursehow strictly you want to adhere toorganic principles.

Take as an example the OPW’swalled Victorian kitchen garden –now a beautiful and wonderfullyproductive place but prior to itsrecent restoration, an overgrown

and neglected wilderness.Abandoned and uncultivatedsince the late 1970s, the 2.5-acresite had become infested with anunlovely assortment of persistentperennial weeds, but in particularwith what some gardeners wouldsay is the “grandaddy” of them all,Polygonum cuspidatum orJapanese Knotweed – a plantwhich has been nominated for thelist of 100 of the World’s WorstInvaders on the Global InvasiveSpecies Database (issg.org).

In an irony not lost on OPWgardeners Meeda Downey andBrian Quinn, this very same plantwas once highly prized byVictorian gardeners for itsornamental qualities (as well as bybeekeepers for its abundantnectar) and was tenderly, lovinglycultivated until the realizationdawned, too late, that it was infact a thuggish weed almostimpossible to contain.

Reproducing vegetativelythrough its root system orthrough the dispersal of verysmall pieces of plant material (aslittle as 1cm in length), andcapable of horribly quickre-growth, Japanese knotweedforms three-metre-tall thicketswith a dense leaf canopy thatcompletely excludes other plants,while its roots or rhizomes canextend to a depth of two to threemetres and up to seven metresaway from any parent plant.

Let unchecked, it can penetratetarmac and concrete and as aresult can do great damage tohouse foundations, paths, roadsand walls – including thosehistoric brick walls that enclosethe OPW’s walled kitchen garden.

In fact, so damaging isJapanese knotweed that in theUK, any material from the plant isclassified as controlled waste andonly authorized personnel inpossession of an environmentalpermit are allowed to transport orbury it outside its original site.

So the OPW gardeners werefaced with a horrid dilemma.Their aim was to maintain thewalled Victorian kitchen gardenaccording to organic principles,once it was restored, but was itrealistic in the very early stages ofthe restoration process to useorganic-only methods (repeatedlydigging out roots and cutting backre-growth, over a long period oftime) to try to clear the overgrownwalled garden of Japaneseknotweed?

Given the scale of the

infestation, the maturity of thecolonisation, the time and designconstrictions imposed on theproject, the risks posed by movinginfested soil in and out of thegarden and their desire to startwith a clean, weed-free site, theydecided that it wasn’t.

Instead, the OPW gardenersplumped for spraying the gardenwith a glyphosate-based systemicherbicide by the name ofRoundup. While this did the job, itearned them much criticism fromorganic gardeners, who arguedthat even the once-off use of suchchemicals in a garden that wassubsequently to be managedorganically ran contrary toeverything the organic gardeningmovement stands for.

So were the OPW gardenersright or wrong in making thedecision to use such a powerfulchemical against such aformidable weed? I’ll leave it up toyou to decide. What the story doesillustrate for me is the importancethat the OPW gardeners, like allgood gardeners, placed onstarting with a clear, clean andrelatively weed-free site. But then,as the saying goes, there aredifferent ways to skin a rabbit.

Both the organic gardenerKlaus Laitenberger and hissuccessor, Dermot Carey,managed to control (but noteradicate) Japanese knotweed inthe walled kitchen garden atLissadell, using organic-onlymethods.

Here, the gardeners dug out asmuch of the plants’ roots as theycould before putting the worstinfested areas into grass, atime-honoured way of graduallyweakening the root-system ofmany persistent perennial weedsthrough repeated mowing (it alsoworks brilliantly for ground elderfor example).

In his book, Vegetables for theIrish Garden, Laitenbergermentions yet another time-honoured but also time-consuming organic method ofclearing an overgrown site, whichis to cut back the existing foliageand then cover the ground withmanure followed by thick blackplastic sheeting.

The problem with this

technique is that it takes up to ayear for it to be effective and eventhen, it won't be entirely soagainst persistent weeds such asJapanese knotweed or bindweed.

In contrast, raised beds (theymust be at least 20cm high andthe boards 5cm thick) are a verytime-efficient (but relativelyexpensive) way to create a newgarden on a previously overgrownsite. Just build them on top of theexisting surface (again, start bycutting any existing foliage downto the ground), and then cover theground with a thickish layer ofnewspaper, followed bywell-rotted manure and then soil.While this method works well,particularly in a poorly drainedsite, be warned that the root

systems of the most persistentperennial weeds will still survive.

Ditto single digging, where theground is dug in a series ofnarrow parallel trenches to adepth of 20cm, with the sod liftedand flipped upside down beforebeing used to refill the previoustrench. An excellent way ofclearing a smallish site, it’s farquicker than black plastic (theground is usable in about sixweeks) but is labour-intensive.And yet again, deep-rootedpersistent perennial weeds suchas Japanese knotweed andbindweed will continue to be aproblem. Of course, weeds arealways going to be a problem inany garden. But how much of aproblem is down to how willingand physically able you are torepeatedly roll up your sleevesand do battle.

Many years ago, my gardenergrandfather became so obsessedwith the bindweed that wasinvading his city vegetable plotfrom his next-door neighbour’sgarden that he sank sheets ofcorrugated iron six feet down intothe ground to try and block itsinvasive roots. It didn’t work.Which tells you that when itcomes to the most persistentweeds, even the most persistentgardener occasionally has toaccept defeat.

Finally, in an Urban Farmercolumn earlier this year ongardener Nicky Kyle and how togrow early potatoes in apolytunnel, readers were told thatthey would find it impossible tobuy Mayan Gold seed potatoeshere in Ireland. I’m very glad totell you that this was incorrect.Brian Paterson, owner of TheSecret Garden Centre nearNewmarket, North Cork(thesecretgardener.com), emailedme to say that they have tasterpacks of Mayan Gold fromTaylor’s Bulbs in stock, which areretailing at ¤2.99 for a pack of 10.

■ The OPW’s Victorian walledkitchen garden is in the groundsof the Phoenix Park VisitorCentre, beside the Phoenix ParkCafe and Ashtown Castle. Thegardens are open daily from 10amto 4pm

■ Next week: growing onionsfrom seed and selecting potatovarieties

■ Fionnuala Fallon is a gardendesigner and writer

URBANFARMER

WHAT TO: sow,plant and do nowBEGIN TO SOW :Inmodules under cover, forplanting out later in thevegetable garden: Asparagus,broad beans, globe artichokes,beetroot, Swiss chard, earlyBrussels sprouts, summercabbages, cauliflowers, redcabbage, carrots, parsley, chives,Welsh onions, spring onions,leeks, bulb onions, shallots,parsnips, early peas such asKelvedonwonder, radishes, kohlrabi, white turnips, landcress,rocket, mizuna and salad leafmixes. Also sow hardy annualssuch as limnanthes, calendulas,convulvulus tricolour, etc. Thesewill flower early and attractinsects to help with pest control.Remember to keep seedlingsfrost free once they’vegerminated, but don’t grow themin toomuchwarmth or they willbe too soft.Under cover in a heatedpropagator to later transplantinto polytunnel: early tomatoes,aubergines, calabrese, celery,French beans, sweet peppersand chilli peppers, to grow onusing a heat mat beforehardening off and transplantinginto polytunnel in late spring.In a polytunnel (either direct-sowor sow into modules, using fleeceat night for frost-protection):broad beans, carrots, RaggedJack kale, ruby chard, mangetoutand early peas,(Sowing details courtesy of NickyKyle, nickykylegardening.com)

PLANT: Very early, chittedpotatoes into 2L pots indoors, tomove to cool, frost-free spotbefore planting in polytunnelusing fleece at night forfrost-protection; garlic (inindividual cloves, direct outdoorsor intomodules to transplantlater, Jerusalem artichokes.

DO: Start planning this year’svegetable plot; chit potatoes;order seed (catalogues or online),weed polytunnel crops, sortthrough stored vegetables anddiscard any rotten/frostdamaged ones.

Smartstovedeals–andshelvestoo

Thereisnothinglike a rug toadd texture toa room. Newlyopened DunLaoghaire flooringshop, For Floors, situated at114 Lr George's Street, (01-2804545) has Indian and Nepalese rugsreduced by almost half. The 100%wool Ziegler roundrug pictured has silk highlights and is down from

¤800to

¤395. Itmeasures

six feet indiameter.There is a

rectangular rug of thesame design; eight feet by 2.5

feet, also reduced by the sameamount. In addition the shop stocks a

wide range ofmodern-designed Nepalese rugs, allhalf-price. And there are good-quality wood laminatefloors from¤13.95 per sqm.

byFionnuala Fallon

SpringintoprintsonthewallSpring clean your walls witha printed wallpaper. GerryKeane (01-8745783) at 14Talbot Street in Dublin 1

currently hastextured blownvinyl wallpapersby Crownreduced by 30%.The style comes in

three colourways: red,chocolate and black, and isideal on a feature wall tohelp break up aspace. Normallypriced at ¤17.99a roll it isavailable at¤12.50 a roll whilestocks last.

BARGAINHUNTER

Minima (01-6337716 ) at theWaterfront Building on HanoverQuay has a floormodel of theFlexformABC chair reducedfrom¤3,970 to ¤2,975. Thematching footstool was¤1,249 and is now down to¤930. The floor model for saleis in black leather and has asliding seat mechanism for theultimate in lounging.

Woodies DIY has some smart deals on stoves and studydesks during February, while stocks last. A one-drawer deskis down from¤39.99 to ¤24.99, Zoe, a five-shelf wall unit isdown 50% from¤64.99 to ¤32.49 and the Jazz stove isdown 23%, from¤179.99 to ¤139.

Spring hassprung so its time to

start planning your alfresco life. TheOutdoor Scene (01-2960212) at Goatstown Cross in Dublin 14 has great

value in rattan seating and dining sets. This Biarritz sofa set comeswith atwo-seater sofa, two armchairs and coffee table and is reduced from¤1,295 to¤795. It is available in a two-tone chocolate or all-black weave.There’s a NewYork rattan dining set that comeswith six chairs and a dining table, available ineither black or chocolate brown, reduced from¤1,395 to ¤795. The parasol isextra and costs ¤159. And if space is tight their La Rochelle stacking setcomprises two chairs and a coffee table that stack to store. The set was ¤799and is reduced by 43% to ¤449. This is also offered in two-tone chocolate orall-black colourways. All sets comewith cushions and glass as pictured. Pricesexclude delivery. Nationwide delivery is ¤90.

Flanagan’s Furniture is concluding itsmattress sale thisSaturday, February 19th. Dreamy offers include Odearestking-sizememory foammattresses down from¤795 to¤345 and King Koil pocket sprung, pillow-topmattressesdown from¤1,795 to ¤795. Sofa beds are down to ¤495from¤995. This warehouse clearance takes place acrossthe five stores nationwide in Dublin, Sligo, Donegal, KildareandWicklow. For details of locations see flanagans.ie

Kingsbury The FurnitureStudio (01-6579508), at Unit 3,The High Street in Tallaght’sRetail Centre, has thisWorthington dining table setreduced from¤1,299 to ¤799.The solid oak table comeswith six faux-leather chairs ineither brown or black. Alsopictured is a Brooklynsideboard, also solid oak. Itcomes in two sizes and bothare reduced. The 140 cm longsideboard is down from¤899to¤599. The 100 cm longsideboard is down from¤699to¤449.

Design House (01-6724750), at30-32 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, isrelocating to Dalkey and is sellingits floor model kitchens, somereduced by asmuch as half. Theseinclude a seriously high-endPoggenpohl black acrylic, high-gloss satin, walnut and aluminiumdesign that is reduced by 50% from¤65,684 to ¤32,842.The kitchen has tall units with

integrated Pioneer television andthe price includes an integrateddishwasher, fridge with ice-box,stainless steel single oven andinduction hob, all Neff appliances,as well as aMiele single oven andElica extractor fan. The price alsoincudes a Blanco sink and Frankechrome tap. Four dining stoolscomewith the kitchen. Delivery andfitting is an extra ¤1,800.

byAlannaGallagher

MattressmadnessatFlanagan’s

Arealriotofrugs

Let’s be clear: Above, OPW gardeners Brian Quinn and Meeda Downey at workduring the early stages of the walled garden’s restoration. The site had to becleared of perennial weeds. Top right: the herbaceous border after restoration.Photographs: Richard JohnstonMiddle and bottom right: the site in 2003 during thevery early stages of the work. Photographs Margaret Gormley, Richard Johnston

Comedinewithme

Thefineartofreclining

SpiceupyouralfrescolifeAgranddesign

Prepare to do battle with persistent perennial weeds

Thursday, February 17, 2011 THE IRISH TIMES Residential Property. Property Online: myhome.ie 9