Rachel Doyle is the owner and operator of the beautiful Arboretum Garden centres in Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow, and Kilquade, Co Wicklow.
Turning to horticulture at the age of 22, Rachel began by planting and maintaining her flora from her garage door.
“I came into horticulture thinking I knew what I was doing. I soon realised different. The university of life is where you learn most,” she laughs.
Fast-forward 40 modest years to when Rachel’s family run businesses are blooming. Without the constant support and work of Rachel’s two sons, Barry and Fergal, the business wouldn’t be where it is today, she maintains.
“They are driving the bus. I am only the passenger at this stage,” she says.
Dealing with the heatwave
Addressing Ireland’s unusual climatic changes of recent, Rachel says: “It isn’t about whether or not you believe in climate change. It’s about being weather ready. People need to think outside the box and think hard, so that every time the weather changes the whole country doesn’t come to a halt.”
A more conservative attitude is vital according to Rachel. Ideas like harvesting water from wet periods for when the drought comes again are small but mighty, the horticulturalist urges. In full support of recent hosepipe bans nationwide, Rachel believes in salvaging natural resources as much as possible.
“Grey water from showers, sinks and baths is an excellent cost-free and ecological way of hydrating and fertilising plants. People throw away dirty wash water without realising washing up liquid is an easy insecticide. Similarly a saucepan of murky, boiled veg water is packed with nutrients for the soil and plant roots. I keep telling people to put a 500ml bottle of water into their toilet cistern, this will save half a litre of water with every flush. Find old large trays – under tomato bags for instance – and place them beneath pots to save and reuse water. These simple little processes are worthwhile.”
If our current heated weather pattern persists, people may have to reconsider what they are growing, Rachel acknowledges. Such plants are roses, which evidently enjoy the heat with no mildew or rust appearing this year. Camellia shrubs, beech and laurel hedging with waxy leaves, or silver plants also flourish in the sun.
On the other hand, don’t underestimate your plant’s strength and ability to adapt; for instance, birch trees lose leaves as they go into safety mode. Your lawn too, which should be left alone, “is just sleeping. As soon as it rains it will come back to life”, she reports.
Other top tips Rachel shares are: “Move your pots to the shade and water them very well in the morning or evening and then don’t water them again for a few days, place stones on top of soil to stop it drying out from the heat. A little gem product people should invest in is ‘Swell Gel’, which keeps plants hydrated.”
The planting of trees of any kind is very important to Rachel, who asks readers to “be much more conscious of planting trees. Every tree that grows will convert enough carbon dioxide to oxygen to support a family of four.”
Garden paradise
Learn more from Ireland’s renowned horticulturist Rachel Doyle at Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven at the opening of the Carlow Garden Festival 2018. Rachel’s Garden Paradise launches the festival on 27 July with Sarah Price, a gold medal winner at the 2018 Chelsea Flower Show, discussing her design process and focusing on the renowned gardens she created for the London Olympics.
Top gardener at East Ruston Old Vicarage, Alan Gray, will also attend, describing how his gardens have been transformed from a blank canvas into a stunning vista of versatile creativity, bursting with colour.
Running until Monday, 6 August, the festival promises something for everybody, from the landscape artist to the vegetable votary, and the budding florist to the fully bloomed forester. On Thursday, 2 August, Adam Frost, UK TV presenter and multi-gold medal winner at The Chelsea Flower Show, will be speaking at VISUAL Centre for contemporary art in Carlow town. On Friday, Altamont plant sales will give enthusiasts the opportunity to see UK garden designer and well-known presenter Chris Beardshaw and Fergus Garrett, head gardener at Great Dixter Garden. On Sunday, gardener and TV personality Carol Klein is on the bill.
Visitors can also explore the historic gardens that have been lovingly restored and maintained throughout the years along the Carlow Garden Trail.
For more visit www.carlowgardentrail.com. Carlow Tourism can also be contacted on 059-9130411 for further details. For offers and insights into the launch see www.arboretum.ie
Rachel Doyle is the owner and operator of the beautiful Arboretum Garden centres in Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow, and Kilquade, Co Wicklow.
Turning to horticulture at the age of 22, Rachel began by planting and maintaining her flora from her garage door.
“I came into horticulture thinking I knew what I was doing. I soon realised different. The university of life is where you learn most,” she laughs.
Fast-forward 40 modest years to when Rachel’s family run businesses are blooming. Without the constant support and work of Rachel’s two sons, Barry and Fergal, the business wouldn’t be where it is today, she maintains.
“They are driving the bus. I am only the passenger at this stage,” she says.
Dealing with the heatwave
Addressing Ireland’s unusual climatic changes of recent, Rachel says: “It isn’t about whether or not you believe in climate change. It’s about being weather ready. People need to think outside the box and think hard, so that every time the weather changes the whole country doesn’t come to a halt.”
A more conservative attitude is vital according to Rachel. Ideas like harvesting water from wet periods for when the drought comes again are small but mighty, the horticulturalist urges. In full support of recent hosepipe bans nationwide, Rachel believes in salvaging natural resources as much as possible.
“Grey water from showers, sinks and baths is an excellent cost-free and ecological way of hydrating and fertilising plants. People throw away dirty wash water without realising washing up liquid is an easy insecticide. Similarly a saucepan of murky, boiled veg water is packed with nutrients for the soil and plant roots. I keep telling people to put a 500ml bottle of water into their toilet cistern, this will save half a litre of water with every flush. Find old large trays – under tomato bags for instance – and place them beneath pots to save and reuse water. These simple little processes are worthwhile.”
If our current heated weather pattern persists, people may have to reconsider what they are growing, Rachel acknowledges. Such plants are roses, which evidently enjoy the heat with no mildew or rust appearing this year. Camellia shrubs, beech and laurel hedging with waxy leaves, or silver plants also flourish in the sun.
On the other hand, don’t underestimate your plant’s strength and ability to adapt; for instance, birch trees lose leaves as they go into safety mode. Your lawn too, which should be left alone, “is just sleeping. As soon as it rains it will come back to life”, she reports.
Other top tips Rachel shares are: “Move your pots to the shade and water them very well in the morning or evening and then don’t water them again for a few days, place stones on top of soil to stop it drying out from the heat. A little gem product people should invest in is ‘Swell Gel’, which keeps plants hydrated.”
The planting of trees of any kind is very important to Rachel, who asks readers to “be much more conscious of planting trees. Every tree that grows will convert enough carbon dioxide to oxygen to support a family of four.”
Garden paradise
Learn more from Ireland’s renowned horticulturist Rachel Doyle at Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven at the opening of the Carlow Garden Festival 2018. Rachel’s Garden Paradise launches the festival on 27 July with Sarah Price, a gold medal winner at the 2018 Chelsea Flower Show, discussing her design process and focusing on the renowned gardens she created for the London Olympics.
Top gardener at East Ruston Old Vicarage, Alan Gray, will also attend, describing how his gardens have been transformed from a blank canvas into a stunning vista of versatile creativity, bursting with colour.
Running until Monday, 6 August, the festival promises something for everybody, from the landscape artist to the vegetable votary, and the budding florist to the fully bloomed forester. On Thursday, 2 August, Adam Frost, UK TV presenter and multi-gold medal winner at The Chelsea Flower Show, will be speaking at VISUAL Centre for contemporary art in Carlow town. On Friday, Altamont plant sales will give enthusiasts the opportunity to see UK garden designer and well-known presenter Chris Beardshaw and Fergus Garrett, head gardener at Great Dixter Garden. On Sunday, gardener and TV personality Carol Klein is on the bill.
Visitors can also explore the historic gardens that have been lovingly restored and maintained throughout the years along the Carlow Garden Trail.
For more visit www.carlowgardentrail.com. Carlow Tourism can also be contacted on 059-9130411 for further details. For offers and insights into the launch see www.arboretum.ie 
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