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It’s time to clean up the garden

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By Debby Looney, gardening expert

This weekend was a happy time for many gardeners – I certainly heard a lot of lawnmowers on my walk!

Many lawns might be damaged, so it is a good time to take the opportunity to rake out thatch, apply mosskiller or lime and tidy up the edges. There are many feed and weed products available but if your moss is not a huge problem, I always advise going with a product which does not contain any iron (feric sulphate). This will cause your soil to become acidic, which in the long run promotes moss growth. However, if you have a thick layer of moss, using sulphate of iron will kill it - however it will turn black and it needs to be raked out.

Make a newspaper pot

Applying a good quantity of lime afterwards will counteract the acidity and prevent regrowth.
Glasshouses and polytunnels should be disinfected, and any pots and seedtrays cleaned and disinfected also, if not done yet! If you are wondering what to do on a wet afternoon with the kids you could make a stack of newspaper pots. These are simple to make, just cut the top off a 500ml plastic bottle. Take a sheet of newspaper, fold it in half, wrap it around the bottle and tuck the ends into the open end. Then you can slip it off the bottle and hey presto, a pot! Free and very handy! Ideal for sowing peas, sweet peas, beans, lupins and a host of other large seeds. The pots decompose so there is no transplanting involved, keeping the roots undisturbed.

If there are any water features in your garden, it is an ideal time to drain them and clean them. Ponds can also be cleaned out. I notice that a lot of my water plants and aerators died during the cold spell, so they do need to be taken out of the pond to avoid problems later on. When you remove them, just leave them at the side of the pond for a few hours, so any water creatures can crawl out and return to the water! You can use it directly as a mulch then, as it will be fairly rotten anyway. All pond plants can be cut back and tidied up, and water lillies can be repotted if necessary. Always use special pond baskets for pond plants and aquatic soil. Cover the top of the pot with gravel and lower gradually into the water to avoid everything drifting up and out.

I notice quite a lot of frogspawn already, so take care not to disturb it too much! Wait until the weather is warmer, around 12 to 15 degrees before replacing the aerator. Also, check pumps and clean out the filters, as they may have clogged up over the winter.

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Fossa Climate Action Group to host waterways walk

Fossa Climate Action Group will host a walk to the waterways of Killarney this Saturday, , at 11:00 am. The walk will be led by Blathnaid O’Loughlin, the Community Water […]

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Fossa Climate Action Group will host a walk to the waterways of Killarney this Saturday, , at 11:00 am.

The walk will be led by Blathnaid O’Loughlin, the Community Water Officer for Kerry County Council’s Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO).
Participants will learn about the health of natural streams in Fossa. The event will include a Citizen Science demonstration to assess water health and a discussion on individual and community actions to protect and improve local water quality.
Numbers for the walk are limited to 20 people.
Those interested in attending should contact Paul O’Raw of the Fossa Climate Action Group at 087 231 7204 to book a place.

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Killarney Valley AC launches athlete support programme

Killarney Valley Athletic Club has announced the launch of its Elite Athlete Support Programme. This new initiative aims to provide assistance to the club’s top-level athletes as they strive for […]

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Killarney Valley Athletic Club has announced the launch of its Elite Athlete Support Programme.

This new initiative aims to provide assistance to the club’s top-level athletes as they strive for excellence at national and international competitions.
The programme offers a clear pathway for young athletes within the club, from juvenile level to the international stage, demonstrating that progression to a global level is achievable with support and recognition.
Financial support will be available for international travel costs to eligible athletes aged Under 17 to Senior who are trending towards or have achieved international selection, pursuing scholarships abroad, committed to representing KVAC in team events, and willing to mentor and contribute to club development.
Killarney Valley AC athletes who believe they meet the criteria and have upcoming international competitions are encouraged to contact their club coach for an application form. The club states this initiative will empower its athletes to pursue the highest levels in athletics.

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