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Time to plant trees, hedges and large shrubs

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By Debby Looney, gardening expert

We are coming into the season where traditionally people plant trees, hedges and large shrubs. This is because we are heading into the dormant period for plants, and it will be possible to buy a large selection bare rooted.

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Bare rooted plants are, as the name suggests, not potted up. This makes them less labour intensive and therefore, much cheaper. When buying large quantities such as hedging, or large value items such as trees, it really is worth looking into the bare rooted option. These should be in larger garden centres from mid-October until around April.

There are some trees worth looking at for this time of year. One of my favourites is the Eucryphia. A slender tree, growing into a columnar shape, it is ideal for a smaller garden. The white flowers are a great source of food for pollinators at this time of year, and a welcome sight at the trail end of the season. Having said that, the tree I have in the garden seems to have flowers on it year round! There is also a pretty pink cultivar, called ‘Ballerina’. These trees are commonly known as leatherwood, and their glossy green leaves are a great backdrop for the abundant flowers. They can be pruned after flowering, and this really encourages flowering the following year. Eucryphias are also suitable for large pots, as long as they are watered well.
Rhus, or Stag’s horn Sumach, is another favourite. Their autumnal colour is one of the best, and it is worth planting in a sheltered spot to avoid the leaves being blown off – even though it is very hardy. This is a large shrub, or small tree and please be aware, it suckers! The leaves are like large ash leaves, and are not temperature reliant for colouring. On female and male plants, red velvety flower cones appear in the spring, which turn to clusters of red berries on the female plants. These last well into the following spring.

Cercis siliquastrum is a small tree well worth planting if you have a sheltered site. It has beautiful heart shaped leaves which emerge coppery in the spring and turn a lush green and go a brilliant yellow in the autumn. It has clusters of purple flowers which resemble pea flowers in May.
There are many acers which also have a magnificent autumn colour, such as Acer griseum, which has a peeling bark and bright red autumn colour. A slow growing tree, it will happily sit well in any moderately sheltered spot.

Any article about tree colour would not be complete without mentioning the mountain ash, or Sorbus. Now, until about a year ago, I would always recommend ‘Joseph Rock’ a mountain ash with the most gorgeous yellow berries. However, my heart has been stolen by S. pseudohuphensis ‘Pink Pagoda’. Starting in spring, with the unfurling of the grey-green foliage, moving on to the blush pink flowers, followed by proper pink berries – no wishy washy colours here! As with most Sorbus varieties the foliage turns bright red, which really makes the berries pop! The berries hang on right through the winter until the birds realise they are there… a good reason to put out bird feeders!

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Status Orange Weather Warning for Kerry

Met Éireann has issued two weather warnings for Kerry on Wednesday, 27 September, A Status Orange warning for heavy and intense rainfall is in place from 9am to 3pm while […]

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Met Éireann has issued two weather warnings for Kerry on Wednesday, 27 September,

A Status Orange warning for heavy and intense rainfall is in place from 9am to 3pm while a Status Yellow warning for strong and gusty winds is in place from 7am on Wednesday to 12am on Thursday.

Possible impacts and disruptions include difficult travelling conditions, localised and coastal flooding, power outages, fallen trees and branches and poor visibility.

Kerry County Council is advising members of the public to prepare for severe weather on Wednesday and to ensure that items vulnerable to high winds are stored away. The Council is also advising motorists to travel with extreme caution on Wednesday and to expect surface water and spot flooding on all routes.

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World Rally Champion Phil Mills’ Killarney visit

Former World co-driving champion Phil Mills will be one of the guests of honour at a special Killarney and District Motor Club event next month. The club is celebrating Prodrive’s […]

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Former World co-driving champion Phil Mills will be one of the guests of honour at a special Killarney and District Motor Club event next month.

The club is celebrating Prodrive’s association with the Rally of the Lakes on October 14.

The legendary British motorsport preparation firm was responsible for building some of the most iconic associated with the local rally.

The celebration, which will raise funds for the Jack and Jill Foundation, will be hosted by the voice of Irish motorsport Alan ‘Plum’ Tyndall.

Welshman Mills, who won the 2003 World Rally Championship, alongside Petter Solberg has confirmed his attendance at the Killarney Racecourse-based event.

He is just one of many superstars attending the showcase.
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“Accompanying the stars will be a collection of iconic Prodrive machinery, ranging from the BMW E30 M3, all the way through to the Subaru Group A and World Rally Cars the 1990s and early 2000s,” said Killarney and District Motor Club vice chairman and organiser Mike Shea.

“All proceeds of this event will go directly to the Jack & Jill foundation helping provide support and special care to children across the country and is a once in a lifetime event.”

This event is in association with: Lyons of Limerick; C.Wharton Tool Hire Ltd; BG Motors Ltd; Castleisland Tyre Centre; Aherns Motor Group; Reen’s Rathmore Peugeot; KC Print and Moriarty’s Central Car Sales

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