Home & Garden Spring 2021 by southernstarIRL

Home Garden &

Edition (e.g Autumn 2020) | The Southern Star | Magazine Title

SPRING/SUMMER 2021

Everything you need to have the perfect West Cork Home & Garden YOUR GUIDE TO THE PERFECT WEST CORK HOME & GARDEN 1

Home & Garden | The Southern Star | Spring/Summer 2021

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Spring/Summer 2021 | The Southern Star | Home & Garden

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In this great 32-page magazine you’ll find lots of articles, advice, images, ideas and hopefully some inspiration too, to help you get the most from your West Cork home and garden in the coming months and throughout the rest of 2021.

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Home & Garden | The Southern Star | Spring/Summer 2021

FABULOUS FIVE! The Southern Star’s resident interior design columnist Lauraine Farley picks her top five trends for 2021 Cottagecore

What is it? Simply put, cottagecore it is a trend that embraces simplicity and is about enjoying the comfort of being at home. This translates into a home aesthetic that has a cosy country feel. Beloved for its return to simpler, more comforting times and a greater connection to nature, it’s no surprise the homely and fairytale style of Cottagecore is proving so popular. The wholesome aesthetic is also mirrored by other choices heading up the list, such as dried flowers, macrame, antiqued mirrors, wall panelling and roof lanterns, that let more of the outside world in.

Sleep on it

Bedrooms are meant to be sanctuaries, so decorating them properly is an important task. Sage green is a calming and sophisticated colour, and is gaining popularity all the time. Try pairing sage bedding with other soft colours such as pale yellow, cream, or pastel pink. The hue also works on other bedroom textiles, like throws, pillows and upholstery. Using earthy hues and textures allows bedrooms to feel like comforting, safe spaces for those seeking to escape from the outside world. Fabrics like linen and cotton are good bedding options, and rattan, wood, or wicker furniture evokes a natural vibe.

Show it off

Being at home so much these days makes us look around at what we have, seeing things in a different light, creating displays and moving pieces around for a better look. There is something soothing about choosing favourite pieces and arranging them, then re-arranging them, or adding new pieces. Floating shelves are the perfect way to achieve this and of course they make the perfect background for a video call! 4

Spring/Summer 2021 | The Southern Star | Home & Garden

Screen time

Screens are perfect for dividing a space, adding privacy, and dampening sound, and vintage options are particularly popular at the minute. These screens can give a bedroom or living room a sense of old-world style while also separating spaces. You can use a screen to hide a bedroom desk or lean it behind your bed for a unique headboard.

Live it up

In a time when many people are relaxing, learning, and working at home, living rooms have become more important than ever. No more boxy furniture – it’s all about curves and rounded edges to add cosiness and comfort to an interior. Incorporate even more soft lines into your space by adding round cushions, circular rugs, and curved end tables. The typical living-room gallery wall, where one may have hung a collection of smaller artworks is being replaced with large statement artwork, like posters or abstract pieces, so perhaps investing in a large piece of quality art could be the right move for your living room

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Home & Garden | The Southern Star | Spring/Summer 2021

Space out! By Paula Burns

IT has been a year to remember. Unfortunately it has not been for all the right reasons. After 12 months+ of being stuck at home, the itch for a renovation definitely needs to be scratched. Whether it’s the possibility that working from home is no longer just for the pandemic, or looking at the same four walls has you longing for more space, there are many options open to to you, or to simply make better use of what you have. ATTIC CONVERSIONS One way of creating more space in the house is by moving up, into the attic that is. For many of us the attic is a wasted space where old toys go to die and Christmas decorations are forgotten till the season rolls around again. However this is a great space that

can be utilised to create an extra bedroom or the home office you have always craved. Before taking the leap there are a few things to consider. Look at the roof height. Not all attics have the height space and some maybe made from pre-fabricated truss, meaning a conversion is not a feasible option. ‘Before going ahead with an attic conversion you need to think about access to it’, explains West Cork building contractor, Mike Leonard. ‘Where will you put the stairs, is it through an existing bedroom and will it be big enough to comply with fire regulations?’ Once the logistics are sorted, it’s time to think about windows. The easiest and cheaper option is Velux windows, however choosing a dormer style will create more space but at an extra cost.

When it comes to the design of the room, think about storage. As the attic’s previous function was as the storage room you need to consider where those things will go. An architect can help with designing clever storage units that will make very efficient use of space. An attic conversion is a little gem sitting high at the top of the house. Its functionality can change as the family does – from office space to kid’s bedroom – it’s a great addition. GARAGE CONVERSION Just like the attic the garage can often become a dumping ground. While it’s handy to have a room for storing bits, the garage is effectively another room attached to the house crying out for some love and attention. As many garages are connected to the kitchen they can work well as a kid’s playroom or office space. While it might be tempting to just put down some new flooring and a lick of paint, a garage conversion is a bit more complex. ‘When it comes to a garage conversion, insulation is important,’ says Mike Leonard. ‘A garage wouldn’t have the same insulation as the rest of the house, so this needs to be upgraded. Heating is another thing to consider. Can the power supply be extended to the garage?’ Windows are also a key feature in the design of a garage conversion. The easiest solution is to slot the window in where the garage doors once were. This could be a floor to ceiling window or continue the same aesthetic as the rest of the house. EXTENSION When you have filled every nook and cranny of your house and still feel the need for more space,

Spring/Summer 2021 | The Southern Star | Home & Garden maybe it’s time to look at extending. Thanks to shows like Room To Improve and Home of the Year, we have been given a template to what the dream extension could be. However what are the things we should consider before knocking down walls? ‘Before taking on the project of an extension, have a clear idea of what the new space will be used as,’ advises Mike Leonard. ‘Is it going to be an extension of the kitchen or an extra bedroom?’ ‘Take a kitchen extension as an example. Light is extremely important. You want the orientation of the windows to be facing the sun to make the most of natural light,’ he explains. ‘Of course you need to be aware of how the extension will effect a neighbour’s view. Some extensions will be subject to planning permission and this is very important to be aware of.’ Once again access to the new extension is something to consider. It may entail the knocking through of a structural wall. If so, this is more complex and would need a structural engineer. Hiring a competent builder and architect is a must. An extension may need extra planning and cash but the result will give you a lifetime of extra space. GARDEN ROOM If going down the road of months of disruption that comes with building an extension is not your thing, a garden room could be exactly the gift of space you need. Over the past decade, the garden room has grown

not only in popularity but also design. These are no longer a little shed at the end of the garden where people would freeze to death. Nowadays a garden room can be extensively insulated with over 10 layers in the walls, eight in the roof and five in the floor, so it has the potential to be the cosiest of rooms. There are a number of design choices to suit different needs. If you were looking for that extra room to work as an outdoor office space away from the house or a den for the teenagers, the smaller sizes would work. Alternatively if granny is still hanging around since Christmas, the garden room can work as a granny flat. The larger sizes can include a small kitchenette with a bathroom, making it a home away from home. With most of the garden rooms staying in the limit of planning permission requirements it often makes

them a more desirable option than an extension. However when choosing a garden room, ensure there is ample space in the garden to accommodate its size. For design aesthetic you don’t want it to be too overpowering and cramped in the garden. Remember the idea is to create, and make the best use of space.

Conservatory confusion? Zone it and own it! CONSERVATORIES became massively popular in the 1990s and were a hugely sought after addition to homes all over Ireland – a trend that has continued to this day. However, lots of us have struggled with their functionality over the years. We had our living rooms, we had our TV rooms, so what should, or more to the point, what could we use the conservatory for? The answer in many cases was to dry clothes, making them a costly clothes horse, and quite the white elephant. However, with more of us at home than ever before, and with a little creative thinking, they can be regarded as truly valuable spaces to be used and enjoyed – not just for sitting around relaxing in, but even for work or creative purposes. The trick is to ‘zone it and own it’ when it comes to your conservatory: TOP IT OFF

You may be slow to spend more money on your conservatory but the addition of a solid roof is an absolute game changer – or simply consider it as an option from day one if you a getting a conservatory built. It will help control extreme temperatures, and reduce glare and open a whole world of options for the space. Blinds are also a good investment.

OFFICE? OBVIOUSLY!

So with these upgrades, the obvious thing for lots of people is to turn it into a home office. If you’ve been making do with the kitchen counter, or a spare room, here’s your chance to get a dedicated space – plus think of all that natural light you’ll be getting the benefit of during your working day! PERFECT IN A PANDEMIC

With lots of young people moving back in with their parents since the pandemic it would be a perfect ‘separate’ TV room or ‘den.’ As we’ve all discovered there is such a thing as too much time together. On a similar note, with couples often 7

availing of their parents hospitality and moving back with them while building their own homes this could be used to minimise your impact on the rest of the house. THE CONVERSATORY, OR LE CONSERVATOIRE?

It could be a hobby room – painting, crafting, yoga (not just hot yoga!), meditation – whatever your thing is, why not devote this disused space to it? COFFEE AND COCKTAILS!

• With socialising options still limited why not transform it into a cocktail bar? Or just a relaxing spot where you enjoy morning coffee and some time out? Like we said, zone it and own it!

Home & Garden | The Southern Star | Spring/Summer 2021

Gardening Gadgetry By Paula Burns

WITH the time having gone forward at the weekend, the days are longer and brighter, allowing us to spending more time outdoors. Spring is in the air and as our gardens awaken after the winter hibernation it is time to make them beautiful again. Here are some cool garden gadgets to make the job a little easier and more enjoyable:

have. You can work away planting at lower beds or if the trimming brings you higher, take a load off by sitting down. With a canvas holder for all your tools attached, everything is at hand making the maintenance of your garden much easier.

woven polypropylene bag fits easily inside your wheelbarrow and when opened up it has high sides and sturdy structure to allow for easy filling without the spilling. Tidying the garden has never been so efficient.

WHEELBARROW BIN Dating back to 231 AD, the trusty wheelbarrow has transformed how people transported a plethora of things from crops to building materials to food. Thousands of years later, the modern wheelbarrow is almost identical to its original counterpart. As they say if it isn’t broken why fix it? While a wheelbarrow bin may not be ground-breaking, it does increase your wheelbarrow carrying capacity by a whopping 300%. The heavy-duty

ECO SMART WATERING SYSTEM Ireland isn’t known for its blue skies and sunshine. There are days when the rain can be unrelenting. However, the summer can be good to us and with West Cork’s microclimate the rain doesn’t always fall when we want it or need it. In recent years we have even seen drought warnings that can have a detrimental effect on your blossoming garden. An Eco Smart Watering system can put an end to any fears of a wilting garden. Thanks to its solar-based technology the smart system knows when the sun has been splitting the skies and so in-turn it releases more water. Its clever design means your garden is only watered when necessary. Giving you more

GARDEN KNEELER Every avid gardener knows that it can be a tough job on the old knees. While the conventional garden kneeler or kneepads have worked a treat over the years, why not spruce it up to the advanced version (above)? A garden kneeler that works as a foldaway stool with a canvas tool holder attached is a must8

time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

CORDLESS TELESCOPIC HEDGE TRIMMER Almost as essential as a lawnmower a hedge trimmer is a must-have garden tool. In Ireland we love a good hedge. From the Cherry Laurel bare root to the Ilex Crenata green hedge, these natural beauties shelter the perimeters of our gardens. While they provide us with privacy and stunning shades of green, any owner of a hedge will admit the maintenance demands the best of tools. The telescopic function of this hedge trimmer is a time-saver. It frees you from trudging a ladder along as you cut the hard to the reach parts of the hedge, making it easier and safer.

Spring/Summer 2021 | The Southern Star | Home & Garden MINI GREENHOUSE Many of us dream of going back to basics and living off the land or at least growing a few easy vegetables in the garden. Ideally to make the dream a reality we would need to build a greenhouse, but space is not always an option. The solution? A mini greenhouse like the ‘Plant Inn’ pictured below. This is a mini polycarbonate greenhouse that is ideal for yearround vegetable and herb growing in small spaces.

loads of grass left from the lawn mower or the strewn leaves left after a stormy night, the leaf grabber makes the tiding of a garden that little bit easier. Allowing for bigger grabs of debris cuts the job time in half. It’s perfect for a smaller urban garden where there aren’t acres of grass or leaves to be picked up. Choose one with long handles to save on the back pain.

It has everything a greenhouse should have from a builtin storage compartment to a raised garden bed making gardening accessible to everyone. The peak has two lids for easy access as well as for temperature and humidity control. While we wait for the world to return to normal you can feed your family and friends all from your own little garden.

your favourite flower into the soil. To ensure the ideal depth for each flower bulb, a good quality planter will be equipped with a depth scale. So no planting fails here.

BULB PLANTER Another small but far from insignificant gardening tool is the bulb planter. It’s not a new invention as such, but often overlooked, especially by beginner gardeners who can be overwhelmed by the various gadgets and tools on offer. This genius little tool gives practical planting help to any gardener. Its superpower is that it eliminates tiresome digging, letting you plant a plentiful, blooming plant bed. The automatic grip trigger of the bulb planter releases the soil letting you effortlessly pop

LEAF GRABBER Simple but mighty all the same, the leaf grabber (right) is a tool you never knew you needed. Whether it’s grabbing those excess

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Home & Garden | The Southern Star | Spring/Summer 2021 ADVERTORIAL

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Spring/Summer 2021 | The Southern Star | Home & Garden

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Home & Garden | The Southern Star | Spring/Summer 2021

It can be beautiful ... and bountiful! How to have a visually stunning and productive garden BY JOYCE RUSSELL SOME gardeners grow brilliant vegetables, others grow exceptional fruit, and then there are those whose flower borders are the envy of everyone around. Some people may choose to specialise and focus on specific areas that interest them. For the rest of us gardeners, there is no reason why we shouldn’t mix a bit of everything up and get as beautiful, interesting and productive a garden as we can. Planning can be the key to a superb mixed garden and designers will lay out precise locations for each plant. Take a look at ‘Potager Gardens’ online and you will see some stunning examples. Other gardeners work in a more seat-of-the-pants way and sow seeds, or pop plants in, wherever a gap presents itself. A combination

of a bit of design and a bit of random inspiration can often work very well. Each gardener has their own particular vision as well as their own style and flair. The end result should be to find delight in your garden and to enjoy all the activities and tasks that you carry out there. A mix of flowers, vegetables and fruit can create a gorgeous garden. You may put flowers at the edge of a vegetable bed, or leave some to self-seed and pop up where they will. Some flowers act as companions and help stimulate growth, or reduce pest attacks on other plants. A bit of experimentation is a good thing. You can always move or remove things to control unwanted spread, colour clashes, shading and overcrowding. Everything doesn’t have to be achieved immediately; a garden can evolve through a long-term project.

A garden can be a lot of work, but don’t forget to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labour from time to time. (Photo: Ben Russell)

Achieving the perfect blend in your garden • Decide where you want to locate

garden beds and allocate them roughly to flowers, fruit or veg. Then decide how you will blend the boundaries so you might have nasturtiums running around the edge of a brassica bed and mingling with some marigolds. Maybe you will put some strawberries at the front of a flower border or grow some tall sunflowers in the middle of a pumpkin patch. Or you may dot some flowering perennials in a herb border – not too big, so they don’t dwarf the herbs.

• Start small and add more beds later.

There isn’t a rush. You need to know that you can look after the garden you create and there is more to growing than just planting out. This also gives you a chance to see what works for you and you still have space to put new ideas into practice if you decide to expand.

year. It is OK to use dried feeds for the occasional year if it is hard to get hold of more bulky feeds – don’t do this every year, or soil structure will suffer.

• Don’t plant too close together. Plants seem small when you buy them and seeds are so tiny compared to what they produce. The temptation can be to squash too many things together, but each plant needs enough room for roots to grow and reach water plus soil food. Follow recommended planting distances. They are on packets and labels as a result of experience.

• A rich fertile soil will grow better

plants than a nutrient poor one. There are a few exceptions to this, but in general it is worth digging in some nutrient-rich feed such as compost or well-rotted manure before you start planting. You will need to add some extra feed each

• Think of heights when planting. Put

larger plants at the back of a bed or at the centre of an island bed. Smaller ones should be at the front and edges. A tripod full of climbing beans can look lovely at the heart of a flower bed.

• Learn which direction your garden

faces and where the sun moves to create shade throughout the day. Put sun loving plants in prime positions and don’t cast shade over small plants behind large ones.

• Visit ornamental kitchen gardens whenever these are open again.

Spring/Summer 2021 | The Southern Star | Home & Garden You get ideas from seeing how some professionals have organised planting to give a beautiful mixed garden. • Consider when plants flower and when they crop. It’s easy to get a brilliant spring and summer display, but your flowering plants may all finish before autumn. Ask for advice when buying, or from other gardeners. A few large signature plants can make all the difference. Look for shrubs and trees that flower at different times – flowering cherries give a terrific kick start in spring, but the blossom doesn’t last too long. Look for eye-catching options to take over as the seasons move on. Aim to have some vegetables to eat for as much of the year as you can. Small and regular sowings can help, as can planting at the right time for autumn and winter crops.

• You don’t have to spend a huge

amount on plants. Raise some from seeds or from cuttings. Neighbours

pots; buy a flowering plant for instant impact. You can put them on decks, paths and against the wall of a house. You can also dot them into gaps in a bed if you want to provide continuity when another plant is done. You can grow small fruit bushes in a container – check for suitable varieties.

might give you a clump from a spreading plant. Spend when you really need to and ask advice on plants that are likely to survive slugs, rain and frost.

• Keep on top of weeding, watering

and feeding. It is easier to keep weeds under control if you hoe, mulch and hand weed on a regular basis. Don’t leave weeds untouched until the garden is overgrown – use mulch to keep weeds supressed.

• Use walls and fences well. Fruit trees can look magnificent if trained along a wall. Flowering and fruiting apples, cherries and plums can cover the imperfections and turn a wall into a lovely display canvas. Fit trellises or canes to grow climbing peas and beans. A pumpkin plant will trail along a wire fence.

• Some vegetables have beautiful

flowers. Enjoy these where you can. Purple flowering peas can be as pretty as a row of sweet peas, while scarlet runner bean flowers create a glorious display against a wall of green leaves. Ruby chard, red cabbage, purple broccoli or mustard greens can be eye catching too. Grow some extra clumps of chives in the border and leave these uncut so they produce pretty flowers.

• Get help when you need it! You don’t have to dig every bed yourself or raise every plant from seed. There are plenty of professionals who can help with heavy work and garden centres sell a wide range of plants.

• Try and try again. You can change

things around. Keep experimenting and keep things moving – dig up and replant if this works to give you the right effect. And most of all, learn to look with love upon what you have done. Ignore imperfections and don’t spend all your time thinking about what didn’t work. Enjoy all that you have created in your beautiful and bountiful garden and plan more adventures in it for the future!

• Cut back dead heads on flowering

plants and prune back dead stems. Try to keep each plant looking good for as long as you can.

• Pick fruits and vegetables when they are ready. Regular picking can help more leaves, pods and fruits keep growing – depending on the type of plant.

• Remove any annual plant that has

failed or finished doing what it is supposed to do. Clear it out and replace with something else. There’s no need to look at dead plants when something new can make use of that patch of ground.

Cherry blossoms are a firm favourite. (Photo: Ben Russell)

• Make use of containers and large

Top jobs for April ... • Mow and strim. Water and weed. These jobs are constant throughout the next months. Get into a routine and be consistent. • Plant out bedding plants for a fast display of border ok flowers. s, an dt ell) • Replace any woody and ast uss es g R n reat! (Photo: Be unproductive herbs with some new healthy plants. • Plant tomatoes into a greenhouse or polytunnel at the end of the month. • Feed strawberry plants with a liquid tomato feed as soon as they set fruit. Cover plants if frost is in the forecast – blossom will blacken if it freezes. ing rout Purple sp

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• Sow cauliflowers, cabbage, kale, broccoli, lettuce, salad leaves, swedes, turnips, carrots, parsnips, courgettes, peas, beans, beetroot, Swiss chard, pumpkins, sweetcorn and Florence fennel this month. • Keep greenhouse plants like tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and melons growing at 15C minimum. Open covers on hot days so plants don’t overheat. Keep compost damp and pot on when roots fill the pot. • Open cloches over rows of peas and beans outdoors. Cover over again on any night that a frost is in the forecast. Early potato foliage will need some protection against hard frosts. Use crop cover, an old sheet, or pile grass clippings over emerging leaves. • Plant maincrop potatoes, allowing 35cm between plants. • Keep harvesting purple sprouting broccoli and kale for as long as you can. Regular picking delays flowering so you get the best from each plant.

Home & Garden | The Southern Star | Spring/Summer 2021

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Spring/Summer 2021 | The Southern Star | Home & Garden

VEGETABLE SOWING & PLANTING GUIDE can sow (S) or plant (P)

best time to sow (S) or plant (P)

harvest

Note: some of the early and late sowings do best if given extra covering (or heat for tender crops) and if early or late varieties are used.

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Feb

Mar

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beaNS brOaD

beaNS FreNch/ruNNer

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Jul

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SP SP

SP P

bruSSelS SPrOut

cabbage (SuMMer) cabbage (SPriNg) carrOt

P S SP

cauliFlOwer

celeriac

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P S

P SP

S P S

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Home & Garden | The Southern Star | Spring/Summer 2021

Quit your ‘mow’ning machine you’ll love

Some people love doing it, some people hate it. One way it. Modern mowing technology is taking a lot of the har BUYING a lawnmower is more straight forward that you might think. What will determine your purchase mainly is the size of your lawn. In the same way you wouldn’t buy a four-wheel drive vehicle if you just travelled a short distance from your home to the shop every day, you won’t need an all singing and dancing mower to keep on top of a modest patch.

PUSH MOWER If you are mobile, and if you have a flat, relatively small lawn a push mower will serve you perfectly well, according to the experts at Kelleher’s Topline Hardware, Bandon. Such models are light, and easy to maneuver and if properly maintained should last well over a decade.

SELF-DRIVE PROPELLED

As the name suggests, this is like push mower but with a more power. So if you’ve a bigger lawn or some challenging slopes, this is the job. Both push and self-drives come with different cutting widths, mainly 18 inch, 21 inch, or 22 inch. And the bigger the cutting width, the faster you get the job done. Mower decks (underneath the mower) also come in either steel or aluminium, the latter being lighter and longer lasting. Kelleher’s sell Castlegarden mowers, with engines ranging from 140cc to 180cc. A good entry level model costs €250, ranging up to a more powerful €600 model.

RIDE-ONS

These work best in larger areas naturally enough and are great time savers – provided you choose the right model. Generally they range from 30” to 50” in cutting widths. If you have

inclines make sure you go for a four-wheel drive or strong engine power. And if you’ve lots of trees or beds to get around, a zero-turning circle mower is recommended to get into those edges for a smooth finish. Otherwise you’ll have twice the work with strimming and edge clipping. You’ll also have to choose between either gears, or a hydrostatic transmission. The latter is becoming standard in most models now. You have a forward and a reverse pedal, and the more you press down on the pedal, the quicker you go. It works well in tight areas.

MULCH FEATURE

This is a feature well worth having regardless of the model you choose. Instead of having to stop up and empty the bag (surely one of the most annoying things ever?), this will mulch grass into tiny pieces as you cut, and distribute it back on the lawn as a form of fertiliser. For it to be effective, grass has to be cut regularly, but this is as good an incentive as you’ll get.

ROBOTIC MOWERS

Once a novel sight, and even considered a fad, these are now common sights in gardens all over West Cork. Stephen O’Sullivan of Cronin’s Ballylickey, stockists of Husquvarna, says robots are in fact their number one seller. ‘Last year we sold maybe seven or eight ride-ons and 42 robotics to people from Clonakilty to Beara. And lots of the 42 were

people who actually came in looking for a ride-on,’ he said. ‘Every robot is programmed to cover a particular area, so we would select what suits your lawn area best (the biggest covering 5,000 sqm),’ he said. Once you select the model, they’ll set up a wire around the lawn and off you go - or rather off the robot goes. That’s the beauty of it! Some models allow you to control the robot by an app, you don’t even have to be there, while others work by bluetooth. Latest models have extremely low noise drive motors that almost make them silent when working. ‘If you’ve kids out playing, you can get the job done at night. An average lawn would get done in around six to nine hours, during which time the robot would charge itself a few times,’ says Stephen. A starter model to suit a small lawn starts at around €900; next range up goes from €1,200 to €2,300 (600 sqm) while the professional series costs from €3,000 to €5,900. All mowers come with a two-year warranty. But Stephen says it’s less about what you can afford and more what grass you have to cut. ‘In general though, to prolong the life of the machine, and the battery, we advise going one level up from what you need so you won’t have to charge it so often,’ he said. They’re cost effective to operate – costing an average of €15-€30 in electricity a year. In terms of maintenance all that’s needed is a pack of blades for around €20 and the odd clearing of grass from underneath the mower if the grass is wet.

Spring/Summer 2021 | The Southern Star | Home & Garden

g – with the right cutting the grass!

y or another if you have a lawn you’ll need to look after rd work out of what used to be a serious chore though.

Mower maintenace tips – whatever the model THE top advice is that if you look after your mower, it will look after you. With proper maintenance a machine should last 10 years or more. Owen Leonard of Leonard Lawnmowers, Market St, Skibbereen, shares his top tips on how prolong your mower’s life:

Leonard

• Don’t put the mower under excess strain. Know what it is capable of, or it will let you know pretty quickly by packing in!

Leonard Lawnmowers

• Ideally store your mower indoors and out of the elements. At the very least invest in a cover for it

Repairs & Servicing to all makes of Lawn & Garden Machines

• Just like your car, book it in for an annual service. This will involve the sharpening of blades which is essential. Don’t wait for a problem to emerge. Stay ahead of any issues

Lawnmowers Repairs & Servicing to all makes of Lawn & Garden Machines

• At the very least, make sure you change the oil every year • Clean the deck under the mower frequently, but especially at the end of the season as excess grass stuck in here can cause serious rotting • At the end of the season, remove the petrol from the machine.

Market Street, Skibbereen, Co. Cork

086 3556263

OpeninG HOuRS 9am-6pm Mon-Sat 17

Home & Garden | The Southern Star | Spring/Summer 2021

RELAX! Seeing as none of us are likely to be going anywhere for another while yet, here are some pointers on how to make your garden the ultimate get-away-from-it-all destination ….

DINING AL FRESCO

The only place we’ll be dining out in for a while is our gardens, so it’s important to get the furniture right to make it fabulous. Here are a few things to keep in mind … • Space Garden furniture can be heavy and clunky so choose something that you can move around easily, that you have room to pull chairs back from comfortably and which won’t obstruct pathways. If you’re tight on space consider neater benches that can be stored under the table, or fold-up chairs. If you’re not a fan of dining al fresco, go for a cute bistro set where you can enjoy your morning coffee or treat yourself to an indulgent lounger instead. • Style Home of the Year judge Amanda Bone didn’t hold back on how she felt about Irish people and their obsession with rattan and wicker on a recent episode. But like everything else – it’s a matter of taste! Concrete, rattan, wicker, wood, metal, a mix of all of them, it’s up to you. But whatever you choose, it should reflect your existing home and your surrounds (re reclaimed wood in a rustic setting, something modular in a contemporary space). Worth noting, is that with a growing focus on

sustainability, the current trend is to invest in multipurpose furniture – pieces that will work just as well outside as inside so try not to think of your garden furniture as something completely ‘separate’ that you store away for over half of the year. • Comfort Of course comfort is crucial. Most of us will have endured soirees perched on precarious and bumachingly uncomfortable garden chairs so make that your bottom line. You’re not likely to kick back and relax if you think the chair will go from under you at any moment! That’s where cushions and seat pads come in – you can’t have too many in your garden.

Some gardens are lucky enough to have sea or mountain views, but most people will have a favourite ‘frame’ in their garden – so give yourself every opportunity to enjoy a moment there with that swing chair, or just a simple cushion to perch on.

THROWING SHADE

FUN AND GAMES

There’s a huge range of options available to make your garden a space you can enjoy all year round ranging from the pricey to the pocket friendly. At the top end of the scale are permanent awnings. With the flick of a switch they’ll extend from the wall and give you a covered space. They come with lights and all sorts of bells and whistles and are seriously worth considering. A louvred pergola is another superbly stylish option – if you’re nifty with a tool box you could take it on yourself, but they are readily available to buy. Very on trend right now are sail shades and most affordable of all are freestanding cantilevered umbrellas or portable gazebos (don’t forget the weights).

ZEN ZONE

A water feature is the ultimate in chill in the garden and it doesn’t have to be quite the feat of engineering that you might think. They range from full-on cascading fountains to free standing 18

contemporary styles that don’t even require a water supply. Position one beside a swing chair, or a hammock (who doesn’t love to swing?), near where you’ve planted something bursting with aroma and just exhale.

VALUE YOUR VIEWS

Who says the kids should have all the fun? Why not find a spot in the garden for everyone’s favourite, swingball, or an outdoor table tennis set? Hours of guaranteed fun - until you get whacked in the head that is!

OUTDOOR CINEMA

What could be more indulgent than snuggling up under a cosy blanket on a bean bag or day bed, and

Spring/Summer 2021 | The Southern Star | Home & Garden watching a favourite movie in your garden? And it’s easier than you think to pull off too. All you need is a projector, speaker and screen which can be easily made with a weighted white sheet tied to a washing line. Don’t forget the popcorn!

HOT TUB

There is a Celtic Tiger whiff off the idea of hot tubs, but they’ve enjoyed a major resurgence during lockdown and anyone who has one will know why. They may conjure up images of Love Island, but they’re the ultimate in relaxation and your G&T will never taste better. Apparently long-suffering WFH folk can claim them back on expenses, or so we’ve heard!

SMOKING HOT

Fire pits and chimineas came into their own in the first lockdown. Undeniably charming, they mean you can stay outdoors for longer, or at least as long as you can stand the smoke. There is a bit of an art in getting it right and it’s definitely worth using smokeless heat logs to spare your streaming eyes (or opt for a gas fire!). Spark it up and enjoy a sundowner, or roast marshmallows with the family. Go contemporary, rustic … just don’t go inside! If you’re still at house planning stage, definitely consider getting a fireplace built in an outside wall and fantasise about all the Instagram moments you’ll enjoy.

operated options available they’re easier than ever to install. You’ll just have to come up with your own way of dealing with the midges.

STORAGE

Of course your dream garden won’t be so dreamy if there’s ‘stuff’ everywhere. If you don’t have the luxury of a garage or shed, no worries! There are lots of tasteful storage trunks/ bins available to toss everything out of sight and turn your patio from a play zone to a Pinterest friendly zone in 60 seconds flat.

LET THERE BE LIGHT

Garden lighting is also a game changer, adding atmosphere and ambience and making sure no one twists an ankle. With lots of LED and battery

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Home & Garden | The Southern Star | Spring/Summer 2021

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239x304

Spring Home &amp; Garden Mag

barbecues

egg chairs

time to go back

OUTSIDE

Embrace outdoor entertaining and relaxing this summer.

fire pits & patio heaters

furniture

...and lots more!

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Spring/Summer 2021 | The Southern Star | Home & Garden

Would you attempt to fix a broken appliance yourself?

WHEN a household appliance breaks down, chances are many of us would just bin it and buy a new one, rather than get it mended. Three-quarters of householders don’t even attempt to fix potentially repairable appliances, choosing instead to give up on them and buy expensive new replacement machines or gadgets, according to research by spare parts retailer eSpares (espares.ie). The alternative, of course, is to fix it - either by calling out a specialist to mend your broken appliance (this is possibly out of the question during the current lockdown) or by trying to sort it yourself. If even the mention of any type of DIY fills you with horror, you’ll probably write off this option immediately. But by not even considering the possibility of trying to fix a broken appliance, you could be missing out on saving a bundle of cash as well as creating unnecessary household waste. And in many cases the repair job is much easier than you’d think and doesn’t require expert knowledge – just the right tools and information, according to eSpares, who run the #FixFirst campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of DIY appliance repairs.

‘We want to empower people,’ says Ad Casey, eSpares head of brand. ‘They just haven’t been given the skills they need to carry out DIY repairs. That’s why we try to put as much information out there as we can. ‘People often tell us that fixing their appliances was easier than they expected,’ Casey adds. ‘With the current social distancing, buying a machine in a shop or booking an engineer for a home visit is hard. People may feel like they don’t have options right now, but by choosing a DIY fix they can take back control. ‘So, anyone considering kicking an underperforming appliance to the kerb should remember that by choosing to repair it instead, they can learn a new skill, save some cash, and protect our planet.’ To help, they’re offering a range of free video tutorials and appliance manuals. And if you’re still not convinced, you could always learn through Restart (therestartproject.org), a social enterprise which runs Restart Parties in 12 countries including Ireland, where people teach each other how to repair their broken and slow devices – from tablets and toasters, to iPhones and headphones. If there are no parties organised in your area already, the

Restart team urge you to think about starting one. Restart’s co-founder Janet Gunter, says most spare parts are still available despite the lockdown, and for more complex repairs there’s a wealth of how-to information available online, including the Restarters Wiki, iFixit.com and YouTube. ‘It’s cheaper and now faster to repair electronics, as opposed to ordering and waiting for new products from overstretched retailers,’ she stresses. ‘Many of the repairs we do normally at our free repair events are quite straightforward, such as replacing a broken part, or cleaning and basic maintenance. ‘People can definitely do these at home, and we’re available to help over our social media channels. And some appliance repair people and IT repair businesses offer remote support or mail-in options – think about supporting them too.’

NB: In the interests of safety, if you are in any doubt about what you are doing, or where significant mechanical or electrical work needs to be undertaken, we advise that you engage the services of an experienced tradesperson.

Curious? Here are five repair options that might save you a lot of hassle, and expense 1. WARM FRIDGE The rubber seal around the door is the first place to check if a fridge won’t stay cold. Closing a banknote in the door is a handy trick. If it falls out, that means the seal is no longer airtight and it’s letting cold air escape. The seal will need replacing – an easy job – to keep the fridge cooling efficiently.

4. UNRELIABLE LAWNMOWER If a lawnmower is leaving the grass looking uneven or patchy after being mown, chances are it’s got blunt blades. By switching off the mower (disconnect the power completely if it’s electric) and turning it on its side, the blades can be checked and replaced safely.

2. WOBBLY WASHING MACHINE Noisy washing machines that rock excessively can often be fixed very easily. Adjusting the feet at the bottom of the machine, or avoiding uneven laundry loads by washing more than one heavy item at a time can be all it takes to solve the problem.

5. COLD OVEN A fan oven that’s not heating up may seem destined for the scrap heap. But if the light and fan are still working, then chances are it can be brought back to working order with a new element rather than taking the big decision and replacing the entire unit.

3. HEADPHONES NOT WORKING Check the audio port for any dust blocking it and gently remove it with a toothpick. This is a common cause of audio annoyance! 21

Home & Garden | The Southern Star | Spring/Summer 2021

Some ‘common or garden’ mistakes Very often less is more when it comes to great growing

Gardening guru and ‘no-dig’ advocate Charles Dowding.

2. LOOSENING SOIL

NEWCOMER gardeners who are sowing and planting with justified enthusiasm, may just be digging themselves into a hole of horticultural mistakes, says growyour-own veg YouTube expert Charles Dowding, who is an advocate of ‘no dig’ gardening. He claims for example that there is no need to dig or double-dig beds before planting because you damage structure and waste your time. Here, he lists some other common or garden variety mistakes and how gardeners can resolve them.

1. OVERWATERING

Some gardeners believe that plants need soil that has been loosened, by digging or rotavator, to spread their roots. Dowding says firm soil is better and has its own natural, healthy structure of drainage and aeration. If you put a good compost mulch of at least 2in on your beds, without digging it in, it should provide all the nutrients your plants require and you don’t even have to plant a new shrub or other specimen with compost, he reckons.

‘ ... firm soil is better and has its own natural, healthy structure of drainage and aeration’

People often overwater, especially at seedling stage when there’s less need for new moisture. Little roots can easily be flooded, then die from lack of air. A simple tip is to lift your seed trays – a well-watered one will feel heavier than one needing water, but make sure it’s not too weighty. You’ll quickly learn how to judge what needs water and what doesn’t.

3. SPACING PLANTS OR SEEDS TOO FAR APART

This can result is a massive under-use of space in your garden, as well as extra work to maintain the unused space, which is often colonised by weeds. As a starting point, space about one third closer than recommended and you’ll be surprised how many extra plants you can grow, he advises. Veg which are regularly planted too far apart include onions, lettuce and beetroot, he says.

Spring/Summer 2021 | The Southern Star | Home & Garden

4. OVER-FEEDING PLANTS

Feed soil life instead with a mulch of compost on top of the soil and leave it undisturbed, he suggests. Plant food is then available through biological interactions, such as the work of naturally occurring mycorrhizal fungi, but if you overfeed plants you cause an imbalance in growth and potentially encourage more leaf, less fruit and more aphids.

OVER 25 YEARS IN BUSINESS IN WEST CORK

5. OVER-COMPLICATING TRANSPLANTING SEEDLINGS

Dowding doesn’t recommend hardening off, providing you cover new plantings in spring with fleece, until the weather warms up. Veg seedlings which don’t need transplanting include carrots and parsnips, which you should plant where they are to grow in the garden.

Ireland’s Organic Farm & Garden Supply Specialists

6. COMPOST CONFUSION

He says gardeners often spend time picking out garden debris which they think is unsuitable for the compost heap. He insists that it’s okay to add blighted tomato leaves and stems, bindweed roots, citrus peel and rhubarb leaves, which will die if they are continually smothered by other composting matter. Have solid sides to your compost heap to keep warmth in and don’t turn it more than once, he recommends.

7. USE OF SLUG PELLETS

These are poison to hedgehogs and other soil organisms and are especially unnecessary when you practise ‘no dig’, he says.

8. LACK OF SUMMER SOWINGS

Why do so many gardeners just sow seeds in spring? It will result in empty space and rampant weeds by autumn. Make use of the whole growing year, he says, sowing beetroot in late June, fennel and lettuce in July and rocket as late as early August.

Organic Bulbs & Seeds - Composts - Fertilizers Sprouting Kits - Quality Tools - Natural Paints and much more www.fruithillfarm.com

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Top: A section of Charles’ own garden. Above: When properly managed, a small, 25-square-metre garden can provide up to 150kgs of food in a year. (Photos: Charles Dowding) 23

Home & Garden | The Southern Star | Spring/Summer 2021

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Spring/Summer 2021 | The Southern Star | Home & Garden

You don’t need to be an expert ARE you frightened of your garden? Terrified of killing your plants and overwhelmed by the sheer choice of species? Don’t sweat it. Gardening expert and author Charlie Hart says ‘The most important thing is to make sure you’re enjoying yourself. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking only experts can garden – and follow your instinct. ‘EXPERT-ITIS’ ‘Don’t get too caught up in the rules,’ he says. ‘People get caught up in a terrible flurry, start reading online and look at how to do this and that. Seeds want to grow. All you have to do is give them sun, water and soil. ‘I have grown cordon tomato crops and haven’t pinched out the leader or taken the little side leaves out as they grow. I get a messy, sprawling plant but I still get plenty of tomatoes. This “expert-it is” puts people off gardening.’ DON’T BE A CONTROL-FREAK Things don’t have to look perfect, either. ‘Don’t worry about the garden being a bit out of control. As a species, we try to control everything. All the fun is in letting it go a bit. Win that battle in your mind,’ says Hart. ‘I would rather have a slightly messy but abundant and productive garden, than a wonderfully tidy but sterile one.’ AN EASY MENU ‘For people who just want to potter, there’s nothing as motivating as the chance of a decent meal at the end of it. Rather than growing from a catalogue picture, grow with a menu in

mind. Grow what you enjoy eating, not what everybody else is growing,’ Hart suggests. ‘The easiest fruits are berries and currants. You can get a large yield of raspberries, for instance, out of a relatively small amount of space.’ Standard veg which are easy include potatoes, while carrots are better started off later because that reduces problems with carrot fly, he observes.

the day. Grow them in a big tub. They want a good root run and they are quite hungry. Good varieties include Gardeners’ Delight.’ The simplest thing to grow is salad, which can be grown in small containers or even an old piece of gutter. Of all the salads, the easiest to grow is rocket, he reckons. GROW UP AS WELL AS OUT ‘Think about your small space not just horizontally but vertically. There’s nothing to say you can’t train a vine up a drainpipe, or why you can’t grow all sorts of soft fruit and train it in such a way that it doesn’t steal all the light from the rest of the garden.’ Veg such as climbing beans will make the most use of your vertical space, Hart recommends.

DON’T FORGET HERBS ‘Parsley is easy, and it will stand through the winter when other herbs have vanished or are feeling sorry for themselves,’ says Hart. ‘Given the potential reward, I’d strongly advise people to grow basil. Start the seed off in trays on a windowsill and let them grow on. I don’t pot them on. I treat them like some people treat lettuce. ‘Once they reach a suitable height and it’s warm enough outside, I plant them straight from the tray into the ground. Think of basil as a shrub rather than a standard herb. ‘If you can plant it in a pot with a reasonable root run, it should be all right, if you have a sunny spot.’ Don’t forget perennials such as rhubarb, which over the years will give you greater reward for smaller investment, he notes.

START WITH EASY FLOWERS ‘My go-to flowering plant is a pelargonium. They’re very pretty and you can get varieties with citrus-

scented leaves, which are glorious. They’re fairly bullet-proof in summer and they are easy to propagate, so if you have one plant you can make several more without leaving the house. They will also be happy on a windowsill – they don’t need to be put outside – and are drought tolerant. ‘Some easy flowers can be edible, such as marigolds, which can be used in place of saffron, as can sunflowers as a food colouring.’

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Home & Garden | The Southern Star | Spring/Summer 2021

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Spring/Summer 2021 | The Southern Star | Home & Garden

Savvy and simple Old-school ways to freshen up your home, or make room for something new! WHY not start by bringing the outdoors in? Natural elements in the home are not only aesthetically pleasing, but proven to be good for your mental wellbeing. If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, consider lifting some shrubs to re-purpose as house plants (you’ll have to research which plants will thrive indoors, but the short answers is ‘lots’). Get the kids involved. Make good use of the things you find on walks. Pinecones are a classic component of tabletop vignettes, and if you live near a beach, smooth pebbles and seashells are equally attractive options. Pressed flowers may seem a relic from Victorian times, but they make lovely decorations and are easy to make. If possible, pick a few blooms and lay them between absorbent paper under a couple of heavy books until fully dried out. Then you could frame them or simply place them on a shelf or anywhere that they can be seen and admired.

COLLECTABLES

If you have any collectables – display them! Coins, antiques, comic books, ceramics, vinyl records … Get them out of their boxes and enjoy them. This will add character to your home in a most unique and ‘you’ way.

OUT WITH THE OLD

Have a clear out. You could go full Marie Kondo and judge your possessions by joy, but the charity shops aren’t open and it may not always feel like the time for a wholesale purge of your ‘stuff’. Go room by room and start small and simple – old batteries, expired medicines, out-of-date newspapers, unplayable VHS tapes or DVDs, and an atlas that still lists Yugoslavia as a country. It’s glorified tidying up, but we all need to walk before attempting to run. Next, move on to surplus materials. Surely you do not need three garden shovels or 50 cookbooks? Consider items that have outlived their

Decorating your home should be an ever-evolving process, matching elements of your own personalities with items from the natural world, and incorporating pleasing yet practical accessories and furniture. purpose, or semi-functional utensils you’ve long since replaced. Finally, evaluate the bulky spacesavers. The unused weights bench taking up the spare room or the widescreen too old for your Alexa. These are risk-reward calculations:

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will you want them again, and what could you do with the extra space? A new piece of furniture or perhaps you’re building up to a full re-furb of a room? One way or another every little thing you get rid of is a step closer to success!

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Home & Garden | The Southern Star | Spring/Summer 2021

FACHTNA McCARTHY ENGINEERING SPECIALISING IN ENTRANCE GATES & RAILINGS • Steelwork for Conservatories • Security Gates and Railings (automated or manual as required)

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Spring/Summer 2021 | The Southern Star | Home & Garden

Great ways to transform a rented property – without losing your deposit FACED with grubby paintwork, stained floorboards and peeling wallpaper, it can be hard to know what to do to lift the interior of a rented house or apartment. It’s a situation homes guru Medina Grillo found herself in, and was disheartened but undaunted. She was determined to find ingenious ways of transforming her pad into a stylish space, without falling foul of her landlord. Her ideas are great for renters – but they also work for homeowners on a budget, and interior lovers who like to change their decor a lot. To avoid problems however, communication is key. Always ask a landlord in writing via text or email before doing anything in a property, and also offer to make good when you leave. Here are just some ideas to rescue your living space (rented or otherwise!) and turn it into the home of your dreams:

1. Removable wallpaper

Like it’s more permanent counterpart, removable wallpaper can transform walls. There are so many creative ways it can be used. Try it in a bedroom, where it could act as a faux headboard, to jazz up the inside of alcoves or on an untiled wall above work surfaces in a kitchen. How about a chalkboard wall using chalkboard sticky paper, which can be removed. Useful for everything from shopping lists to creative spaces for the kids! Tenant tip: Always check with your landlord first before embarking on wallpapering. If there is existing wallpaper, it will need to be removed first. Check the wall surface is suitable by testing with a small sample of paper first. Removable paper can’t be applied to all walls (for example, textured or bumpy walls). Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

2. Hang on!

One of the easiest ways to make a house or apartment feel truly like your own, is to hang things up on the wall. Think outside of the box and don’t confine yourself to photos or art. Consider framing decorative tea towels, vintage newspaper clippings,

fabric scraps or wallpaper samples. Ditching a traditional 2D flat look and using multi-dimensional objects – such as straw hats and baskets – will add to the interest. Tenant tip: Always avoid using nails which can damage walls. Consider attaching clipboards to a wall with adhesive strips or hooks. This allows you flexibility to change or rotate art or photos. Be careful to choose adhesive strips which are suitable for the wall surface (most require a smooth, clean wall) and the weight of what you want to hang.

3. Make your own storage

Wooden crates are a fantastic (and fairly cheap) way to create storage. Add wheels and then you can move them around wherever you fancy. Once you’ve created your crate shelving, play around with decoration. Try adding removable wallpaper to the back of each one, or paint them a bright colour. Tenant tip: If you’d prefer not to use a screwdriver and screws to secure crates together, crates can be stacked and fixed using wood glue or heavy-duty adhesive. (Note that this method is not reversible, so you won’t be able to un-stack them in the future.)

4.Hide ugly appliances

A simple curtain could be the answer to cover up those essential machines – dishwasher/ washing machine – which in a rental property, may be past their best looks-wise. Creating a cabinet skirt to sit under your counter is the perfect way to hide them, cheap and effective, right? 29

Tenant tip: You could use a pair of old bed sheets or curtains with hems already in place. Just cut to size and create a channel at the top for a tension rod (ideal for hanging lightweight curtains). Alternatively, curtain hooks with clips can be used.

5. Dress the bed

Turn that dull bedroom – dominated by a bed – into a stylish sanctuary, by dressing the bed like an interior designer would, and really paying attention to your choice of bed linen, throws and cushions. Even if a bed frame looks a little tired, and the bedroom seems bland and neutral, the addition of some pattern and colour can elevate the bed to a focal point. For a minimal, classic look, always stick to pale neutrals and crisp white, but mix rich textures and abstract prints in accessories, so the bed doesn’t end up looking too plain. For a bright and bold look, colourful throws or decorative cushions contrasted with plain white sheets works well. If you prefer a vibrant, patterned duvet set, pick out one of the shades and highlight it with a throw and cushions in the same colour. Tenant tip: A decorative valance sheet is designed to conceal the base of a bed, and while it may be considered old-fashioned by some, it can be great for concealing an ugly bed frame.

6. Throw a rug down

A patterned rug is a brilliant way to add colour and drama to a bare room. If you really hate the floor carpet – but it has to stay – layer rugs over the top of it, which will also ramp up the feeling of comfort and warmth. Tenant tip: If surfaces and shelves are in short supply, try creating a leaning shelf unit (which only needs one screw to anchor it to the wall for safety reasons). A ‘lean-against-the-wall’ unit can be simply made out of structural plywood, but its best to get it cut at the DIY store when you buy it. The shelves are attached to the backboard by screws, so won’t be strong enough for heavy books, but could be sturdy enough to hold a mixture of lighter items. Check out Grillo-Designs.com for more.

Home & Garden | The Southern Star | Spring/Summer 2021

PROPERTY WEST CORK MAGAZINE SPRING/SUMMER 2021

OUT THURSDAY, APRIL 22nd

On April 22nd 2021 we’ll publish our guide to finding the perfect West Cork property!

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Spring/Summer 2021 | The Southern Star | Home & Garden

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Clonakilty and Bantry Credit Unions Are you dreaming of making your nest bigger, brighter or warmer? Well the answer might be just around the corner!

CLONAKILTY CREDIT UNION Phone: (023) 88 33842 www.clonakiltycreditunion.ie BANTRY CREDIT UNION Phone: (027) 50535 www.bantrycu.ie

IMAGINE MORE Loans are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating which may limit your ability to access credit in the future. Clonakilty Credit Union Limited and Bantry Credit Union Limited are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Home & Garden | The Southern Star | Spring/Summer 2021

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