You would have thought that when he moved to a new house in Wicklow, known as the Garden of Ireland, Diarmuid Gavin, the enfant terrible of the gardening fraternity, would have wasted no time hauling in the diggers, landscaping materials, amazing plants and architectural altars.
His commitment to show gardens for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show the past two years has meant that garden designer Cleve West's beloved allotment has suffered as weeds have sprung up and slugs and snails have built their own thriving community among his prized vegetables.
Wondering what to put in your patio containers this summer? My pansies and violas are looking so forlorn I'm already thinking I'll ditch them in favour of some higher achievers in this unpredictable British weather.
Wildflowers are back in fashion, according to reports on their sales.
They are the quintessential English plant, with unrivalled fragrance, beauty and variety of colours, shapes and sizes.
If your lawn looks tired and tatty and is covered in weeds, moss and bare patches, it might be time to bite the bullet and sow a new one.
Growing veg on your patio couldn't be easier - you can control the soil type, the situation and the watering, often providing shelter near the house when it's needed.
From seed collections to fashion-conscious gloves for the green-fingered and innovative tool ranges, no gardening mother should be without a gift on Mothering Sunday.
I have to admit it, I love formal gardens, those with a definite structure, sense of purpose and everything in its place.
Themed holidays have been around for a long time, suited to hobbyists whose pastimes have included painting, cooking or indeed gardening.
If you're still scratching your head as to what to do with your garden this year, whether trying veg in pots for the first time, creating a wildflower meadow or completely re-landscaping your outdoor space, there are new books coming out which should provide you with plenty of ideas.
Valentine's Day will come and go, but you can create a lover's paradise in your outdoor space, incorporating all the senses of touch, smell, sight, taste and sound.
How long is it since you filled your bird feeder or replenished the water in your birdbath? If you haven't done it for a while, there's no time like the present.
The wet weather over the past couple of years has prompted reports of poor harvests, smaller and less tasty fruit and veg and claims that the nutrients the rain has washed away from the soil will affect the health value of our home-grown produce.
Ash dieback was the big environmental story of 2012 - and the deadly fungus Chalara fraxinea threatening to blight our ash and so change the face of our countryside is not about to drift away in 2013.
It may still be a bit nippy to be doing many jobs in the garden, so now's a perfect time to relax with some of your Christmas leftovers and make design plans for the year to come.
The world's top garden designers will be celebrating 100 years of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2013 with a mixture of old and new, demonstrating the glories of the past and the gardens of the future.
The poinsettia looked fantastic in the garden centre, its healthy red bracts providing some festive cheer.
The poinsettia looked fantastic in the garden centre, its healthy red bracts providing some festive cheer.
If you've bought the Christmas tree and now have little left in your budget for wreaths, baubles and other festive garlands, just take a walk in the garden to find some twigs, sprigs and berries which will make pretty adornments - and save you pounds.
Older gardeners could pick up some tips from a new generation of young horticulturists who have grown up with the eco-friendly, sustainability mentality.
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