Cold weather set the stage and bare root season is off to a flying start. We bring Mattie from Future Forests back on the mic to share straight-talking, field-tested advice on hedging, trees, and the edible surge that’s reshaping Irish gardens. If you’ve ever wondered which whip size actually makes sense, when staking is non‑negotiable, or why those tall instant hedges sometimes flop, this conversation is your blueprint for smarter planting.

We dig into the fruit boom: the apple that almost never fails (Katie), the plum pair that keeps winning (Victoria and Jubilee), and the pear trio that finally fixes pollination headaches (Conference, Beth, Concord). Soft fruit gets its due too—raspberries, currants, blueberries—and a timely case for damsons as the resilient, flavour‑rich choice for trickier sites. Quince demand is spiking, heritage apples are pulling people online, and more buyers want honest descriptions that flag disease risks before they commit.

Hedges are being rethought with a more resilient lens. Hawthorn leads for biodiversity and farm edges, beech and hornbeam anchor structure, and evergreen picks get a reality check. Portuguese laurel still impresses but shows mildew pressure in pockets; yew is underused and superb on good ground; Japanese privet is clean and dense; and griselinia holds up when pruned early enough to dodge frost damage. Along the coast, fuchsia hedges remain iconic and vigorous. We also trade notes on unusual trees—Caucasian wingnut, Zelkova, standout hawthorns—and why some beloved cultivars like Paul’s Scarlet no longer earn their keep.

Practical wins frame the whole chat: never plant a dry root, dip as you go, protect with stakes where needed, use mycorrhizal fungi to speed establishment, mulch to lock in moisture, and be ready for that now‑predictable April or May dry spell. We round out with perennials and ferns for texture and shade, plus a thoughtful look at native provenance and sourcing balance across Irish and trusted European growers.

If you found this useful, follow the show, share it with a gardener who needs a nudge, and leave a review to help others find us. Then head to futureforest.ie for plants, sizes, and advice tailored to your site.

https://futureforests.ie

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Until next week
Happy gardening
John