What I’m Doing in the Garden this Bank Holiday Weekend

National Gardening Week has landed with sunshine isn’t that the best kind of timing, so I’m using it as my official excuse to potter with purpose. Not a full garden overhaul. Not a “before and after” worthy of a TV crew. Just the kind of weekend jobs that make the garden feel lighter, tidier, and more like a place you actually want to spend time.

This weekend for me is a mix of useful planting (veg + herbs), a few romantic favourites (sweet peas, peonies, roses), and some small design tweaks that make everything feel intentional.

If you’re looking for ideas, feel free to copy this plan exactly — it’s designed to be simple, realistic, and genuinely satisfying.

My Vibe –  a reset, not a renovation

My goal this weekend is to;

• Tidy what’s already there so the garden can breathe
• Plant a few useful and productive things (herbs + salad + a little veg)
• Add scent and softness (jasmine near the terrace, sweet peas for cutting)
• Do a handful of “small wins” that make everything look more structured

Friday evening (or the first sunny half-hour) the 20-minute reset

This is the bit that makes Saturday feel easy.  I’m doing a quick lap with a bucket: labels, twine, empty pots, fallen branches, the little clutter that builds up quietly.

I’ll pull the obvious weeds while the soil is still a bit soft.

I’m edging one bed. Just one. It’s the fastest way to make the whole garden look like you’ve been on top of things for weeks.

Saturday early morning: tidy + “make space for what I want next”

I’m starting with the areas I see most often — near the door, the path, the bit I look at while making my morning coffee.

1) Beds and borders: a gentle tidy.  I’ll cut back anything that’s clearly dead or damaged.

I’m not being too ruthless — if I’m unsure, I’m leaving it until I see fresh growth.

I’ll lift and re-position anything that’s flopped into the path.

2) Make room for the cutting garden (without stealing from the veg)

I’ve learned the hard way that if I don’t protect a little space for cutting, the veg patch expands and suddenly I’ve nowhere for the flowers I actually want to bring indoors.

So I’m doing a quick, honest check:

Where can I keep a few “cut-and-come-again” beauties?

Where are the odd gaps I can tuck favourites into without it looking messy?

Saturday evening : the planting I’m most excited about

This is the part that makes the whole weekend feel like it has a point.

1) Veg + salad + herbs (the useful planting)

I already have my first salad crops, and my garlic is almost ready — which is exactly the kind of encouragement I need to keep going.

This weekend I’m adding:

More herbs (the ones I actually use) parsley, tarragon, coriander, I’ll try basil again (its a little bit of luck but its worth it) thyme and dill.

More salad (so we can keep picking little and often) and use my herbs in salads too

A bit of veg — nothing complicated, just steady, satisfying progress, try courgettes for an a quick win and the flowers are divine, I have the most amazing recipe for them in pasta – if you want it just message me at jo@caraghnurseries.ie

My keep-it-alive rules:

Water deeply after planting, then keep an eye on them for the first week.

If the sun stays strong, I’ll water in the evening to give the plants time to enjoy the moisture in the cooler evenings

Sweet peas (because they make everything feel like summer)

Sweet peas are non-negotiable for me — they’re beautiful in the garden, and even better in a jug on the kitchen table.

I’m planting them with cutting in mind (easy access, somewhere I’ll remember to pick).  I’ll give them support early so they can climb happily from the start.

Peonies, a couple of new roses, and a few well-placed perennials

I’ve still got the odd space, so I’m doing what I always end up doing: adding more of my favourites.

Peonies for that once-a-year, heart-stopping moment. I had Peonies in my wedding bouquet and they alway remind me of my mum, the florist as she did all my flowers for our special day.  I still recall the scent of the day as well as the look.

A couple of new roses for repeat flowering and structure.

Perennials that earn their keep: beautiful in the border and brilliant for cutting.

Sunday morning: scent, structure, and the “finishing touches”

Sunday is my only day off of the weekend so its protected for the jobs that make the garden feel styled — without needing a full redesign.

1) Jasmine near the terrace (for scent)

My wisteria is absolutely amazing this year — and it’s made me realise how much I want that same “walk outside and breathe it in” feeling near the terrace.  So I’m planting a new jasmine where we’ll actually notice it.

2) Pots at the front door: a cluster + one big focal point

I want the front door to feel welcoming and structured — even when the rest of the garden is mid-season and slightly chaotic.

My plan:

A cluster of pots (in 3s) for structure and height

One large pot as a focal point — something with real presence. I’m leaning towards a big statement pot (the Atlantis range is brilliant for this) because one generous pot can do more than five small ones.

Quick pot refresh tip.  Even if you don’t replant, scrape off the top few centimetres of compost and replace it. Add a fresh mulch or decorative topping and it looks instantly “done”.

Sunday afternoon: lawn + the “future me will thank me” jobs

If the lawn needs it, I’ll give it a quick tidy-up but thats Ian’s domain and his wee friend.

A light feed and a quick rake over any patchy bits that the dogs have got near.

Then I’m doing the boring-but-brilliant jobs:

Stake anything tall early

Water anything new deeply

My  promise to myself, don’t over do it, its been a very busy last eight months with a new garden centre so I’m not trying to do everything.If you’re doing National Gardening Week too…

What are you tackling this weekend