Book a Garden Design Consultation
Get Expert Advice Tailored To Your Garden
Creating your dream garden can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re starting from scratch, refreshing an existing space or simply unsure which plants will work best, expert advice can help you make the right choices.
Our Tirlán CountryLife Garden Advisory Service gives you the opportunity to have our horticulturist Malachy Doherty visit your home and provide personalised advice tailored to your garden, lifestyle and budget.
From choosing the right plants and planning flower beds to improving your lawn, creating a wildlife-friendly garden or planning larger landscaping projects, Malachy can help you bring your garden ideas to life.
Book your garden visit today and take the first step towards creating your own garden haven.
Who is Malachy, Tirlán CountryLife’s garden expert?
Our Tirlán CountryLife Garden Centres are home to expert horticulturists who are always available to offer advice in-store. As part of this new service, Malachy will dedicate his time to visiting customers in their own gardens, providing one-to-one expert guidance to help bring their garden ideas to life.
Malachy Doherty is one of Ireland’s most experienced horticulturists, with a lifetime of gardening knowledge and expertise.
A graduate of the National Botanic Gardens, Malachy has won numerous horticultural awards and represented Ireland in international horticultural competitions. His career has included working at the world-famous Mount Congreve Estate in Co. Waterford, specialising in the propagation of rare plants, as well as managing production in leading Irish nurseries.
His passion is helping people get the most from their gardens – whether you are starting from scratch, refreshing an existing space, or simply looking for advice on what to do next.
What is included in a garden consultation?
A garden visit is a one-to-one consultation where Malachy will walk through your garden, listen to your ideas and provide practical recommendations to help you get the best from your space.
Your consultation can include advice on:
Choosing the right plants for your garden
Not sure what plants will thrive in your garden? Malachy can recommend the best plants based on your soil, light levels, garden style and how much maintenance you want to do.
He can help with:
- Choosing plants for sunny, shady or difficult areas
- Selecting the right quantities and positioning
- Creating beautiful flower beds and borders
- Choosing plants for walls, arches and garden structures
He can also advise on plant placement, quantities and how to create attractive borders that thrive throughout the seasons.
How to plan a garden makeover
Whether you want to make small improvements or completely transform your outdoor space, expert planning can help you get the best results.
Malachy can advise on:
- Redesigning existing flower beds
- Improving garden layouts
- Planning patios, terraces, summer houses and outdoor areas
- Creating better views and flow throughout your garden
How to improve your lawn
A healthy lawn can transform your garden. Malachy can provide advice on lawn revival and maintenance, including:
- Preparing and sowing new lawns
- Choosing the right grass seed
- Moss control
- Feeding and maintaining your lawn
- Creating wildflower areas to attract bees and butterflies
How to grow your own fruit, vegetables and plants
Want to become more self-sufficient or grow your own produce?
Malachy can share advice on:
- Preparing your soil
- Planning a vegetable garden
- Growing fruit trees and bushes
- Feeding your soil naturally
- Sowing seeds and growing healthy plants at home
- Propagating plants to expand your garden
How to create a wildlife-friendly garden
More customers are looking for ways to make their gardens better for nature.
Malachy can help you create a more sustainable garden with advice on:
- Plants that attract pollinators
- Supporting bees and butterflies
- Wildlife-friendly planting
- Sustainable gardening practices
- Creating habitats for garden wildlife
Tree, shrub and rose care advice
Keeping plants healthy starts with the right care.
Malachy can advise on:
- Pruning shrubs and trees
- Caring for fruit trees and bushes
- Rose pruning and feeding
- Maintaining healthy plants throughout the seasons
Can I get advice for my greenhouse or garden pond?
Whether you have a greenhouse, pond or outdoor structure, Malachy can help you get the most from it.
Advice can include:
- The best greenhouse for your needs
- Greenhouse plant care
- Growing fruit, flowers and vegetables under glass
- Pest control and feeding
- Garden pond planting and care
- Choosing plants for different garden features
Final Thoughts
Every garden has potential, whether you’re looking to make a few small improvements or create a complete outdoor transformation. With expert guidance from Malachy, you can make confident choices, avoid costly mistakes and create a garden that suits your space, lifestyle and budget.
From choosing the right plants to planning your next big project, a little expert advice can help turn your garden ideas into reality. Book your Tirlán CountryLife garden visit today and take the first step towards creating your own garden haven.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I book a garden consultation? Ready to get expert advice for your garden? Complete our garden consultation form and tell us what you’d like help with. Malachy will help you take the next steps towards creating a garden that works for you. Book your garden visit today.
- Do you offer garden advice for schools? Yes. Schools can also benefit from the Tirlán CountryLife Garden Advisory Service. Interactive sessions can include: Growing vegetables, Planning school gardens, Learning about plants and nature. Simply reach out and discuss with Malachy.
- How much does a garden consultation cost? The cost of your garden consultation is €170.
- What should I prepare before my garden visit? You don’t need to have everything planned before Malachy visits – that’s what the consultation is for! However, it can be helpful to think about:
- What you like and dislike about your current garden
- Any problems you would like to solve
- How you use your outdoor space
- Any ideas or inspiration you would like to bring to life
- Your preferred level of maintenance
- Can you help if I don’t know where to start with my garden? Absolutely. Many customers know they want to improve their garden but aren’t sure where to begin. Malachy can help identify opportunities, suggest practical improvements and create a plan that works for your space, budget and lifestyle.
- Is the garden consultation suitable for beginners? Yes. You don’t need to be an experienced gardener to benefit from expert advice. Whether you are planting your first garden, learning how to grow vegetables or simply want to understand how to care for your plants better, Malachy can guide you through the process.
- Can you advise on garden projects like patios, seating areas or outdoor spaces? Yes. Malachy can help you plan the best location for features such as patios, terraces, summer houses and other garden structures, ensuring they complement your garden layout and make the most of your outdoor space. He can advise on the finished materials to use but will not advise on the construction of those elements.
