Gardening 28th April 2022

Today we started to plant 3 types of potatoes; 1 row of Orla, 1 row of of Golden Wonder, 1 row of Vitabella. But first we had to remove the tarp. When the tarp was off we had to start weeding the ground then we dug a trench for the potatoes. We got the whole class out to plant the potatoes. Four of us had to cover the potatoes in soil.

By Max

Gardening 3rd February 2022

We were making bee homes out of rushes and cut them up and tied them together with string. Then we hung them on some trees in the garden so solitary bees would live there. We went over to pile of grass and trimmed it to see if there were any solitary mining bees in there. So if there are any solitary bees in the trees, it’s because we put them there.

By Michael

Gardening 3rd February 2022

At the gardening we were using these tools to cut back some dead plants in the garden bed. We also got rid of all the weeds on the garden bed. The weeds were pretty small so you could rub your hand on the weeds and they’d come out. At the end we went to look at the bee hotel. We also brought the dead plants to the back of the school to where they’re putting other plants to make compost.        

By Lily

Gardening 27th January 2022

On Thursday 27th of January we made baked potatoes. First we had to inspect the potatoes to make sure that they weren’t gone off or black. After that we made holes in the potatoes so they would cook faster. When we were finished putting holes in the potatoes we put them in the oven. Every once in a while we had to check on them to make sure that they were cooking okay. They took about two hours to fully cook. Then when they were finished cooking 5th class, 6th class and all the staff members enjoyed the baked potatoes.

By  Charlie

Gardening 27th January 2022

On Thursday we had gardening. I had Max as my partner. Max and I had to get piles of grass to weigh down the cardboard and stop weeds from growing beside the trees. It was a tough job because when you were pulling the grass it would hurt your hands. Then Claragh and Enda would pick up the piles of grass in the wheelbarrow and put the grass on the cardboard. So the cardboard wouldn’t blow away.

By Evan

Gardening 9th December 2021

When we went gardening we pealed sellotape off boxes. It was freezing. It was hard to get off. After that we picked weeds in the garden. The roots went really far down. We had to be careful not to pull a plant.

By Saoirse

Gardening 4th November 2021

This week in gardening  we were checking the plant seeds and heads that we picked last week. We put all of them in the envelopes and named them and put the date on them and taped them shut. In some we had to shake or push the seeds out. We left the sunflower heads for next week though. We put snap dragon, sweet pea and some more seeds in the envelopes. We swept up the path in front of the junior and seniors and first and second classrooms.

In gardening myeslf, Grace, Max, Rossa, Linda and Lindsey put covers to stop the weeds from growing in the bed. We also put out tyres on the sides of the bed to keep the cover on the bed. Then Grace and I pulled out the weeds in the bed next to it.

Gardening 21st October 2021

Yesterday we learned all about seeds, you can have some seeds that can fall and grow themselves and some that have to be planted. We got mint, dragon, chives and sweet pea seeds. One of the plants had to be turned upside down and shake the seeds out. The most common thing was that you have to wait for the plant to dry out/die first before you pick the seeds. We let them dry out on the spare room on the windowsill. We picked sunflower seeds aswell but they’re not as dry yet.

Gardening 14th October 2021

Yesterday when we were gardening we were planting little seeds. We had to make space in the soil we dug up and then we planted the seeds in there. In the coming weeks we will start moving the flowers.

Gardening 30th September 2021

Today we started to weed the bottom plants in the side garden. It wasn’t done last year so it was very hard to pull. We had the whole 5th/6th class out. We were very wet after leaning on the grass. Overall it took around 50 mins.

Gardening 23rd September 2021

First we went looking for clover seed. Soon we found some clover seeds and went to the back of the bike shed and put them on the ground. Then we went around to the side of the school and ate some raspberries. Then we went to the garden and pick some peas out of the bean. IT WAS VERY FUN.

Gardening 16th September 2021

On the first day of gardening we started with cutting the blight off the potatoes with our pliers. After that we dug up the potatoes with our pitchforks and put the potatoes in a bucket.

Gardening in June 2021

We are trying to create a wildflower meadow in our Biodiversity Garden. There is a lot of grass growing in this area so we let it grow and use the strimmer on it every autumn. We have introduced a plant called Yellow Rattle to this area in the last two years also. This plant is known as the “meadow maker” as it is parasitic and attacks the roots of grasses, eventually leaving bare patches in which wild flowers can grow. Linda got the seeds of the yellow rattle on the Hill of Tara near her home and we have this year about five patches where the plant is growing. It is an annual plant so it is important that we do not cut the grass until the seeds have been dispersed to grow and hopefully spread again next year. The Latin name for this plant is Rhinanthus minor.                                                     . 

Here are photos of the plant growing in the garden.

This month, we also cleared out the main flowerbed in our courtyard. We pulled out all of the weeds and planted new flowers and plants in the bed to give it a fresh new look. 

Our Garden is blooming at the minute with beautiful Summer plants. They really add a splash of colour and a cheery vibe to the school.

This month, the girls in 6th Class completed a little upcycling project for the school yard. They painted some old wooden wire spools in bright vivid colours. These will be placed in the yard and the children can use them to play with. These can also be used as tables for the children to eat some snacks at on a warm sunny day.

Whilst the girls were busy upcycling, the 6th Class boys completed a project of their own. Jimmy Larrissey came in to assist the children in building their very own ‘Bug Hotel’.

A bug hotel is a fantastic way to encourage insects into the garden. Attracting beneficial insects such as pollinators will keep the garden thriving with plants and flowers and pest eating bugs like ladybirds will keep nasty aphids from destroying plants. It is important to support insects and pollinators as much as we can, as habitats are decreasing due to developments taking over their natural homes.

They started by gathering materials that can be used to create the hotel. It is best to use natural materials such as wood.

They placed all of the pieces together and built a beautiful hotel to house a range of wonderful bugs. Huge thanks to Jimmy Larrissey for all of his help, the children really enjoyed undertaking this project.

Gardening in April 2021

Gardening on March 25th – by Ava Duignan Rang a Sé

On Thursday 25th Linda told us that we would be planting a tree nursery. She showed the class the acorns that she had planted in Autumn and which were now sprouting. Eight people went out to help. Some were weeding the bed. Two were taking pictures of what the others were doing.

Laura and Ava planted some other small plants around where they weeded. Then the acorns were planted by Callum and Anna.

Mrs. Burke is going to put a sign to show where the tree nursery is.

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GARDENING 27/02/2020 

The first thing we did was mulch our plants. Mulching is to stop grass and weeds growing around the plant/tree. Mulching also adds moisture and nutrients to the soil.

How to mulch …..

Step 1. Get leftover cardboard and place it around the plant/tree

Step 2. Put leftover grass over the cardboard

Step 3: Leave it for 4-6 weeks

The next thing we did was pull back the mypex that was covering the manure. Then we shovel the manure  into a pile to clear the ground to plant our Autumn Fruiting Raspberries.

First we pruned the Autumn Fruiting Raspberries then we planted them on the ground we cleared. The leftover pruning’s were put in our log pile.

We saw four buzzards [birds of prey that catch rats /mice] and last of all we weeded are courtyard garden.

GARDENING   13/2/2020

In the garden today we took pictures of the ‘Snowdrops’ and ‘Primroses’ using the school iPad.

We also dug a new trench in the courtyard garden. We dug holes and planted plants into them.

We discovered that the daffodils are starting to blossom. The stalks have buds on top and the buds are starting to open. We should be able to see some yellow daffodils very soon.

We also did a small bit of weeding, which we have to finish next week. By eliminating the weeds, it gives the flowers more nutrients because both the weeds and the flowers will be no longer competing for the nutrients in the soil.

We planted some ‘Apple Winston’ and ‘Apple Katy MM’.

Finally, we found a large pink worm while we were digging the trench.

GARDENING 30/01/2020

In the garden today we made a log pile. This is to encourage mini beasts and insects. We have put the log pile behind the mini woodland up against the fence.

We pruned the apple trees. We learned that you pick an outward facing bud and cut just above it. This makes the tree send out other buds that will grow outwards rather than straight up.

We prepared the ground for the non-native bed. We planted Buddelia, Flowering Quince, Lilac, Flowering Currant and Berberis. These are plants that will attract pollinating insects and help biodiversity in the garden.

We mulched the trees also.