Right now in the garden

Sudden violent showers of hailstones in recent weeks have caused damage to young plants and tender foliage that’s only becoming apparent now. Typically it affects the top of the plant and shows up as scarred or discoloured foliage. It’s unsightly but in most cases the plants will make a full recovery.

Keep cutting lawns unless your garden’s soil is badly waterlogged, in which case wait until conditions improve to avoid damaging soil structure and causing compaction

Now’s the time to get some green-fingered inspiration by visiting a few of the many great gardens open to the public. See the website of Houses, Castles and Garden of Ireland (hcgi.ie) for a list of some the country’s horticultural gems.

Protect brassicas against the cabbage white butterfly by netting the young plants or covering them with an insect mesh such as Bionet.

Start giving container-grown plants a weekly foliar feed of seaweed extract to keep them healthy and vigorous.