Dermot O Neil

RTE Radio One, Mooney Goes Wild, Monday to Friday 3pm to 4.30pm. With the long winter months just around the corner gardener Dermot O' Neill spoke about the importance of scented plants in the garden. These fantastic winter flowering shrubs which add both colour and scent should be arriving in garden centres over the coming weeks. Nowadays gardens are smaller and have become extended living spaces attached to our homes, hence scented plants can contribute significantly to the experience of your garden space be it a patio, terrace or decked area. Here are six plants which add both colour and scent to your garden during the winter months:

• Daphne bholua 'Jacqueline Postil'


• Hamamelis mollis (Witch Hazel)


• Lonicera x purpurea (Winter Beauty)

Winter flowering + scent:

• Sarcococca humillis (Christmas Box)


• Chimonanthas praecox (Winter Sweet)


• Jasminum polyanthum

Some more plants which Dermot recommended as being good for both colour and scent. Obviously some of these plants are not winter flowering:

• Matthiola bicornis (Night Scented Stock)


• Rosa 'Abraham Derby'


• Jasminum polyanthum


• Pelargoniums

Dermot also suggested using a systemic herbicide to treat that difficult weed called Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis). Be careful when using any herbicide as the chemical must be applied only to the plant to be treated, in this case the bindweed. Remember your own safety when using these chemicals; use a face mask, safety eyewear, gloves, wellington boots and an overalls.