County Louth Landscaping Suppliers & Resources Directory

Knowing where to get good plants and materials locally saves a lot of time and money on a garden project. County Louth has a solid spread of garden centres, nurseries and builders’ merchants, plus suppliers further afield worth knowing for native plants and wildflower seed.

This is a rundown of the kinds of suppliers serving the county and what each is useful for. Always check current opening hours and stock before travelling, as these change.

Garden centres and plant nurseries

Dundalk and around

There are established garden centres in and around Dundalk, including at Haggardstown, carrying the usual range of trees, shrubs, perennials, seasonal bedding, tools and outdoor living gear. For most homeowners these are the easiest first stop for plants, compost and sundries, and the staff can usually point you towards what suits local conditions.

Ardee

In the centre of the county, Arthur’s Nurseries in Ardee is a good source for trees, shrubs and hedging, and is geared towards the kind of clay-soil planting common inland.

Dunleer and east Louth

Brennan’s in Dunleer serves the east of the county with the usual plant and garden range, handy if you are over that side.

Native plants and wildflower seed

If you specifically want Irish native trees, hedging or wildflower seed, it is worth going to specialists rather than general garden centres:

• Future Forests (Co. Cork) is a well-known source of native Irish trees and a wide plant range, with mail order.
• Several Irish seed suppliers sell genuinely native wildflower seed. Look for clearly Irish-sourced seed rather than generic “wildflower” mixes, which often contain non-native species.

Buying genuinely native, Irish-grown stock means the plants are adapted to our conditions and better for local wildlife.

Materials, stone and aggregate

For paving, gravel, stone, topsoil and drainage materials, you have a few routes:

• Local quarries and aggregate suppliers provide stone, gravel and aggregate, usually with delivery. Local stone suits the landscape and is often cheaper than bringing material in from far away.
• Topsoil and compost suppliers deliver in bulk, which is far more economical than bagged material for any decent-sized bed or new lawn. This matters a lot on Louth clay, where you often want to add organic matter.

For drainage materials in particular, ask the supplier for advice on what suits clay ground.

Builders’ merchants and hardware

For timber, cement, drainage pipe, fixings, tool hire and general building materials, the national merchants all have a presence in or near the county:

• Chadwicks and McMahons are reliable for building materials and trade supplies.
• Grange Builders Providers is useful for a mix of building materials, timber, tool hire and landscaping supplies in one stop.

Tool hire from a merchant is worth knowing about, as it lets you tackle a one-off job (a rotavator, a plate compactor, a chipper) without buying kit you will rarely use again.

Professional services

Some jobs are worth handing to a specialist:

• Tree surgery and removals. Larger tree work is genuinely dangerous and should go to a qualified, insured arborist. Always check insurance before any tree work goes ahead.
• Drainage and groundworks. Clay-soil drainage problems are best fixed properly the first time.
• Hard landscaping. Paving, walls and patios last longer when built right.
• Garden maintenance and clearances. If you do not have the time or the equipment, regular help keeps a garden from getting away from you.

When choosing anyone, look for local references and proof of insurance, and get a clear quote before work starts.

A quick seasonal buying note

• Late winter and early spring is bare-root season, when trees and hedging are cheapest. Buy early, as popular varieties sell out.
• Autumn is the best planting window and a good time to buy trees and shrubs in their prime condition, plus spring bulbs.
• End-of-season sales in autumn and winter are worth watching for plants and materials if you can plant or store them.

Need the work done?

If you would rather skip the sourcing and have the job done for you, whether that is a clearance, planting, hedge work or regular upkeep, we cover Dundalk and the surrounding Louth and Cooley area and have our own suppliers and kit. Call Seamus on 085 168 5170 or get a free quote.

For planning help, see our guide to landscaping in County Louth and our guide to the best plants for the County Louth climate.