Laois woman Debbie Brophy has been crowned the winner of Super Garden 2025 thanks to her 'bee happy' wildlife garden. Watch the episode back on RTÉ Player now.
The garden design challenge, now in its 16th series, has once again showcased the extraordinary talents of aspiring designers from across the country.
Five designers paired up with homeowners in a new housing development based in Baker Hall in Navan, Co Meath. Each was challenged to create a fitting home for their clients within three weeks, and with a budget of €15,000.
In the end, Debbie stole the show with her wildlife garden, which was inspired by a honeybee colony that moved into her own garden last year.
Based in Kildare, but originally from Laois, Debbie grew up with green fingers thanks to her parents, both of whom were keen gardeners.
Having studied Fine Art Painting at Limerick School of Art, Debbie always had a creative flair, but says she never channelled her "full potential" as an artist.
In recent years, she has worked full-time in a fabric shop where she realised that she missed creating her own designs.
Aged 41, she decided to return to school and completed her postgraduate diploma with the Garden Design Academy, all while raising her young daughter, Poppy.
At present, she is doing a bit of garden maintenance and is selling hanging baskets, a business born out of the pandemic when she started to sell indoor plants online.
On Super Garden, Debbie was challenged to create a 'nature-friendly garden' for young family Anju, Jaison and three-year-old Steve.
Creating a low-maintenance space suitable for the family, she created hexagonal flower beds that she filled to the brim with pollinating plants to attract bees and butterflies.
Paving at the front of the garden gives the family a space to entertain, while the back features an all-weather pergola where they can enjoy the sounds of a beautiful water feature.
Super Garden judge Brian Burke, representing Woodie's, said: "People often ask me what makes a winning design in Super Garden. The answer is that it is a combination of things: originality, flow, dynamism, interesting plant combinations, strong built elements, an eye on sustainability, and a full and faithful response to the homeowner's requirements. This year Debbie provided all of those things, and more."
The final episode of Super Garden aired this evening (Tuesday, 27 May) on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, with the Laois native announced as the winner.
She will now have her garden exhibited at Bord Bia Bloom, Ireland's premier garden festival this June bank holiday weekend.
Speaking on her win, Debbie said: "It's an immense feeling; there will be a hundred thousand people coming to see our garden and it means the world".
