A Laois woman has been crowned the winner of Super Garden 2025.

The garden design challenge, now in its 16th series, has once again showcased the extraordinary talents of aspiring designers from across the country.

Laois woman Debbie Brophy impressed the judges with her ‘bee happy’ wildlife garden, inspired by a honeybee colony that moved into her own garden last year. 

Born and raised in Ballacolla with her parents and her brother, Ms Brophy's father Pat was the CEO of Glanbia, with a career spanning over 20 years.

The final episode of this season of Super Garden aired on Tuesday May 27 on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player and Debbie was announced as the Super Garden 2025 winner. 

The Leinster Express / Laois Live spoke to Ms Brophy on her fantastic win.

"It was a great experience, to be fair it was quite tiring as there was a lot of work involved," Ms Brophy explained.

Pictured: Debbie Brophy from Ballacolla, Super Garden 2025 winner

"Though it's a huge amount of work, it's very rewarding and great to meet all the other designers. Because we all have such similar interests in it, there is a real feeling of community with everyone."

Ms Brophy said that she had spent years joking with her partner that one day, they would enter into the Super Garden competition.

"It was when we had our daughter and I stopped working to look after her, I finished my course work in garden design and decided that it was the best time to go for it," she said.

"The strangest part that I didn't expect was getting used to the cameras following us around. They were there all the time, and we would sometimes have to wait for them. They would capture everything that happened, even the things that might go wrong, they had it all," Ms Brophy said.

"It was hard to get used to it!".

Ms Brophy and her partner could hardly believe they had won, and they were over the moon.

"We were absolutely delighted," she said.

"Originally, we didn't get through to the competition the first time. We were put on a reserve list, and when a lady had to pull out, we got the call that we were in. We went from being on the reserves, to winning, we couldn't believe it," Ms Brophy said.

Though a lot of hard work is involved, the gardener says that it is a great experience that she would definitely recommend.

Currently at Bord Bia's Bloom Gardening Festival, the garden has won a silver medal.

"Bloom is fantastic, it's great to get talking to a lot of people," Ms Brophy said.

"The build is quite good, it looks fantastic here. It was a bit wider on site, but the plants looks lush and great, I have the opportunity to work alongside amazing designers," she said.

"We are working with big names I never thought I would meet, it's amazing to see how they show their gardens."

What's next for this year's Super Garden winner?

"We currently run Laurel Hill Gardens in Newbridge, providing plants and maintenance services. We are looking to hopefully open our own garden down the line, maybe later in the year," Ms Brophy explained.

“It’s an immense feeling; there are a hundred thousand people coming to see our garden and it means the world," Debbie said on her win.

Pictured: Debbie Brophy, winner of Super Garden 2025 

 
Kerrie Gardiner, Show Garden Manager for Bord Bia Bloom and Chief Judge of Super Garden, praised Debbie Brophy following her victory in the competition. 

"Debbie is a very worthy winner of Super Garden 2025," Ms Gardiner said.

"She truly delivered for the homeowner, creating the 'Bee Happy Garden' filled with colour and family-friendly elements that also encourage pollinators and biodiversity.

"There was great attention to detail in the garden bespoke insect hotels, and the water butt harvesting waster from the pergola roof all contributing to promoting environmental sustainability.

"The design further includes engaging play areas and interactive installations that foster creativity and outdoor learning for the younger member of the family. Overall, the garden reflects the personality and desires of the homeowners, making it a well-rounded design delivery," Ms Gardiner finished.

This year's competition brought five innovative designers to Baker Hall in Navan, County Meath, in homes built by Glenveagh homes with the support of Meath County Council and the Land Development Agency through the Affordable Housing Scheme. Five households had their gardens transformed but only one garden could make it to Bord Bia Bloom. 

Pictured: Debbie Brophy's gorgeous garden

 “People often ask me what makes a winning design in Super Garden," said Super Garden judge Brian Burke, representing Woodie's.

"The answer is that it is a combination of things - originality, flow, dynamism, interesting plant combinations, strong built elements, an eye on sustainability, a full and faithful response to the homeowner's requirements. This year Debbie provided all of those things, and more.” 

Super Garden judge Monica Alvarez, representing Dulux Exteriors, praised this year's designs.

“We have seen good quality in this year's Super Garden designs. Each design was different and had a strong theme. It was refreshing to see designers willing to take risks by creating unconventional designs," she said.

"Debbie's garden makes a perfect addition to Bloom, having demonstrated her ability to carry out good quality work and produce a garden with a strong message. I am very proud of what she has created.” 

Super Garden judge and Horticulture Manager at Bord Bia Carol Marks stated that Debbie is a 'deserving winner'.

“This garden designer is a deserving winner of Super Garden 2025. While all the designers are to be commended for the beautiful spaces they have created for their homeowners, Debbie has created a magical space perfectly aligned with the owner's brief.

"The design encompasses all the elements contained in her original brief and brings surprises at every turn. She has delivered a garden with nature in mind, relaxing spaces for enjoyment and reflection for the adults, and a perfectly imagined play space that can evolve with changing needs.” 

The other garden designs featured in Season 16 of Super Garden were:  

• Jorge Aragon Cano’s ‘Failte Fiesta’ garden 

• Eileen Sung’s ‘New Beginnings’ garden 

• Chris Walsh’s ‘Culinary Canopy’ garden 

• Rosie Alabaster’s garden inspired by WB Yeats’ ‘Lake Isle of Innisfree’ poem 

All episodes of Series 16 of Super Garden are streaming now on RTÉ Player.  

Abbeyleix man Patrik Weisser of Abbeyleix House and Farm was also awarded a silver medal for his garden at Bord Bia Bloom.

Super Garden is produced by Vision Independent Productions and is proudly sponsored by Woodie’s and Dulux Exteriors. 

Bloom, a special programme on the annual garden showcase, will air on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Thursday 29 May at 7pm. Join Áine Lawlor and Marty Morrissey as they present from Bord Bia’s Bloom in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.

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