News

Young woman pruning white and purple lilac bush in sunny garden with watering can and pot nearby

Lilac in the Garden: Fragrance That Defines Spring

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

An unassuming shrub, one spring day – and suddenly the whole garden smells different: richer, almost like a childhood memory....

Person planting seeds in a terracotta pot on a wooden table with garden supplies nearby.

Old Sponges in the Garden: Clever Uses for Plants and Balconies

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

In the kitchen, a sponge usually has a short lifespan: it scrubs away for a few weeks before ending up...

Person caring for a potted pink orchid on a windowsill with sliced potatoes and gardening spray nearby.

How a Potato Slice Helped a Struggling Orchid Flower Again

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

No flower spike, limp leaves – until a simple kitchen experiment changed everything. Anyone who loves houseplants will know the...

Person sprinkling white powder on moss-covered outdoor stone tiles with cleaning tools nearby in daylight.

Bicarbonate of Soda Against Moss and Weeds in Winter

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

Rather than spending hours in spring labouring with a joint scraper, pressure washer or harsh chemicals, you can move the...

Woman tending a colourful garden bed with pink peonies, purple lavender, and ornamental grasses on a sunny day.

15 Perennials That Transform Your Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

Many amateur gardeners see spring as the time to start everything again: fresh shrubs, a new border and a new...

Person scrubbing green algae off tiled floor on balcony using a brush and cleaning solution with timer nearby.

Clean Your Patio With Household Vinegar: The 30p 1-Hour Routine

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

Open the patio door in spring and the view is often familiar: paving slabs have turned grey or green, coatings...

Person gardening new white-flowered shrubs along a paved garden path in a sunny backyard.

Photinia Hedges: Why Pittosporum Could Replace Them by 2026

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

In countless new-build developments, bright-red Photinia hedges have been the default choice along fences and property boundaries in recent years....

Person cleaning a terracotta pot with a sponge, surrounded by gardening supplies and seedlings on a wooden table.

Old Washing-Up Sponge in the Garden: Simple Tricks for Healthier Plants

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

With one simple trick, they can do remarkable work in the garden. Alongside eggshells, coffee grounds and compost scraps, many...

Person gardening vibrant lantana flowers with butterflies and bees flying around in a sunny outdoor setting.

Lantana camara: the shrub that flowers all year round

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

While roses, perennials and summer flowers dutifully follow their seasonal timetable, this exotic plant simply does not play by the...

Person kneeling on a patio spraying moss with a lemon water spray and holding a brush beside a bottle.

Remove Moss from Patios and Garden Paths with a Simple Kitchen Mix

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

A simple reach into the kitchen cupboard can provide a surprisingly thorough solution. Every year, many homeowners become frustrated by...

Young man gardening, spreading straw mulch around plants in a sunny vegetable garden bed.

3 Simple Permaculture Methods That Transform Your Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

Many keen gardeners assume they know every trick in the vegetable patch – until three straightforward permaculture methods transform the...

Hands potting a young green plant in a terracotta pot on a table by a bright window with gardening tools.

Saving a Money Tree: How to Rescue Your Jade Plant

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

Many jade plants do not die because of a “bad hand with plants”, but because of familiar care mistakes: too...

Young woman wearing gloves and a beanie planting vegetables in a raised garden bed on a sunny morning.

Planting before the Ice Saints: what can go out early

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

They often miss the best planting window as a result. In many gardens, the traditional cold spell in May is...

Person spraying water on green moss growing on a balcony floor with sunlight and a broom nearby

30-Cent Vinegar Trick for Cleaning Moss From Your Patio

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

Many homeowners eventually reach for a pressure washer in frustration or buy expensive specialist cleaners from the DIY shop. A...

Man in a straw hat watering plants in a raised garden bed at sunset.

Water in the morning or evening: what is best for your garden?

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

The morning still lay grey over the gardens, with damp air and a few sleepy blackbirds. Behind the chain-link fence,...

Terracotta pot with orange trumpet flowers on a sunny terrace next to a wooden bench with a straw hat and gardening gloves.

Tecomaria ‘Cape Town Orange’: compact shrub for small gardens

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

Tiny terrace, narrow front garden or just a few square metres of greenery? With the right shrub, even a cramped...

Person scrubbing moss from an outdoor tiled floor using a brush and soapy water with cleaning supplies nearby.

Clean patio slabs with the 2-product trick: soda crystals and washing-up liquid

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

Many people instinctively reach for a pressure washer, chlorine or vinegar, then later wonder why the joints have crumbled, the...

Hands placing a clear plastic cloche over a lettuce plant in a raised garden bed with gardening tools nearby.

Protect lettuce from slugs with a plastic bottle

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

After a warm shower, many gardeners know the scene all too well: lettuce leaves riddled with holes, courgettes half eaten...

Person cleaning large green Monstera plant leaves on a table near a window with sunlight.

How the Monstera Really Affects Your Indoor Air

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

But what role does the Monstera really play in our air? Many people are now asking the same thing: can...

Person wearing gloves pruning a lemon hanging from a potted lemon tree with garden shears outdoors.

Pruning Your Citrus Tree Before Spring for a Better Harvest

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

Just as winter begins to ease, a well-timed prune determines whether your lemon tree merely produces a few feeble fruits...

Hands planting a small green plant in a pot using a yellow and green sponge on a wooden table outdoors.

Give Old Washing-Up Sponges a Second Life in the Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 25, 2026

While many kitchens have long since put a fresh sponge beside the sink, the old one has already ended up...