Page 10 - News

Hands cleaning a steaming countertop with a pot of hot water, scrubbing green leafy food residue away.

Potato Water Removes Moss From the Patio Without Scrubbing

Harriet M. Ashford • October 17, 2026

A free kitchen by-product tackles the problem without any scrubbing at all. When spring cleaning begins, many homeowners automatically reach...

A hand gently touching a bee on a spiked purple flower in a garden with gardening tools nearby.

Blue Sage: The Bee Magnet Perennial for a Living Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 17, 2026

In the neighbouring garden, an older woman was kneeling in damp bark mulch, her hands covered in soil and her...

Person tending to a variegated shrub next to a wooden table with a small plant, watering can, and garden shears.

Pittosporum replaces Photinia ‘Red Robin’ as the new privacy hedge favourite

Harriet M. Ashford • October 17, 2026

Many garden owners are despairing over hole-ridden Photinia hedges – yet another, remarkably undemanding shrub is now quietly taking centre...

Hands placing a plant cutting with pink and green leaves into a water-filled glass jar on a sunny windowsill.

Water Propagation: Grow Three Popular Ornamental Plants from Cuttings

Harriet M. Ashford • October 17, 2026

Many amateur gardeners know the feeling: at the beginning of summer, borders can still look rather sparse, while the wallet...

Woman and girl gardening together in a sunny backyard with soil, rake, and gardening tools.

The Grandmother's Trick for a Moss-Free Lawn with Iron Sulphate and River Sand

Harriet M. Ashford • October 17, 2026

When the snow disappears in spring, many garden owners face an unpleasant surprise: the lawn feels spongy and is covered...

Person pruning pink and orange flowers in a terracotta pot on a sunny balcony with a watering can nearby.

Diascia: The Balcony Flower for a Summer-Long Blooming Display

Harriet M. Ashford • October 17, 2026

An unassuming plant, a huge impact: with the right flower, even the plainest window box can become an eye-catching display...

Man using electric hedge trimmer near a bird’s nest with eggs on a bush in a garden.

Hedge Cutting During Birds’ Breeding Season: Rules and Timing

Harriet M. Ashford • October 17, 2026

Each year, the same pattern returns: temperatures rise, the sun stays out for longer and keen gardeners everywhere feel compelled...

Man planting small tree seedlings in garden with gardening tools and basket of fruit nearby

Jujube Tree: Four Golden Rules for a Rich Harvest in Dry Summers

Harriet M. Ashford • October 17, 2026

While apple and cherry trees are in the spotlight everywhere, one fruit tree is being almost entirely overlooked, despite being...

Hands tending to a young potted plant with blooming flowers in a garden setting on a wooden table.

Pinching young dahlias for more flowers and stronger plants

Harriet M. Ashford • October 17, 2026

Many dahlias shoot upwards yet produce only a handful of flowers – one small, bold cut can change that completely....

Person relaxing on a balcony bench surrounded by potted plants with gardening tools and a book on a small table.

The new Asian alternative to bamboo for balconies

Harriet M. Ashford • October 17, 2026

For the past few years, anyone planning greenery for their balcony would almost automatically choose bamboo. Exotic, dense and with...

Hand pulling a fresh carrot from soil in a vegetable garden with a wooden crate of carrots nearby.

Why Your Carrots Fall Victim to Carrot Fly Year After Year

Harriet M. Ashford • October 17, 2026

The morning smelled of wet soil, with a faint edge of frustration. You are kneeling by the bed, gently pulling...

Tabby cat sitting on a windowsill watching a hand holding feather toy with a bird feeder outside.

Why Cats Should Stay Indoors in Spring to Protect Young Birds

Harriet M. Ashford • October 17, 2026

When the sun comes out, many cats are eager to go outdoors – but at this time of year, an...

Person cleaning moss and leaves from a stone patio using a brush, with a bucket of water and cleaning solution nearby.

35p vinegar from the kitchen cupboard: cleaning moss and algae from your patio

Harriet M. Ashford • October 17, 2026

The answer came from the kitchen cupboard. Anyone with a patio will recognise the issue: as soon as the cold,...

Woman gardening on balcony, planting orange flowers in a large terracotta pot with gardening tools nearby.

Tecomaria ‘Cape Town Orange’: The Compact Orange-Flowering Shrub for Small Gardens

Harriet M. Ashford • October 17, 2026

A modest small shrub with vivid orange flowers can create exactly that effect. Many urban gardens, terraced-house plots and patios...

Person cleaning green potted plant leaves with cloth on wooden table near window in bright room.

Spider Plant: Six Spring Tips for Spectacular Recovery

Harriet M. Ashford • October 17, 2026

With a few well-chosen steps, you can bring it back spectacularly. Many houseplant enthusiasts know the situation: winter has ended...

Person kneeling on grass preparing to mow with a red lawn mower in a sunny backyard.

First lawn cut in March: the small trick for a dense green lawn

Harriet M. Ashford • October 17, 2026

Those who get it quietly right in March will win the neighbourhood comparison in July: one small cut can turn...

Person planting lavender in a garden bed with blooming pink peonies and purple hydrangeas in bright sunlight.

Peonies: the best companion plants for spectacular blooms

Harriet M. Ashford • October 17, 2026

Anyone who loves peonies can make their floral display positively explode with the right border companions – provided a few...

Gardener trimming large pampas grass surrounded by flowers and red-white caution tape in a sunny garden.

Pampas Grass: Why France Has Banned the Trend Plant

Harriet M. Ashford • October 16, 2026

Standfirst: In many gardens, this tall ornamental grass appears harmless and decorative. Yet behind its soft plumes lies a problem...

Hands trimming pink flowers in a planter on a balcony with watering can and houses in the background.

Diascia for Balcony Boxes: A Flower Cascade from Spring to Autumn

Harriet M. Ashford • October 16, 2026

Many balcony boxes look spectacular in June, only to become a rather sad sea of green by August. The good...

Hand pouring coffee from glass pot into jar beside strawberry plants and fresh strawberries in colander outdoors.

Kaffeesatz für Erdbeeren: So werden die Früchte im Sommer größer und saftiger

Harriet M. Ashford • October 16, 2026

An overlooked kitchen leftover can make all the difference. When you head into the garden with a watering can for...

Man kneeling in garden planting yellow and pink flowers beside a watering can and gardening trowel under a pine tree.

Epimedium: the tough perennial for dry shade beneath old trees

Harriet M. Ashford • October 16, 2026

Beneath old trees, there is often a yawning void: lawns wither, bedding plants give up – yet one small, tough...