News
How to Plant Honeysuckle for the Best Results
Harriet M. Ashford
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Honeysuckle can appear effortlessly charming, yet success depends heavily on when you plant it and how you look after it...
News
Hazelnut shells: the overlooked garden trick
Harriet M. Ashford
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Hazelnut shells are one of those materials. They look insignificant, feel like rubbish, yet they contain a straightforward little trick...
News
Agastache: the drought-proof plant butterflies can’t resist
Harriet M. Ashford
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The sun had already scorched the grass into a brittle, unforgiving crust when the first butterfly arrived. Then a second....
News
Late-winter pruning for a fig tree: more figs, fewer leaves
Harriet M. Ashford
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Many amateur gardeners know the frustration: a fig tree covered in magnificent leaves, yet by the end of summer there...
News
Why blackbirds stay on the ground in winter – and ignore garden feeders
Harriet M. Ashford
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Every winter, people put out fat balls and top up seed hoppers, then puzzle over why one well-known garden bird...
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Lidl Parkside Wooden Planter Box with Trellis: A Quick Garden Upgrade
Harriet M. Ashford
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Anyone looking out of the window at grey paving slabs or a bare patch of soil has a quick route...
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How Organic Market Gardeners Grow Red, Sweet Tomatoes
Harriet M. Ashford
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Organic market gardeners will insist there’s no magic at work. What they describe instead are small, steady decisions made again...
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Why Your Easter Cactus Won’t Flower: The Common Winter Mistake
Harriet M. Ashford
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Often, it comes down to a single care mistake made in winter. Plenty of plant lovers will recognise this pattern:...
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Orlando HOA Lawsuit Over Backyard Changes: What Homeowners Need to Know
Harriet M. Ashford
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In a peaceful subdivision to the east of Orlando, a couple made a few straightforward tweaks to their garden: two...
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Why Regularly Cutting Herbs Makes Basil, Mint and Rosemary Grow Better
Harriet M. Ashford
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The basil on the window ledge looked like a plucked chicken. Just a few long, woody stems, topped with a...
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Why Wire Brush Bristles Make Your Grill Barbecue Dangerous
Harriet M. Ashford
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The smoke had only just begun to curl off the barbecue when Mark noticed it: a faint prickling at the...
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Heliotrop: the easy-care plant with a vanilla scent that flowers for months
Harriet M. Ashford
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A modest cluster of flowers is currently becoming a go-to tip among amateur gardeners - thanks to its heady vanilla...
News
Hydrangeas: Citrus Peel Booster for Bigger Blooms
Harriet M. Ashford
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Anyone hoping for lush, globe-shaped hydrangea blooms in the garden or on the balcony will know the frustration: small flower...
News
The December job that keeps robins choosing your garden every year
Harriet M. Ashford
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Every winter, robins quietly begin organising the next generation, well before most of us have packed away the fairy lights....
News
Buttercrunch Lettuce Sunlight: How Much Sun Does Buttercrunch Need?
Harriet M. Ashford
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Buttercrunch is a much-loved lettuce variety with soft, buttery leaves. It thrives on light - but only when you get...
News
Winter-hardy palm tree Trachycarpus fortunei: make your garden feel like a holiday resort
Harriet M. Ashford
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While plenty of people are already thinking about autumn leaves, there’s a simple trick that can make an ordinary garden...
News
Vinegar and Washing‑Up Liquid: Simple Mix for Weeds in Joints and Gravel Paths
Harriet M. Ashford
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Stubborn weeds in paving joints and gravel paths drive many amateur gardeners up the wall - but an unassuming kitchen...
News
Hardening off tomatoes: a nine-day plan to prevent sunburn and transplant shock
Harriet M. Ashford
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Many hobby gardeners wait for the first properly mild day in April or May and then move their carefully raised...
News
Lidl’s indoor grill that could replace your barbecue
Harriet M. Ashford
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A cough burst out behind a window left ajar; a baby began to wail; and a man in flip-flops looked...
News
Why a Hoopoe in Your Garden Is More Than a Coincidence
Harriet M. Ashford
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More lies behind this visit than mere chance. Spotting a hoopoe in your own garden for the first time can...
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The Soil Mistake Most Beginner Gardeners Make (and How to Fix It)
Harriet M. Ashford
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A woman at the garden centre looked genuinely sheepish. In one arm she balanced a tray of drooping petunias; in...
