Page 106 - News

Woman holding a halved papaya next to a papaya tree in a garden with gardening tools on a wooden table.

Pawpaw (Asimina triloba): the cold-hardy “mango of the north” for UK gardens

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

Many gardeners across Europe and much of North America assume that fruit trees with a truly exotic look belong in...

Woman planting seeds in a garden bed with an open gardening book and seed packets beside her.

Why the last 4 weeks of your garden year quietly decide the next one

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

On a crisp October evening, just as the daylight started slipping behind the garden fences, I saw my neighbour doing...

Man tending to a vegetable garden in raised beds with a steaming cup of tea and open book nearby.

The Seasonal Pause Your Soil Is Begging For

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

The beds looked oddly bare. Only a few weeks earlier they’d been overflowing with tomato thickets and bean wigwams; now...

Hands tending to a raised garden bed with lavender, basil, garlic, and yellow flowers in sunlight.

Anti-Ant Plants: Herbs and Perennials to Keep Ants Out of the Garden and Home

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

Many hobby gardeners know the pattern: a handful of ants appear, and a few days later they seem to be...

Person kneeling in a garden tying plant stems with gardening tools and a basket nearby in the sunlight.

Why Messy Winter Gardens and Plant Residue Boost Spring Growth

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

The first frost had already dusted the rooftops with silver when my neighbour hauled three swollen bags of dead plants...

Person spreading mulch over soil in a garden bed with young plants and watering cans in background

A Year-round Soil “Blanket” to Stop Temperature Shocks in Roots

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

The first time the temperature dropped from a gentle 12°C afternoon to a biting –4°C overnight, I noticed it by...

Person wearing gloves pruning a leafless shrub in a garden during late afternoon.

January winter pruning and clean-up to stop black spot and powdery mildew on roses

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

Those dark speckles and chalky white films on rose leaves almost never arrive without warning. The decisive fight is usually...

Woman kneeling in a garden planting a young shrub surrounded by lavender, clay pots, and a watering can.

How to Keep Your Garden Green During Drought With Less Water

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

The lawn crackles under your flip-flops, brittle as straw. The garden hose that used to sweep across the beds in...

Small bird perched on purple coneflowers near gardening gloves and a bird feeder at sunset.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): the winter fuel station for garden birds

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

Thinking only in terms of a traditional bird feeder means missing a huge opportunity. There is one particular, almost forgotten...

Hands mulching soil around a young green plant in a raised garden bed with gardening tools nearby.

Autumn garden care: soil, mulch, drainage and houseplants

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

As daylight fades and the air turns crisper, your garden is quietly preparing for what comes next beneath fallen leaves...

Young man tending seedlings on a wooden table with open plant guide and desk lamp by a window.

Why Slow Growth Helps Plants Live Longer

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

The grow light above the seed tray on the kitchen worktop gave off a quiet hum, washing the whole scene...

Person mulching soil around tomato plants in a garden with wheelbarrow and watering can nearby.

The Small Seasonal Mulching Habit That Protects Your Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

The first rumble of thunder sounded just as she set down her empty mug. A sharp gust skimmed across the...

Two great tits near a wooden tray filled with sunflower seeds on a garden table with a birdhouse and flowers in background.

Sunflower Seeds: The Simple Way to Attract Tits to Your Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

Many amateur gardeners have no idea that it all comes down to one simple seed. Anyone who has watched a...

Man gardening colourful flowers in a sunlit garden, kneeling beside a wooden insect house and watering can.

The hidden life of messy garden beds

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

Right at the back of the garden-where the grass seems to give up and the border takes over-something quietly defiant...

Person pouring tea into jar with cinnamon stick on wooden table with sliced bananas and basil plants outdoors

Banana Peels: The Kitchen Scrap That Works Like Turbo Fertiliser

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

On a damp spring morning, I saw my neighbour crouched beside her raised bed, scowling at a line of miserable,...

Man watering plants in a raised garden bed with lettuce and tomato plants in a sunny backyard.

Why Raised Beds Dry Out Faster Than Your Regular Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

The heat had been gathering since first thing, the sort that makes the air feel syrupy and turns a hosepipe...

Father and child hanging a wooden birdhouse on a tree in a sunny garden.

Nest boxes for garden birds in spring

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

As we look forward to sunshine, longer days and the Easter holidays, the clock is already ticking for blue tits,...

Man sitting on a stool holding a mug in a garden surrounded by flowers and autumn leaves.

Doing Less in Winter: Why Gardens Bounce Back Stronger

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

On a wet October morning - the sort when your breath lingers and the neighbour’s dog somehow sounds twice as...

Man in raincoat planting a tomato plant in a pot in a raised garden bed during light rain.

Rain‑Rush Tomato Mix: Bark‑Based, Breathable Recipe for Wet UK Summers

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

After weeks of drizzle, the ground can turn leaden, roots seem to go on strike, and plants just sit there...

Older man holding two flower pots in a vibrant garden with a fountain and gardening tools nearby.

Proven Winners® vs classic gardens: keeping a garden’s soul

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

To the left: dignified old roses, lavender, and box clipped into crisp shapes. To the right: a riot of Proven...

Hands sprinkling seeds into soil on a balcony garden box with fresh carrots and tomatoes nearby.

Old vegetable varieties are back: bringing Grandad’s favourites into today’s garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

In spring, hobby gardeners suddenly reach for varieties that once grew in Grandad’s beds - and bring back almost forgotten...