Page 116 - News

Bees collecting nectar from blooming lavender flowers with a garden watering can in the background.

Why Catnip (Nepeta × faassenii) Is Outshining Lavender for Bees and Easy Gardens

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

Anyone replanting a patio or garden in spring almost automatically reaches for lavender. Mediterranean vibes, a blue carpet of flowers,...

Hand sprinkling white powder near ripe tomatoes on plant and in basket on raised garden bed outdoors.

Baking Soda for Sweeter Tomatoes: What It Really Does to Soil pH

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

Anyone who proudly picks the first fruit from their own bed in summer is expecting an Italian-style hit of flavour...

Person kneeling on grass applying termite bait paste to a circular station with garden tools nearby.

Toilet paper trick: repair patchy lawns with grass seed

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

With one simple household product, these gaps can be filled surprisingly easily. Plenty of garden owners know the scene: children,...

Person using an electric chainsaw to cut a branch on a garden table with safety goggles and gloves.

Leroy Merlin deal: GARRYFIZH mini electric chainsaw for €36.89

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

Plenty of garden owners know the feeling: the first mild day arrives and you’re keen to get outside, but the...

Woman kneeling and spreading mulch around plants in a sunny garden with flowers and a wooden fence.

The 3-Plant Ground Cover Formula: 5 Pots per Square Metre for 365 Days of Colour

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

Many amateur gardeners spend a small fortune every spring on fresh perennials-then wonder why the garden looks bleak in autumn...

Person wearing a straw hat gardening among blooming hydrangea bushes on a sunny day in a fenced garden.

Feed Hydrangeas in February for Big July Blooms

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

If you want your hydrangeas to carry full, colourful pom‑pom flower heads in July, the work starts in February. After...

Man adjusts scarecrow's shirt in colourful garden with birds flying in soft sunset light

How a Simple Scarecrow Protects Your Garden Harvest

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

An old-fashioned trick can work surprisingly well. Anyone with fruit trees or a carefully tended vegetable patch will know the...

Person propagating houseplants on a wooden table near a bright window with hanging and potted plants.

Spider Plant Offsets: How to Get Chlorophytum comosum to Produce Lots of Plantlets

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

With a few tweaks to light, pot choice and your watering rhythm, things can suddenly change - and the plant...

Hands pruning a flowering rosemary plant in a terracotta pot on a wooden kitchen table.

How to Prune Rosemary Properly: Timing, Technique and Common Mistakes

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

Rosemary looks tough and easy-going at first glance. Plenty of keen gardeners plant it and then barely prune it at...

Garden scene with vibrant pink roses, orange berries on spiky branches, and dense green foliage in sunlight

Thorny Plants Against Burglars: Firethorn, Barberry, Rosa rugosa and Cherry Laurel

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

Alarm system, smart home camera, reinforced front door - these are the usual first thoughts. Yet many homeowners overlook a...

Person harvesting strawberries on a balcony table with potted berry plants and a watering can.

Berries in Pots: A Mini Fruit Garden for Balcony and Terrace

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

If you don’t have a garden, you still don’t need to miss out on growing your own fruit. Berries, in...

Person scrubbing moss and dirt off a patio with a brush, near a bucket and containers of cleaning solution.

White Distilled Vinegar: A Simple Way to Remove Moss and Algae From Your Patio

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

Many homeowners face the same frustrating sight each spring: a green haze across the paving, moss packed into the joints,...

Mother and young son planting seeds together on a balcony garden filled with colourful flowers.

March planting: fast-blooming annuals for a colourful garden, balcony and terrace

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

With the right varieties, dull corners can turn into a sea of flowers in next to no time. If you...

Person wearing a hat watering plants in a sunny, well-maintained garden with lavender and ferns.

Ticks in the Garden: Plants That Attract Them and How to Keep Them Away

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

Between tall grasses, dense shrubs and shaded corners, tiny bloodsuckers lie in wait for their next host. Ticks favour certain...

Person watering a blooming pink cactus plant on a windowsill using a metal watering can.

Easter cactus: why buds drop in March and how to prevent it

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

In many living rooms the scene is the same: a pot full of fresh green segments, covered in fat buds...

Man planting young evergreen trees in a garden bed in a sunny backyard.

Rocky Mountain Juniper ‘Skyrocket’: A Slim, Evergreen Privacy Screen for Full Sun

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

There’s a much more attractive option. An evergreen shrub that copes with full sun can block prying eyes, improve the...

Woman planting flower bulbs in garden bed with flower seed packets and notepad nearby on patio

Plant these four summer bulbs in March to avoid a flowerless gap after daffodils and tulips

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

Many home gardeners enjoy daffodils and tulips in spring - and then wonder why the garden suddenly looks dull for...

Hands lifting the clear lid of a small greenhouse with tomato seedlings inside on a wooden frame.

Tomato Seed in the Serre: How to Sow in a Greenhouse at the Right Time

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

Many hobby gardeners reach late winter itching to open their seed packets, but the cold nights still make the garden...

Person placing a plant cutting into a glass of water beside a potted spider plant on a wooden table by a window.

How to Get Your Spider Plant to Make Babies (Chlorophytum comosum)

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

A few targeted tweaks are often enough to turn things around surprisingly quickly. Plenty of houseplant lovers picture a lush...

Man trimming hedge with garden shears in a sunny backyard near a house with tiled roof.

Why the Thuja Hedge Era Is Over

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

What used to be the ultimate privacy screen has increasingly become a headache. For decades, dark green walls of thuja...

Person cleaning wooden birdhouse attached to tree in sunny garden with flowers and another birdhouse nearby

February Nest Boxes: A Practical Guide for Garden Birds

Harriet M. Ashford • August 17, 2026

Many amateur gardeners assume February is a quiet month outdoors. In reality, these weeks quietly determine how rich in wildlife...