Page 118 - News

Person wearing gloves holding garden pruning shears near budding tree branches on a cold day with visible breath.

February apple tree pruning: fruit pruning for a bigger harvest

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Many hobby gardeners barely glance at their apple tree in gloomy February. The beds look bare, the lawn is sodden,...

Young man adjusting solar garden light in flower bed during evening in suburban backyard.

Aldi’s Garden Bright Solar Uplighter for the Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

When you picture long summer evenings now, most people look first at plants, outdoor furniture or the barbecue. One detail...

Child planting flowers in a garden bed with a gardening book open beside them on a sunny day.

Perennials in the garden: how to tell them from annuals, biennials and shrubs

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

The word perennial sounds straightforward, yet in a border it rarely is. Perennials, annual flowers, tubers, shrubs: if you want...

Hands planting seeds beside leafy vegetables in raised garden beds with a watering can nearby.

Stop slugs with a raw wooden plank in the vegetable patch

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Anyone with a vegetable patch will recognise the morning horror: yesterday the seedlings were still delicate and healthy; today, only...

Woman wearing a hat and jacket planting berry shrubs in a garden on a sunny autumn day with a steaming mug nearby.

Plant these three berry shrubs in January for a productive berry garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Anyone hoping to stock their berry garden with fresh fruit does not need to wait for spring. January, in particular,...

Person in straw hat adding snails to a tomato plant in a raised garden bed with vegetables.

Snail Shells: Free Calcium for a Zero‑Waste Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Among last year’s leaves, fresh seedlings and damp soil, you’ll often spot empty snail shells. Most people sweep them into...

Sunlit wooden patio with cushioned lounger, small table, iced drink, and various potted green plants beneath a clear sky.

15 Clever Garden Fence Ideas for Privacy, Protection and Style

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Most gardens are finished off with hastily installed chain-link fencing or a dull, off-the-shelf privacy screen. It’s a missed opportunity,...

Person sowing clover seeds in soil with a watering can and gardening tools on grassy patch outdoors.

Micro clover: a simple trick to fix bare patches in your lawn

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

A simple trick is all it takes. Plenty of garden owners know the routine: as soon as the snow has...

Hands filling a terracotta pot with soil using a small black garden spade indoors by a window.

What a White Layer on Potting Soil Means for Houseplants

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

There’s more to it than appearance alone. Plenty of plant lovers know the moment: you water your favourite houseplant, run...

Person harvesting asparagus in a garden patch with labelled rows and a metal watering can nearby.

Planting Asparagus in the Garden: The One Harvest Mistake That Ruins Beds

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Anyone who plants asparagus in the garden imagines a generous crop every spring - for ten, fifteen, perhaps even twenty...

Person cleaning a solar panel on a balcony with potted plants and a smartphone nearby.

5-Step Spring Check for Your Balcony Solar Power Station After the Clock Change

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

If you let your mini solar power station run after the clock change exactly as it did in winter, you...

Person pruning pink and white flowers on a shrub with secateurs in a garden setting.

Oleander: How to Get Masses of Flowers with Sun, Water and Drainage

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Anyone who has fallen for the magnificent oleander hedges on holiday in southern Europe and then comes home to just...

European robin perched on an overturned terracotta pot with gardening gloves and tools on a wooden bench outdoors

A Terracotta Pot for a Robin Nesting Site in the Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

A modest terracotta plant pot can transform everything. If you’ve got a robin visiting your garden, every appearance feels like...

Person hanging reflective ribbons and CDs between apple trees to deter birds in orchard on a sunny day.

DIY Garden Guardian: Build a Scarecrow to Protect Fruit and Berries

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Anyone with a garden - or even just a couple of fruit trees - will recognise the problem: the moment...

Person standing barefoot beside a colourful garden bed with flowering plants and rocks in a sunny backyard.

Top 5 Tread-Resistant Ground Covers to Replace Your Lawn

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

As summers become drier and water bills climb, the traditional lush, emerald lawn is starting to look like an expensive...

Person using a garden fork near a coiled snake in a raised garden bed surrounded by plants and watering cans.

Avoid Snake Bites in the Garden When Weeding: Simple Habits

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

The trigger can seem utterly ordinary. Plenty of keen gardeners know the moment: you pull a bit of weed from...

Person watering a pink orchid at a kitchen sink next to other potted orchids on the windowsill.

How to Get Phalaenopsis Orchids to Flower Again

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Anyone who keeps a Phalaenopsis or other indoor orchids at home will recognise the pattern: for weeks they look spectacular...

Woman harvesting fresh vegetables from a lush garden with a basket and watering can nearby.

Perennial vegetables: 15 favourites for a low-maintenance permanent vegetable bed

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Many keen gardeners eventually feel their enthusiasm slip away: sowing again every year, raising seedlings, digging beds over and over,...

Person sprinkling seasoning into a glass of iced drink on a balcony with plants and fairy lights at sunset.

Firefly Bright Filament String Solar Lights (£14.99): solar string lights to transform your garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Coming home in the evening and seeing a pitch-dark patio is a quick way to lose enthusiasm for your outdoor...

Striped cat walking on a wooden table with tulips in a glass vase and a hand petting the cat.

Are Tulips Toxic to Cats? Risks, Symptoms and Prevention

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Bright, colourful blooms are a shorthand for spring, cheerful décor and a good mood. For cats, however, they can also...

Young woman wearing a hat harvesting fresh cabbage in a sunny garden bed with oil and shredded cabbage on table.

Pak Choi: the ultra-fast Asian star ready in 30 to 50 days

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

A lightning-quick Asian favourite can change everything. Anyone who’s prepping beds, sorting seeds and daydreaming about the first fresh green...