Page 119 - News

Man hanging a string of cherries on a blossoming tree in a sunlit garden with a ladder nearby.

Cherry Tree Pruning: Remove Water Shoots for a Bigger Harvest

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Plenty of keen gardeners know the frustration: the cherry tree looks vigorous, throws out strong new growth, yet when harvest...

Woman adjusting a yellow-striped umbrella on a sunlit balcony with plants, drinks, and a round wooden table.

IKEA HÖGÖN parasol: retro look with clever details

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

A new parasol from IKEA is shaking up the outdoor season in a big way - with a retro vibe...

Woman in a straw hat harvesting ripe tomatoes in a garden, holding a wooden crate full of tomatoes.

Cornue des Andes, Green Zebra and Noire de Crimée: 3 Tomato Varieties for Hot Summers

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Many hobby gardeners know the pattern: in June the tomato plants look magnificent; in July the sun beats down, the...

Person assembling a wooden planter box with a potted green plant on a coffee table in a living room.

A simple plant pedestal from wood offcuts

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Plenty of houseplants end up sitting on the floor, tucked into a corner, or packed tightly along the windowsill. The...

Small bird with outstretched wings approaching wooden birdhouse on tree amid sunlit garden flowers.

How to Turn Your Garden into a Tit Paradise

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

A little effort right now can turn an ordinary garden into a genuine paradise for tits. An expert from a...

Person working on a laptop at a wooden desk with a peace lily plant and steaming cup of tea beside them.

Peace lily (Spathiphyllum): a houseplant for cleaner indoor air in the home office

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Building materials, paints, furniture, cleaning products and electronic devices constantly release substances into the air indoors. You do not always...

Hands pouring honey from a glass jar into a spoon beside orchids on a wooden windowsill with natural light.

Molasses for orchids: the simple trick that gets Phalaenopsis flowering again

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

If you keep a Phalaenopsis or any other indoor orchid, you will recognise the pattern: year one is packed with...

Man kneeling on grass measuring a red lawn mower with a tape measure in a sunny backyard garden.

Cut Your Lawn in March: The One-Third Rule That Wins the Whole Season

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Act differently now, and you can set yourself up for the whole season. Winter has finally eased off, the sun...

Woman in a straw hat smelling yellow flowers in a sunlit garden surrounded by various plants and gardening tools.

Bidens aurea: The low-maintenance perennial with months of yellow flowers

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Many amateur gardeners automatically reach for geraniums, petunias and the like every spring. Yet there’s a perennial that looks like...

Man gardening, uprooting a bush next to a wheelbarrow filled with branches and greenery in a vibrant garden.

Thuja Hedge: Why Experts Are Calling for Removal

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Public opinion is turning - and specialists are now sounding the alarm about removing them. In front gardens across the...

Person planting yellow flowers in garden bed with trowel and seed packets nearby on wooden path

11 Ground Cover Plants for Wet Clay Soil Instead of Drainage Pipes

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Many plot and garden owners will recognise the pattern: clay-heavy soil, standing puddles, grass that rots away, and paths where...

Hands harvesting morel mushrooms growing in soil outdoors with a pile of firewood and apples in the background.

How to Attract Morels in Your Garden with Wood Ash and Apple Leftovers

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Morels are the holy grail for mushroom lovers: scarce, expensive, and notoriously hard to track down. Every spring, plenty of...

Man kneeling outdoors trimming a small evergreen tree with red-handled pruning shears in a garden.

End-of-February Pruning: The One-Third Rule for Evergreen Shrubs

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Some gardens look picture-perfect in spring, as if they have stepped straight out of a catalogue; others stay stubbornly sparse...

Young boy planting seeds in a sunny garden surrounded by blue and white flowers.

Nigella (Love-in-a-mist): the airy summer annual for beds, pots and vases

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Many hobby gardeners find themselves staring at the seed racks in spring: countless flowers to choose from, not much time,...

Barefoot person walking through a garden with purple heather flowers and potted herbs near a wooden deck chair.

Roter Sand-Thymian (Thymus serpyllum 'Coccineus') for fewer mosquitoes by the terrace

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Many home gardeners know the same summer saga: brown patches in the lawn, hosepipe bans, the racket of the mower...

Person scrubbing mossy garden tiles with brush and soapy water in a blue bucket on a sunny day.

Washing-up Liquid Against Moss and Algae on Your Patio: The Bucket Trick

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

When you open the patio doors in spring, you’re often greeted not by a cosy seating area but by slippery...

Young man tending tall potted plants on a sunny balcony with city buildings in the background.

Why Bamboo on the Balcony Is Being Replaced by a Hardy Asian Alternative

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Anyone who used to stock their balcony with bamboo almost on autopilot is now thinking twice. A tough, previously overlooked...

Woman tending leafy green lettuce in a raised garden bed with a soil thermometer and planting calendar nearby.

Gardening before the Ice Saints: what to plant early

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

The thermometer says “spring”, garden centres are overflowing with plants - yet plenty of borders are still bare. The reason...

Person tending to potted lavender plants on a sunny balcony with a butterfly and watering can nearby.

Nepeta (Catmint): The Hardy, Long-Flowering Alternative to Lavender

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

When you replant your balcony or garden in spring, it’s easy to reach for lavender on autopilot. A touch of...

Person kneeling on grass using a garden rake near a sprinkler irrigating a flowerbed in a sunny yard.

Four Steps to Fix a Yellow Lawn with Dwarf Clover

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

The good news is that a thick, richly green lawn doesn’t require pricey miracle fertilisers or constant watering. If you...

Person planting flower bulbs in soil on a raised garden bed next to seed packets and potted flowers.

March: Planting Seven Flower Bulbs for a Summer Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

In March, borders often still look dull and bare, yet below the surface the run-up to high summer is already...