Page 129 - News

Woman in plaid shirt tending to climbing blue flowers on a trellis against a garden wall outdoors.

Blue Thunbergia: A Fast-Growing Flowering Wall Climber

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

Blue thunbergia is a fast-growing climber that can create a leafy, flower-filled screen over railings, fences and trellis panels. Unlike...

Person applying white tree paint to protect tree trunks in a garden during daylight.

Painting Tree Trunks White: Limewashing Explained

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

Painting tree trunks white is a practice known as limewashing, traditionally done with hydrated lime diluted in water. The pale...

Person in jeans using red pruning shears to harvest ripe strawberries from a garden bed with a notebook nearby

Strawberries: End-of-March checklist for an XXL summer harvest

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

Many home gardeners only start thinking about their strawberries once the first blossoms appear. By then, it’s effectively too late....

Hands repotting a small snake plant in a terracotta pot on a sunlit table with gardening tools nearby.

Burying Sansevieria Leaf Pieces in a Pot: How It Works

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

Burying small pieces of sansevieria leaf - the plant also known as Saint George’s sword or mother-in-law’s tongue - has...

Man kneeling in a garden preparing soil on cardboard with colourful flowers and a wheelbarrow nearby.

Sheet Mulching with Cardboard: Building Biodiversity and Pollinators in Your Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

Turning depleted ground into a productive ecosystem calls for smart ecological management. The layering approach makes it possible to reuse...

Hands preparing to pot a green plant with exposed roots on a wooden table with gardening supplies.

How to Fix Root Rot Caused by Overwatering: the Dry-the-Roots Trick

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

Overwatering is one of the most frequent mistakes in plant care and it is also a leading cause of root...

Person potting a small tree on a sunny balcony surrounded by colourful flowering plants and gardening tools.

April balcony flowers: eleven robust pot plants for sun, shade and less watering

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

From April onwards, many people get the urge to garden: that dull balcony finally needs some colour - but without...

Person pruning a variegated potted plant on a wooden table near a window with gardening supplies nearby.

Pothos: essential indoor care for healthy growth

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

Growing houseplants successfully means keeping a close eye on the conditions that support healthy development. The popular pothos stands out...

Scientist in white coat examining and measuring a large baobab tree in a dry savanna landscape at sunset.

How Baobab Trees Store Water and Why the Sagole Big Tree Holds the Record

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

The baobab’s swollen trunk is far more than an exotic-looking feature. It is packed with living tissues that can hold...

Hands tending to a basil plant in a raised garden bed with marigolds and unripe tomatoes nearby.

Oregano in the Vegetable Garden: The Best Companion Plants (and the Ones to Avoid)

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

Many amateur gardeners think of oregano mainly as a pizza herb. In a bed, however, this Mediterranean perennial does far...

Small birds feeding from a colourful hanging bird feeder on a snowy balcony with gloves and seeds nearby.

Turn a Swan Vase into a Garden Bird Feeder

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

That kitschy swan-shaped vase you would never display indoors can become a genuinely helpful lifeline for birds in winter. Anyone...

Hands sprinkling water on pink orchids by a window with gardening tools and a notebook on the table

Orchid Care: How to Keep Phalaenopsis Flowering for Months

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

Orchids sit among the most sought-after ornamental plants for anyone who wants long-lasting blooms indoors or outdoors. With straightforward yet...

Teenage boy planting seedling in garden surrounded by flowers, garden book, and gardening tools.

How to Plan Your First Native Garden at Home

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

Creating a green space at home is a brilliant way to reconnect with nature. When you choose native plants, you...

Woman arranging a potted palm plant on a wooden table in a sunlit, cosy living room with houseplants.

Feng Shui plants to renew home energy

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

Feng shui is an Eastern practice focused on bringing balance to a space through the placement of objects, the use...

Person wearing gloves trimming ivy growing on an outdoor wall in a garden on a sunny day.

Japanese ivy (false vine or Boston ivy): a practical guide to covering walls and façades

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

Japanese ivy, also known as false vine or Boston ivy, is a climber made for anyone wanting to turn walls,...

Bird feeder with seeds and five small birds on a snowy winter day next to a person’s gloved hand.

Old Broom Trick: A Winter Bird Broom for Garden Birds

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

In the depths of winter, your garden can quickly turn into a survival zone: food is scarce, hiding places are...

Young woman harvesting potatoes in a garden with a crate and clipboard nearby on a sunny day.

When to Plant Potatoes: Soil Signals for a Bigger Harvest

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

Many amateur gardeners look to the calendar, a neighbour’s advice or even the phases of the moon when deciding when...

Person pouring light beer into a glass jug on a wooden table with bananas, orchids, and a notebook nearby.

Banana Peel Fertiliser for Orchids: A Simple Guide

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

Orchids tend to draw the eye in any setting, whether in gardens, on balconies, or indoors. Still, this plant stands...

Young man spraying pigeons on balcony with plants, lemons and herbs on wooden table in sunlight.

A simple home-remedy trick to keep pigeons off your balcony

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

Living in a city comes with a familiar nuisance: as soon as the first warmer days arrive, pigeons start perching...

Person wearing gloves trimming a lush green bush with garden shears in a backyard.

Professional Shears for Hedges and Shrubs: How to Choose, Use and Maintain

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

Keeping the garden’s hedges and shrubs looking consistently immaculate takes real commitment and steady effort from the household. That is...

Woman reading instructions next to a large water barrel in a vibrant garden with flowers and vegetables.

Rainwater harvesting with a cistern: how to avoid 45,000-euro fines

Harriet M. Ashford • August 12, 2026

The winters have been wet, yet in many regions the summers are getting drier year on year. That is why...