Page 14 - News

Woman pruning hydrangea flowers in a sunlit garden with gardening tools and a sack of mulch nearby.

Monty Don’s March trick for more hydrangea flowers

Harriet M. Ashford • October 15, 2026

Anyone who loves hydrangeas will know the frustration: catalogues show enormous globes of flowers, while the shrubs in your own...

Winter scene of various birds feeding from a snow-covered wooden birdhouse held by gloved hands.

Why Black Sunflower Seed Can Save Garden Birds in February

Harriet M. Ashford • October 15, 2026

By February, gardens can seem still and nearly deserted. For the tiniest birds, however, every icy night is an unforgiving...

Hands harvesting fresh lettuce in a raised vegetable garden bed with tomatoes in the background.

Buttercrunch Lettuce Sunlight Requirements for Better Harvests

Harriet M. Ashford • October 15, 2026

Warm weather, chilled salads and a neat line of delicate green rosettes make buttercrunch lettuce seem undemanding. Its requirements for...

Woman adjusting a hanging lantern in a lush garden patio surrounded by potted plants and outdoor furniture.

Brocante look in the garden: 5 vintage finds making a comeback

Harriet M. Ashford • October 15, 2026

Standfirst: Flea markets, lofts and classified ads: discarded pieces are suddenly finding their way back into the garden, turning outdoor...

Young girl in denim overalls planting seedlings in a terracotta pot indoors with gardening tools and plants nearby.

How Living, Microbe-Rich Soil Can Transform Your Plants

Harriet M. Ashford • October 15, 2026

The first time you spot it, you assume you must be seeing things. You pass the plant you had more...

Hands tying a small plant to a support stick in a garden bed with flowers and gardening tools nearby.

Revive an Old Rose Bush with a Simple Wire Trick

Harriet M. Ashford • October 15, 2026

An old rose bush may look grey and almost dead, yet an unobtrusive piece of wire can turn it into...

Close-up of a green tractor with large tyres driving through a golden wheat field with a person steering.

Farm in Montana reactivates "Big Bud" from 1977 – one of the largest tractors in the world | top agrar

Harriet M. Ashford • October 15, 2026

Most tractor restorations end with a careful polish, a show appearance and a sheltered place in the shed. This 1977...

Person kneeling on grass planting a seedling next to gardening gloves, a trowel, and a smartphone showing a plant.

What Is Digging Holes in Your Lawn?

Harriet M. Ashford • October 15, 2026

Gaps in your turf are seldom accidental. Their shape, dimensions, timing and surrounding evidence can identify the likely animal-and the...

Tabby cat sitting on wooden floor inside, watching the garden through a glass sliding door.

Why Keeping Your Cat Indoors This Spring Protects Garden Birds

Harriet M. Ashford • October 15, 2026

As spring unfolds, countless owners open the back door and allow their pets outside without giving it much thought. But...

Person planting seeds in a garden bed surrounded by colourful flowers and gardening tools.

7 Best Flowers to Sow in March for a Colourful Summer Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 15, 2026

If, in March, you only gaze wistfully out of the window, you will miss the most important period for a...

Person pouring liquid into a green garden sprayer on a patio with moss and weeds visible.

How a 30p Vinegar Solution Cleans a Green Patio in One Hour

Harriet M. Ashford • October 15, 2026

Across the UK and large parts of Europe, homeowners emerge after winter to find a very different terrace: slabs look...

Two blue tits perched on a wooden birdhouse with bees and blooming crocuses in a garden.

How garden tits help fight Asian hornets before spring

Harriet M. Ashford • October 15, 2026

Each spring, a quiet drama unfolds in our gardens well before the first barbecues are lit or sun loungers come...

Person wearing gloves holding large pumpkin on wooden pallet beside smaller pumpkin and weighing scale outdoors

An 80-kilogram pumpkin brought 500 euros to a producer from Părmaș.

Harriet M. Ashford • October 15, 2026

Growing a truly large pumpkin is not about finding a miracle feed or watering it every day. The reliable trick...

Person tending to a green potted plant on a wooden stool in a bright, modern living room.

A pothos houseplant that clears VOCs faster than electronic purifiers

Harriet M. Ashford • October 15, 2026

Air in our homes can be filthier than what you’d breathe beside a congested road, and the “solutions” we plug...

Man holding blueprints stands by wheelbarrow on cracked pavement next to freshly paved black asphalt driveway.

Recycled Asphalt and Crushed Concrete: Greener Alternatives to Concrete Driveways

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

Many driveways look more like car parks than gardens – grey, cracked and hot. A cheaper, greener alternative is now...

Hands planting seedlings in soil rows inside a greenhouse, with seed packet and marker labelled "8°C" nearby.

How to Grow Reliable Beetroot from Early Spring Sowings

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

Across temperate regions, eager gardeners often sow beetroot at the first suggestion of spring. Shiny packets of seed fly off...

Water buffalo with nose ring drinking from a metal tray held by gloved hands in a pen.

The old water buffalo from Green Island is sent to a nursing home in Yunlin; the owner reveals recent updates: the moment it had its nose ring removed, its eyes brightened.

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

Moving an elderly working animal into retirement is not simply a matter of finding a quieter field. A water buffalo...

Woman in a straw hat tending to flowering vines on a trellis in a sunny garden patio.

Fast-Growing Climbing Plants for Pergolas and Walls

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

Fast-growing climbing plants are widely used to transform outdoor spaces in a short time-whether that means creating shade over a...

Hand in glove holding two peaches with orchard trees and equipment in background during harvest.

Why California growers are clearing peach orchards after cannery closures

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

For a fruit grower, losing a major buyer is not like missing one order. Peaches ripen on the tree regardless,...

Person kneeling in desert planting a small white-flowered shrub next to an open book and water bottle.

Calligonum: the desert plant that stabilises sand dunes

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

In desert regions where sand seems to leave no room for life, a handful of plants stand out for their...

Hand wiping a window screen with a cloth, with a bucket of soapy water and cleaning spray nearby.

How to Clean Insect Screens Without Damaging Them

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

Insect screens keep mosquitoes and other unwanted visitors outdoors, but they gradually collect dust, pollen and other particles that can...