Page 15 - News

Person adding coffee grounds as fertiliser to a raised garden bed with blooming pink roses in sunlight.

Coffee Grounds for Stronger Roses and More Blooms

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

On a rainy Saturday morning, shortly after the shower had passed, I saw my neighbour leaning over her rose bed...

Person wearing gloves using a wrench to repair a rusty metal go-kart frame on a workshop table.

A 14-year-old teenager builds his own tractor with recycled materials, and a farm machinery factory invites him to learn in their facilities.

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

A broken mower, bent axle or old engine can look like nothing more than clutter. Yet, in the right hands,...

Two ants facing each other on a green stem surrounded by small green aphids on a leaf with water droplets.

How Ants Farm Aphids for Honeydew

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

On some plants, a scene resembling a miniature farm unfolds among the leaves and stems: ants move around clusters of...

Couple relaxing on a balcony under a striped umbrella, pouring lemonade and reading a book on a sunny day.

IKEA HÖGÖN parasol: retro shade for the outdoor season

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

As winter gear gradually makes its way into storage, temperatures are rising outdoors and attention is increasingly turning to balconies,...

Person composting vegetable scraps in garden soil beside basket of eggs and garden tools on wooden path

Compost Trenching: The Simple Garden Trick That Feeds Your Soil

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

The woman next door stood in the centre of her garden with her arms folded, glaring at the same cracked...

Fishing net wrapped around a large winch on the deck of a fishing boat on a rainy day.

A Croat from Brač was declared inventor of the year in the USA in 1975. What do we know about him?

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

Hauling a full fishing net used to demand a large crew, exhausting physical effort and careful timing on a wet,...

Woman planting young flowers in a garden bed surrounded by colourful blooming flowers and gardening tools.

Plant at the End of March: Seven Heat Heroes for a Low-Water Summer Border

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

Spring is only just getting under way, yet plenty of borders still look bare. If you plant smartly now, you...

Person opening a window curtain in a sunlit room with plants and a bowl on the windowsill.

The simplest trick to stop mosquitoes entering your home

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

The simplest trick for stopping mosquitoes from getting into your home is not scenting the rooms, but closing off their...

Person gardening with a green rake, turning soil near a wheelbarrow filled with dirt in a sunny garden.

How to Revive Your Lawn with a Hollow Tine Aerator and Organic Compost

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

Spending Saturday mornings looking after the home can be genuinely satisfying for anyone who loves seeing the exterior kept spotless....

Person wearing gloves harvesting vegetables from a wooden crate on a kitchen counter near window.

Lucía, 27 years old, living in a Galician village of 9 people: 'For me, the monthly shopping is around 50 euros because between the garden and harvesting, I spend very little.'

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

A monthly food shop of around €50 sounds extraordinary, and it is not a figure most households in the UK...

Underwater scene showing several squids swimming around coral and seaweed in clear blue water.

Japanese Spear Squid Hatch Dates Determine Mating Tactics

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

If you have a scientific outlook, horoscopes and their forecasts of a predestined future may hold little appeal, even when...

Couple sitting on outdoor sofa under canopy on sunny terrace with drinks on wooden table and plants around.

Modern alternatives to an awning for terraces and balconies

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

With the arrival of hotter weather, many people start to reconsider how they protect their outdoor areas. Terraces and balconies...

Older man carrying tray of tomato seedlings near greenhouse in spring garden with blooming tree.

Hardening Off Tomato Plants: The Simple Trick Professionals Swear By

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

Professionals swear by a simple trick. The first warm days send people to garden centres, trolleys loaded with young tomato...

Person using a smartphone while sitting at a desk with a laptop, notebook, glass of water, and eye masks near a window.

What Task Switching Does to the Brain

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

The phone buzzes on the desk. A WhatsApp notification appears while you are trying to finish a report. You read...

Person planting bright pink flowers in a rectangular terracotta planter on a sunny balcony garden.

Dianthus ‘Bumbleberry Pie’: The Compact Perennial Pink for Small Gardens and Balconies

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

Many amateur gardeners are looking for precisely this: an easy-care plant that lasts throughout the summer, takes up very little...

Person pointing at a garden railway track with logs stacked nearby and trees in the background.

Metsähallitus sold a cabin plot to Oulu resident Juha Nikkinen and now plans to cut down the trees around it: "We are about to get to the yard."

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

A home beside woodland can seem to come with privacy, birdsong and a green outlook for years to come. The...

A person operating a drone near a large eagle perched on a nest on a rocky cliff with a river valley background.

How Drones Affect Birds of Prey at Nests

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

The constant presence of unmanned aircraft in natural settings makes fieldwork a subtle challenge. Using modern equipment to monitor nests...

Peace lily plant in white pot on wooden table with candle and spray bottle in bright living room.

Peace Lily Houseplant: Cleaner Indoor Air, Fewer Odours and Less Office Strain

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

We spend almost our entire lives indoors, where carpets, paints, furnishings and electronics quietly release gases into the air. That...

Man trimming plants with gardening tools at wooden table beside flowering rhododendron bush in sunny garden.

Summer pruning: which trees and shrubs to avoid cutting in the garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 14, 2026

Pruning certain tree and shrub species at the hottest time of year can do serious harm to plant health. Removing...

Person in garden holding container with bees flying around and colourful beehives in the background

Asian Hornet: The Few Spring Weeks That Can Prevent Thousands of Hornets

Harriet M. Ashford • October 13, 2026

While beekeepers, gardeners and public authorities are increasingly affected by the Asian hornet’s spread, there are only a few weeks...

Person wearing gloves harvesting fresh green hops into a wicker basket in a sunlit kitchen garden.

Wild Hop: The Expensive Spring Delicacy Growing in Your Hedge

Harriet M. Ashford • October 13, 2026

Between thuja, privet and hazel hedges, the same scene unfolds every year: a green vine climbs upwards, smothering shrubs and...