Page 21 - News

Hands planting a pink and white flower in a raised garden bed with soil, watering can, and gardening tools.

Plant Gaura in April for a drought-tolerant garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

Increasingly extreme summers are turning watering into a test of patience – and an expense. Many amateur gardeners are therefore...

Sleek grey modern electric sports car displayed indoors with unique wheel design and LED headlights.

How many AA batteries does it take to start a car engine?

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

Garage 54’s YouTube channel has already accustomed us to some unusual experiments - including a Lada 1500 with… 14 wheels...

Woman tending to orchids on a balcony table with sunlight and buildings in the background.

Orchids: the unusual trick for blooms year after year

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

Many orchids end up as permanent living-room decorations - and eventually stop flowering. The real mistake is often neither the...

Hands pruning a pink rose stem with garden scissors in a sunny outdoor garden setting.

Rose Pruning: Why Cut at an Angle?

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

The secateurs snap, the air carries a faint scent of cold earth, and the roses appear to have survived a...

Hand wearing yellow glove spraying cleaning liquid on tiled wall above bathroom sink with sponge nearby.

How washing-up liquid cleans bathroom tiles without hard scrubbing

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

The bathroom tiles were not merely dirty; they had that particularly dispiriting, lifeless look. A cloudy layer covered the shower...

Person planting bulbs in a pot surrounded by colourful flowering plants on a wooden balcony floor.

10 summer bulbs for balconies and gardens: turn grey corners into a summer firework display

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

After winter, everything can look grey and bare – but one straightforward spring planting trick can turn dreary corners into...

Person planting seeds in soil-filled container on wooden table by window with gardening supplies nearby

Action £1.99 Kit: Easy March Sowing for Your Vegetable Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

Whether the vegetable garden season becomes a real success or ends in frustration is often decided in March. A miniature...

Child wearing gloves trims purple flowering vines on a sunlit garden wall with gardening tools on a bench nearby.

Plant Aubrieta on a Retaining Wall for a Lilac Flower Waterfall

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

Many amateur gardeners plan their beds, lawn and patio down to the smallest detail, yet the retaining wall is often...

Person kneeling in garden bed covering soil enriched with food scraps and worms using cardboard.

Lasagna Gardening at the End of Winter

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

At the end of winter, when the garden still appears dormant, one straightforward approach is changing how gardeners get the...

Bright yellow flowers bloom on a bush with a hand holding garden shears nearby in a grassy backyard.

Pruning Forsythia in March: The Serious Mistake to Avoid

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

Standfirst: In March, many keen gardeners reach for their secateurs with enthusiasm – and unknowingly ruin the floral display of...

Person planting flower bulbs in soil with yellow daffodils and labelled signs in a raised garden bed.

Empty beds after daffodils and tulips?

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

Empty beds after daffodils and tulips? They do not have to be. Planting shrewdly now can ensure an unbroken carpet...

Hands harvesting ripe strawberries from a garden bed with a basket of flowers and gardening tools nearby.

Dried Bulb Leaves for Earlier, Healthier Strawberry Harvests

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

Many amateur gardeners give their flowerbeds a ruthless clear-out in spring: faded bulb plants are removed, then thrown in the...

Person planting seedling pots in a garden bed with young green plants and gardening tools nearby.

How Toilet Paper Tubes Are Transforming Home Gardens

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

Across Europe and North America, an increasing number of home gardeners are reconsidering what should be thrown away. One of...

Person using a cordless drill with brush attachment to clean a vent cover on a wooden workbench.

This simple maintenance habit makes drills, lawnmowers and hedge trimmers last far longer

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

Drills, lawnmowers, hedge trimmers… In Switzerland, a simple maintenance oversight often sends them to the tip far too soon, even...

Person arranging orange and yellow flowers on a balcony with potted plants and tomatoes in sunlight.

Why the Nasturtium Is Making a Comeback in 2026

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

Once thought of as slightly old-fashioned and almost too plain to catch the eye, the nasturtium is making a strong...

Person washing chopped leeks under running tap water next to a colander and kitchen knife on wooden countertop.

How to wash leeks properly: the simple method to remove sand and soil

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

The gratin is in the oven, the dressing is waiting in its bowl and the kitchen is finally beginning to...

Person burying glass bottles in garden soil with gardening tools and gloves nearby on pebbled path.

How Upside-Down Bottles Create Garden Edging

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

On a Sunday morning in an old village garden, tall grass almost conceals an unusual edging: the bases of green,...

Woman kneeling and planting pink roses in a garden with gardening tools and soil nearby on a sunny day.

Coffee grounds and rose bushes: the mistake that limits flowering

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

On 1 March, Claire adopted a habit that seemed almost obvious to her: tipping the still-warm coffee grounds from her...

Man measuring wood with tape measure and blueprint on table under wooden shelter in garden with white van behind

Campervan shelter: Philippe’s planning problem fifteen months later

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

When Philippe bought his campervan, he mainly pictured Friday-evening getaways, coffees drunk by the sea and holidays without bookings. At...

Person caring for a potted plant in a cosy living room with beige sofas and indoor plants by a window.

Houseplants for Dark Rooms: Easy-Care Plants for Low-Light Flats

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

In many homes across France, dark rooms can appear unsuitable for houseplants. Yet some species cope remarkably well with limited...

Person in green boots using a rake to remove moss from lawn, with watering can and moss killer nearby.

Moss in the Lawn After Winter: Why Washing-Up Liquid Makes It Worse

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

After winter, the lush green carpet you knew in autumn can suddenly become a patchy lawn covered with dark, soft...