Page 22 - News

Person harvesting fresh leafy greens from a garden bed into a wooden bowl in a sunlit room.

Winter Purslane: The March Plant That Beats Expensive Supermarket Vegetables

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

While many people are still waiting for the first radishes or heads of lettuce, one tender green is already getting...

Person scrubbing garden patio with a brush, bucket of soapy water, cleaning liquid, and gloves nearby.

Clean a slippery patio with washing-up liquid

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

The slabs take on a greenish tinge, the joints turn dark, and every step feels less secure, particularly in the...

Two great tits perched on flowers in a garden near a birdhouse and patio door.

Why Tits Stay Away From Your Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

Many amateur gardeners put a huge amount of effort into turning their plot into a paradise. Yet tits, among the...

Young man harvesting fresh vegetables from planters attached to a caravan in a sunny garden.

Caravan Vegetable Garden: Productive Harvests in Every Season

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

In her mobile home, one resident has turned a few square metres outside into a productive little vegetable garden, whatever...

Hand watering young plant with a spoon in terracotta pot on sunlit balcony with other potted plants.

Why Put a Metal Spoon in a Flowerpot?

Harriet M. Ashford • October 12, 2026

On some balconies, an old metal spoon sticks out of the soil instead of a plant stake. Few people suspect...

Man carefully trimming hedge with electric hedge trimmer, avoiding bird's nest in garden on sunny day.

Hedge Cutting in Spring: What Gardeners Need to Know

Harriet M. Ashford • October 11, 2026

Many amateur gardeners plan a major hedge cut in March. Yet this is precisely when the sensitive breeding season begins...

Person cleaning leaves of a potted plant on a table with a copper watering can and plant care supplies nearby.

ZZ Plant in March: 6 Gentle Steps for Stronger Growth

Harriet M. Ashford • October 11, 2026

Many owners underestimate just how much March shapes the rest of the growing year. If you water your Zamioculcas zamiifolia...

Hand placing orange peel into jar on wooden tray with spices and oranges on tiled kitchen counter.

Moroccan natural air freshener for a fresher home

Harriet M. Ashford • October 11, 2026

Gently scenting the home can completely transform its atmosphere at weekends. Using simple elements brings a distinctive freshness to the...

Person wearing a straw hat and blue gloves placing pink fish eggs in a pond surrounded by plants and gardening tools.

Pink Eggs in the Garden: Golden Apple Snail Warning Signs

Harriet M. Ashford • October 11, 2026

Increasing numbers of gardens are seeing striking pink egg masses on walls, fences and pond edges. What many people mistake...

Person wearing gloves arranging red berries in a wooden planter in a sunlit Japanese-style garden with birds nearby.

Japanese method: why winter bird feeders can harm gardens

Harriet M. Ashford • October 11, 2026

Many garden owners turn to bird feeders in winter – but a Japanese method radically questions this habit and takes...

Man kneeling and raking gravel on a garden path beside a rolled landscape fabric and wheelbarrow.

How Laurent Turned Wet Ground into a Firm, Free-Draining Garden Path Without Concrete

Harriet M. Ashford • October 11, 2026

After another night of rain, Saturday morning found the route between Laurent’s house and vegetable patch looking like a shallow...

Young man attaching string lights to a tree covered in ivy outside a house in a garden.

Ivy on Trees and Façades: What Specialists Really Say

Harriet M. Ashford • October 11, 2026

Specialists have reached a very different conclusion. The same scene plays out in many front gardens every year: someone reaches...

Person pressing button on modern smart toilet in bright, minimalist bathroom with stacked toilet rolls and plant on window si

Bidets and Washlet Attachments: Better Hygiene, Lower Costs and Less Toilet Paper

Harriet M. Ashford • October 11, 2026

What was long regarded as exotic is now finding its way into German bathrooms: bidets and modern Washlet attachments. Rather...

Hands planting seeds in soil with a ruler for spacing and a watering can in the background.

Carrots: why the right sowing depth matters in spring

Harriet M. Ashford • October 11, 2026

Many amateur gardeners blame the cold in spring when nothing germinates in the bed. In reality, the harvest often fails...

Person wearing gloves holding a bird's nest with eggs while trimming a bush in a garden in June.

Hedge Cutting: When Gardeners Should Leave Hedges Alone

Harriet M. Ashford • October 11, 2026

Many keen gardeners plan a major garden tidy-up in spring. What is often overlooked is that densely grown hedges contain...

Person pouring liquid detergent from a measuring cup onto a wooden surface near a washing machine.

Too Much Detergent: What It Really Does to Your Laundry

Harriet M. Ashford • October 11, 2026

It is Saturday morning in the laundry room of an ordinary block of flats. Three machines are running, a tumble...

Woman applying spray to plants in a garden with a humane animal trap nearby on a wooden pathway

How to Keep Skunks Out of Your Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 11, 2026

If a skunk has moved onto your property, you will usually notice more than its notorious smell. These animals dig...

Hands watering a young tomato plant with a plastic bottle in a raised garden bed on a wooden deck.

Plastic Bottle Caps in the Vegetable Garden: Water Saver, Slug Deterrent and Safety Aid

Harriet M. Ashford • October 11, 2026

Of all things, a disposable kitchen item turns out to be a water saver, slug deterrent and safety aid in...

Person wearing gardening gloves pruning rose buds with secateurs in a sunlit garden.

Rose Pruning in March: The Bud Rule for More Flowers

Harriet M. Ashford • October 11, 2026

When the first buds begin to swell, it is tempting to get started: cut everything back, make everything “tidy”, and...

Person cleaning a wood-burning stove with a brush in a cosy stone-walled room during sunset.

Clean Your Chimney Flue for Better Wood Heating

Harriet M. Ashford • October 11, 2026

With the cold closing in and energy bills rising, many people turn to the fireplace or wood-burning stove in search...

Person injecting a yellow dandelion in a garden lawn with gardening tools and a bottle nearby.

Removing dandelions from a lawn with a syringe

Harriet M. Ashford • October 11, 2026

A localised treatment can prevent unsightly bare patches in the lawn. In spring, their yellow flowers can give a garden...