Page 22 - News

Gloved hands pruning rosebuds with garden shears in a sunny garden with potted plants.

Pruning Roses in March: Why the Eyes Rule Matters

Harriet M. Ashford • September 1, 2026

The bed looks bare, winter still clings to the branches, and your gaze lands on the secateurs: cut everything back...

A robin in mid-flight carrying nesting material near a hanging rusted kettle on a tree branch.

Robin nest box: turn an old clay teapot into a natural nesting site

Harriet M. Ashford • September 1, 2026

Robins are among the most likeable garden birds of all. Plenty of people are delighted whenever this small songbird drops...

Person gardening with soil, surrounded by flowers, lettuce, watering can, and eggshells in a sunny backyard.

Chemical‑Free Garden Beds: How They Really Work

Harriet M. Ashford • September 1, 2026

The morning smells of damp soil as the sun slowly climbs over the fence. An older couple stands between their...

Woman in an apron tending to potted plants on a balcony with a dog lying nearby and a watering can beside her.

Star Jasmine: Checks to Make Before You Plant It

Harriet M. Ashford • September 1, 2026

Planting star jasmine is one of those jobs where it pays to look a little closer first. This evergreen climber...

Person tending to potted herb plants on a balcony garden with city buildings in the background.

Turn Tin Cans into a Herb Garden for Balcony and Windowsill

Harriet M. Ashford • September 1, 2026

Empty tin cans usually get tossed into the recycling without a second thought. Gardeners are now urging people to pause:...

Person kneeling on green grass, spraying white powder on a patch of yellow, dead grass in a garden.

A simple lawn lime trick to fix a yellow lawn by correcting soil pH

Harriet M. Ashford • September 1, 2026

Many people instinctively reach for more fertiliser - and often end up making the problem worse. The real answer sits...

Man attaching a wooden birdhouse to a tree in a sunny garden with plants and birds nearby.

Attract Tits to Your Garden: Why Nest Boxes Alone Don’t Work

Harriet M. Ashford • September 1, 2026

In March or April, a quick look out of the window first thing makes one thing obvious: every branch, hedge...

Person pruning Annabelle hydrangea plants in a garden with mulch and a watering can nearby.

Hydrangeas in Spring: Pruning and Care for Years of Blooms

Harriet M. Ashford • September 1, 2026

Many amateur gardeners know the feeling: a few years ago you had a glorious sea of flowers; now it’s mostly...

Young man testing water quality in a garden pond surrounded by plants and gravel on a sunny day.

Asian tiger mosquito: why 15°C and rain can trigger a mosquito boom

Harriet M. Ashford • September 1, 2026

While plenty of people are still thinking about winter coats and heating bills, gardens and balconies are already starting to...

Woman arranging framed potted plants on a wooden fence in a sunlit garden with various flowers and greenery.

Old Picture Frames: 8 DIY Ideas for the Balcony and Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • September 1, 2026

In many German homes, old picture frames end up piled in cupboards or corners, long after the photos have disappeared....

Person planting pink and white flowers in a garden with a watering can and seed packet on rocky soil.

Gaura lindheimeri: the low-maintenance perennial that flowers for months

Harriet M. Ashford • September 1, 2026

A nearly forgotten perennial comes astonishingly close to this dream. Many hobby gardeners know the routine: you pour money, time...

Woman harvesting fresh artichokes in a sunny garden with steaming pot on wooden picnic table nearby.

Cardy (Cardoon): the forgotten Mediterranean leaf vegetable for garden and table

Harriet M. Ashford • September 1, 2026

In older gardening books it still turns up with some regularity, yet in today’s vegetable beds it can look oddly...

Person mowing a green lawn with a red and black electric lawn mower on a sunny day.

First Lawn Cut in Spring: Why Timing Matters

Harriet M. Ashford • September 1, 2026

After the first bright, sunny days, it’s tempting to get straight outside: you want the garden to look tidy, the...

Sunflowers blooming in a garden bed with goldfinches and a metal watering can in a backyard setting.

Sunflower: the natural feeding station that brings birds back

Harriet M. Ashford • September 1, 2026

Many garden owners will recognise the scenario: an expensive feeder, a premium seed mix, topped up like clockwork - yet...

Young man examining green shrubbery in garden with plant care notes on the ground beside him.

Photinia vs Pittosporum: the hedge switch for 2026

Harriet M. Ashford • September 1, 2026

For years, many front gardens have told the same story: hedges that were once dense and colourful now look thin,...

Person removing a yellow leaf from a potted plant on a table with a green watering can and scissors nearby.

Spider plant kinked leaves: what it means and how to save it

Harriet M. Ashford • September 1, 2026

It can look like a minor cosmetic issue at first: a few leaves bent out of shape, a dried-out tip,...

Great tit bird flying towards a wooden birdhouse on a tree branch in a sunlit garden.

Marsh Tit in the Garden: the Right Tree and Nest Box

Harriet M. Ashford • September 1, 2026

Most gardeners can spot a Great Tit or a Blue Tit at a glance, yet a close relative is often...

Person wearing a beanie and gloves arranging seedlings in a cardboard garden bed outdoors at sunset.

Lasagne Gardening: Start in Winter for a No-Dig Vegetable Bed

Harriet M. Ashford • September 1, 2026

While garden beds often look bleak and rock-hard in January, the mere thought of turning the soil for spring can...

Person using a tiller to cultivate soil in a garden with grass and plants around under sunlight.

Scarify the Lawn in March: The One Step That Prevents Summer Browning

Harriet M. Ashford • August 31, 2026

If you look out of the window right now, you’ll often see nothing more than a dull, yellowy patch of...

Smiling woman tending to a flowering desert rose plant on a balcony table with watering can and sketchbook nearby.

How to Boost Desert Rose Flowering with Full Sunlight

Harriet M. Ashford • August 31, 2026

Many growers stick to a consistent watering routine for their plants, yet notice very little flowering across the year. What...

Man gardening near birdhouse with two birds and birdbath in a lush, sunny garden.

Five Widespread Myths That Drive Tits Out of Your Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 31, 2026

A lawn trimmed to perfection, hedges clipped into crisp lines, beds kept spotless: what looks like a show garden can...