Page 23 - News

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...

Young woman planting seedling in raised garden bed on sunny terrace with potted flowers in the background.

The Simple Planting Angle Trick That Evens Out Sunlight in Your Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 31, 2026

It first caught my eye on a Tuesday morning. I was holding a coffee and standing in front of my...

Person kneeling in a garden studying clover flowers and leaves with a field guide and gardening gloves nearby.

Why Clover Is Everywhere - and Why Bees Love It

Harriet M. Ashford • August 31, 2026

No loud droning - more a delicate vibration in the air, like a quiet engine somewhere in the distance. I...

Person planting young tomato seedlings in a garden bed with gardening tools and chair in the background.

When to Plant Tomatoes: The Right Time for Warm Soil and Mild Nights

Harriet M. Ashford • August 31, 2026

In March and April, many hobby gardeners can hardly wait to get going. The sun already feels pleasant, seed racks...

Woman enjoying sunlight in a plant-filled room beside a window with sheer curtains and wooden furniture.

Houseplants That Reduce Bad Vibes, Electrosmog and Odours at Home

Harriet M. Ashford • August 31, 2026

Many flats contain far more hidden indoor pollution than you’d expect - and a single plant can make a surprisingly...

Person in gardening gloves and boots holding tools near a snake in a flower garden.

Gardening safely: avoiding adder bites from venomous snakes

Harriet M. Ashford • August 31, 2026

When you’re out in the garden during spring and summer, you might be thinking about backache, sunburn or thorns -...

Gloved hands sprinkling fertilizer on soil next to pink lilies with a watering can nearby in a garden.

Oriental lilies: the right fertiliser strategy for huge blooms

Harriet M. Ashford • August 31, 2026

If you grow these premium lilies in the garden, you’ll know the frustration: sometimes the buds stay tiny, sometimes the...

Hand feeding birds on a white ceramic swan bird feeder in a garden with flowers and plants.

How to Turn a Swan Vase into a Garden Bird Feeder

Harriet M. Ashford • August 31, 2026

Those dusty old vases can look awkward in the living room in no time. Out in the garden, though, they...

Hand gardening with trowel adding white pebbles around silver-leaf plants in a garden bed.

Snow effect in the spring border with Wollziest (Stachys byzantina), Artemisia and light gravel

Harriet M. Ashford • August 31, 2026

Spring can drag its heels: borders still look brown, waterlogged and a bit bleak. Exactly at this point, a smart...

Person spraying water mist on a terracotta pot beside a blooming orchid on a windowsill.

Orchid in Bloom: The Biggest First-Week Mistake and How to Avoid It

Harriet M. Ashford • August 31, 2026

When you buy an orchid in bloom, it is easy to focus only on how striking the flowers look and...

Person on a ladder fixing a birdhouse to a tree with birds flying nearby in a garden with daisies.

Nest Boxes in Spring: How You Can Help Garden Birds

Harriet M. Ashford • August 31, 2026

As the first mild days arrive, great tits, sparrows and other familiar birds start urgently searching for sheltered nesting cavities...

Person watering potted plants under an arch of vibrant orange flowers in a sunlit courtyard garden.

Tecomaria ‘Cape Town Orange’: the compact shrub for small gardens

Harriet M. Ashford • August 31, 2026

If you only have a narrow terraced-house garden, a tiny patio or a small courtyard, you’ll know the dilemma: planting...

Woman in a hat using banana peel in soil as fertilizer near blooming pink roses in a garden at sunset.

Banana Peels for Roses: How to Boost Blooming with Pruning and Simple Feeding

Harriet M. Ashford • August 29, 2026

If you walk past your roses in spring and spot only the odd bud, it’s easy to assume you need...

Person pruning a young plant in a raised garden bed with colourful flowers and gardening gloves nearby.

Monty Don: The 5 Plants You Must Prune in March for More Flowers

Harriet M. Ashford • August 29, 2026

Many amateur gardeners know the feeling: you’re standing by the border with secateurs in hand, you can see something needs...

Young man kneeling and smelling purple flowers in a garden, with watering can and fertiliser nearby

Plant in April: the Vanilla Flower (Heliotropium arborescens) for Scent and Colour

Harriet M. Ashford • August 29, 2026

Planting in April sets you up for a summer filled with colour and rich fragrance. One modest-looking perennial has quietly...

A man tending to a jacaranda tree with purple flowers in a garden, holding a shovel near a watering can.

Paulownia (Emperor Tree/Bluebell Tree): A Fast-Growing Privacy Screen with Spectacular Spring Flowers

Harriet M. Ashford • August 29, 2026

Many home gardeners want a fast-growing privacy screen, but would rather avoid the hassle of rampant bamboo. That is exactly...

Man planting seedlings in raised garden beds outside a house during golden hour light.

Late Frost: How to Protect Your Garden from Frost Damage

Harriet M. Ashford • August 29, 2026

After weeks of unusually mild weather, many home gardeners have already started sowing, planting and potting on with real anticipation....

Woman wearing a straw hat tending to pink and white flowers in a garden on a sunny day.

Gaura vs Roses: Why Gardeners Are Choosing the Prairie Candle (Butterfly Flower)

Harriet M. Ashford • August 29, 2026

Plenty of amateur gardeners long for borders packed with flowers, but they do not have the time or patience for...

Person pruning a small tree in a sunny, neatly arranged outdoor garden with benches and plants.

How the Japanese Niwaki pruning technique makes a small garden feel bigger

Harriet M. Ashford • August 29, 2026

Many urban gardens and terraced-house plots start to feel overgrown after a few years. Shrubs turn into green walls, daylight...

Hands pouring water from a glass jug into a glass with a banana slice beside peeled bananas and potted plants on a windowsill

Banana Water Liquid Fertiliser for Houseplants: A Simple Routine from Late March

Harriet M. Ashford • August 29, 2026

This is exactly the point at which a straightforward home method comes into play, shared by a houseplant enthusiast: a...