Page 25 - News

Hand in gardening glove planting purple flowers in raised stone bed with watering can nearby on gravel path

Aubrieta: the violet cushion perennial that transforms a retaining wall

Harriet M. Ashford • August 28, 2026

Many homeowners run into the same eyesore: a retaining wall on a slope that sits in the garden like a...

Person measuring the height of a tree in a sunny backyard with houses in the background.

Paulownia tomentosa (Empress tree): fast privacy screening in three years

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Many people reach for ready‑made privacy screens made from timber, plastic or reed fencing. They can look tidy at first,...

Person trimming plants in a garden with a dog sitting nearby on a sunny day.

Ticks in the Garden: Which Plant Combinations Attract Them

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Anyone who enjoys a garden in full bloom rarely thinks about parasites. Even so, every warm day increases the chances...

Person sprinkling white powder onto mossy garden paving slabs on a sunny day with cleaning tools nearby.

Remove Moss from Patio Slabs with Bicarbonate of Soda (Not Boiling Water)

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Many people reach for a pan of boiling water and hope for a quick fix. It can look dramatic at...

Person planting seed potatoes in soil in a garden bed with a crate of sprouted potatoes nearby.

When to Plant Potatoes: Why Soil Temperature Matters More Than the Calendar

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Between the figures on seed packets, tips from the neighbour and advice from a moon calendar, it’s easy to lose...

Person tending to small potted plants on a wooden table in bright natural light by a window.

Spring Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) Checklist: 6 Steps to Revive It

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Spring is the best season for plant rescue. As the days begin to stretch out, the spider plant – botanically...

Man setting a mouse trap on a patio near a garden bed with flowers and a metal bin.

Rats in the Garden: How to Keep Them Out of the House

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Anyone with a garden often ends up sharing it-usually without meaning to-with unwelcome visitors: rats. As temperatures drop, these animals...

Woman pruning rose stems in a garden while arranging them in a wicker basket on a wooden table.

Rose Pruning: the Professional Method - Observe First, Then Cut

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

A seasoned nursery grower has developed a strikingly straightforward approach that takes much of the frustration out of rose pruning....

Person planting garlic cloves in a raised garden bed with a bag of garlic bulbs nearby.

How to Grow Supermarket Garlic in Your Garden and Avoid a Common Mistake

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Garlic has long been a staple in the saucepan, yet in the veg patch it’s often treated as an afterthought....

Woman relaxing with a hot drink on a wooden bench surrounded by potted plants on a sunny balcony.

The IKEA NÄMMARÖ 3-in-1 solution for balcony privacy and storage

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Does that sound like a pipe dream? A lot of balconies and small gardens end up feeling like shop windows:...

Person installing wooden birdhouse on tree branch in blooming garden with robin perched nearby.

Nest Boxes in Spring: How to Help Blue Tits, Great Tits and Sparrows

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

As we enjoy the first mild days of the year, blue tits, great tits, house sparrows and other familiar birds...

Person raking dry grass and debris on lawn near garden tools and spilled bag of lawn fertiliser pellets.

Scarifying the lawn in March: how to prevent a burnt summer lawn

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

If you simply sit back in March and wait for spring to arrive, you may well be staring at a...

Person wearing gloves lifting cardboard to reveal earthworms in a raised garden bed outdoors at sunset.

Lasagne Garden: Build a No-Dig Bed in Winter for Better Spring Soil

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

It sounds a bit odd - but it can give your soil a head start that you’ll really notice in...

Various potted flowering and leafy plants on a balcony table with a person watering them using a watering can.

15 Low-Maintenance Balcony Plants for Pots

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

With the right plants, even a small outdoor corner can become your new green favourite spot. Plenty of people abandon...

Woman planting flowers in a garden bed surrounded by colourful blooming plants on a sunny day

How 3 Groundcovers and 5 Plants per Square Metre Keep a Bed in Bloom All Year

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Many amateur gardeners eventually give up in frustration: beds burst into life in spring, turn into scorched gaps in summer,...

Woman planting a young berry bush in a garden bed on a sunny day with gardening tools nearby.

An Edible Hedge in March: Bring Birds Back to Your Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

What many gardens are missing isn’t a bird feeder - it’s a smarter choice of plants. If March is only...

Person lifting protective netting over young tomato plants in a raised garden bed at sunset.

Ice Saints 2026: How to Plan Your May Planting

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Patience can pay off in the garden - and one old calendar note shows why it matters especially in 2026....

Person tending to lavender plants in a garden with a trowel, watering can, and terracotta pot nearby.

Thyme carpet instead of lawn: fragrant ground cover that deters mosquitoes

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Many keen gardeners are realising that the old dream of a flawless, deep-green lawn no longer fits today’s climate or...

Man harvesting fresh hops from a garden bed with a basket and knife nearby on a sunny day.

Wild hops: hop shoots worth up to 1,000 euros per kilo

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

This is not some exotic superfood, but a native climbing plant that runs riot in hedges, along fences and at...

Person tending to a honeysuckle plant in a garden bed outside a house with a butterfly nearby.

Evergreen Honeysuckle (Lonicera) for the Front Garden in April

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Many homeowners will recognise the scene: winter has finally ended, the first tulips are appearing, yet the space in front...

Person planting seedlings in a garden bed with a 10L metal watering can nearby on a sunny day.

Transplanting seedlings: 10 litres per square metre and the finger test for strong roots

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Spring is itching to get going: the beds are prepped, the young plants are ready. Then it happens. After transplanting,...