Page 26 - News

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,...

Person wearing gloves spreading white fertiliser granules on mossy grass with a bag and green scoop nearby.

Iron sulphate in March: the pro method to beat moss and thicken your lawn

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Plenty of keen gardeners come out of winter and feel defeated by a lawn that’s patchy, matted and dull. A...

Young man gardening near a raised bed with birds on branches and a hedgehog nearby in a sunlit garden.

Five Garden Rules That Drive Tits Away - and the Simple Wildlife-Friendly Alternative

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Anyone who prizes golf-course turf, perfectly clipped hedges and a ‘tidy’ flowerbed often ends up-without meaning to-making their garden unattractive...

Young man smiling in a garden holding a halved papaya with black seeds in sunlight.

Asiminier (Asimina triloba): the hardy Pawpaw and “Mango of the North” for cold gardens

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

When hoar frost is clinging to the branches outside, many hobby gardeners start leafing through catalogues and, in the end,...

Hands planting soil in terracotta pot on balcony table with flowers and watering can nearby

The Spoon in the Plant Pot: A Simple Garden Trick

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

What can look at first like forgetfulness or a quirky joke is, in reality, a straightforward box of garden tricks....

Person standing barefoot in a garden bed of purple flowering plants with gardening tools nearby.

Red thyme carpet: replace the lawn and deter mosquitoes

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

A modest little herb can change everything. Anyone who enjoys summer evenings in the garden knows the double headache: a...

Person planting herbs in a wooden planter box on a balcony with gardening tools and strawberries nearby.

Chives as a natural shield: less aphids and fungal diseases in the garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Many amateur gardeners want a straightforward way to slow down aphids, fungal diseases and chewing damage without constantly reaching for...

Person adding autumn leaves to a compost bin in a sunny backyard garden with another person watering plants.

Why Burning Garden Waste Can Cost You Up to 750 Euros

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Anyone with a garden knows how quickly the waste piles up: branches, leaves, grass cuttings and weeds can turn into...

Person in muddy boots walking on stone path through colourful garden with flowers and gardening tools nearby

11 Ground Covers for Wet Soil to Reduce Garden Mud

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Anyone who gardens on heavy, wet ground knows the familiar mess: shoes get stuck, children trail half the beds back...

Person placing a blooming pink cactus plant in a terracotta pot on a bright windowsill in March.

Osterkaktus: Why It Won’t Bloom and How to Make It Flower

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

The reason is almost always found in the winter months. A lot of people buy an Osterkaktus when it’s covered...

Two men measuring a hedge with a tape measure outdoors on a sunny day.

New hedge rules from 9 April 2026: two metres and 50 centimetres explained

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Her gaze doesn’t lift to the sky, but fixes on the hedge beside the drive. The green wall has shot...

Hand picking orange flowers from a raised garden bed beside a plate and basket of fresh vegetables.

Nasturtium: the clever secret for a tougher vegetable garden in 2026

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Many hobby gardeners are mapping out the new season right now: sorting seed packets, sketching plans and deciding what deserves...

Person feeding birds with a wooden bird feeder filled with nuts in a frosty garden.

Feeding tits in winter at the same time: the simple garden trick

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Many garden owners wonder why the neighbour’s garden is full of constant activity from small birds, while their own patch...

Person planting seeds in soil of raised garden bed during daytime, with gardening trowel nearby.

White Mustard Seed Green Manure: The Late-Winter Trick for Better Garden Soil

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Many keen gardeners wait for the first truly warm days. Yet it’s in late winter that you set the course...

Man kneeling in garden, planting seedlings in soil surrounded by flowers and gardening book.

Perennials vs Annual and Biennial Plants: How to Tell What’s What

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

The difference between perennials, annual plants and all the grey areas in between isn’t nearly as baffling as it first...

Couple planting a young tree in their garden with a woman watching from a house window in the background.

Alicja, Kamil and the Magnolia: A Garden Boundary Battle at Their New Terraced Home

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

A young woman wants to turn the garden of their new terraced house into her own slice of paradise, with...

Person wearing gloves applying fertiliser to garden plants in a sunny suburban yard.

Iron Powder in March: How to Remove Moss from Your Lawn

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Many garden owners get frustrated in spring when the lawn shows yellow patches, bare areas and thick cushions of moss....

Child wearing gardening gloves reaching out to a hoopoe bird in a sunny garden with flowers and a birdhouse.

What a Hoopoe in Your Garden Reveals About Your Soil, Microclimate and Lifestyle

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Seeing a hoopoe up close is the sort of moment that tends to stick. With its striking crest, long down-curved...

Person harvesting a ripe tomato from a garden bed with plant markers, a thermometer, and a May calendar nearby.

The best time to plant tomatoes outdoors after the Ice Saints

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

Home-grown tomatoes from your own garden taste more intense, sweeter, and simply like summer. But to make that happen, it...

Person using a sponge to water a young plant in a terracotta pot on a wooden table with gardening tools.

How to Reuse an Old Kitchen Sponge in the Garden and on the Balcony

Harriet M. Ashford • August 27, 2026

If you garden regularly, you end up collecting all sorts of little hacks: eggshells go into the flower beds, coffee...