News
Banana water for houseplants: a simple spring refresh
Harriet M. Ashford
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Many houseplants look tired after winter: their leaves lack vigour, fresh shoots are scarce and flowers are slow to appear....
News
Painting Your Garden Gate: Why a New Colour Could Be Expensive
Harriet M. Ashford
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A spontaneous coat of paint on your garden gate could prove remarkably expensive. When spring arrives and homeowners start smartening...
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How to Fertilise Oriental Lilies for Spectacular Flowers
Harriet M. Ashford
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Oriental lilies rank among the garden’s most dramatic flowering plants, yet without a carefully managed nutrient supply, many stems remain...
News
Make Your Own Potting Compost Instead of Buying It
Harriet M. Ashford
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Many amateur gardeners carry heavy bags home each spring – yet there is a simpler, cheaper and far greener option....
News
Black Plastic Sheeting in the Garden: Why It Attracts Venomous Snakes
Harriet M. Ashford
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Between the patio, vegetable plot and garden shed, there is often one detail that barely receives any thought: a cover...
News
Houseplants Against Moisture: A Green Alternative to a Dehumidifier
Harriet M. Ashford
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Every winter: damp walls, musty air and nowhere to fit a condenser tumble dryer? There is a surprisingly straightforward, environmentally...
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Prune lavender in March for abundant summer flowers
Harriet M. Ashford
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Anyone planting lavender dreams of fragrant purple cushions buzzing with bees. Yet summer often brings sparse, bare stems with only...
News
Why Basil Makes Tomatoes Taste Better
Harriet M. Ashford
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A simple culinary herb could make all the difference. Anyone who has tasted the difference between a supermarket tomato and...
News
Patio Cleaning: The 2-Product Trick with Soda Crystals and Washing-Up Liquid
Harriet M. Ashford
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Rather than relying on a noisy machine, a straightforward blend of two everyday products can do the job. As soon...
News
Photinia Hedge: Stop Black Spots with One Simple Spring Task
Harriet M. Ashford
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Many amateur gardeners face the same problem every year: as soon as spring approaches, an otherwise resilient Photinia hedge develops...
News
Hoya wax flower care: light, watering and flowering
Harriet M. Ashford
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Many people know the so-called wax flower only from photographs on plant forums. Yet in real life, it is among...
News
How to Attract Tits to Your Garden in Spring
Harriet M. Ashford
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As the days grow longer and warmer, tits urgently need safe places with an abundant food supply – and that...
News
How to Water and Plant Young Plants Without Transplant Shock
Harriet M. Ashford
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Anyone moving tomatoes, peppers or flowers from pots into the garden bed in spring will know the problem: no sooner...
News
Remove Moss from Patio Slabs with Bicarbonate of Soda
Harriet M. Ashford
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Many people instinctively reach for a pan of boiling water, hoping for a quick fix. The result may look impressive...
News
How to Fertilise Asian Lilies for Spectacular Blooms
Harriet M. Ashford
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Many keen gardeners plant exotic lilies with great anticipation, only to face disappointingly small flowers in summer. The secret is...
News
Burglary Prevention: Four Thorny Plants for a Safer Garden
Harriet M. Ashford
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Alarm systems, cameras and security doors are the usual measures people think of for burglary prevention. Yet many homeowners overlook...
News
Yellow Lawn Despite Watering: What Is Really Going Wrong?
Harriet M. Ashford
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The morning smells of rain, even though none has fallen for days. You are standing barefoot in the garden, coffee...
News
Money Tree Care in March: Avoid These Spring Mistakes
Harriet M. Ashford
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Once winter dormancy ends, the money tree begins to pick up pace in March – but making the wrong adjustments...
News
Lantana: The Little-Known Long-Flowering Plant for Gardens and Balconies
Harriet M. Ashford
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Many amateur gardeners mentally write off the gardening season in autumn: perennials die back, container plants look forlorn, and the...
News
Plant Black Elder Now for Flowers, Berries and Garden Wildlife
Harriet M. Ashford
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Many gardens look grey and empty in early spring, as though everything is still asleep. Yet there is a native...
News
When to Mow the Lawn: Forsythia’s Yellow Signal in Spring
Harriet M. Ashford
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Moss is spreading, the lawn looks dull, and the urge to finally bring the garden into order is growing. Yet...
