Page 4 - News

Person in shorts walking barefoot near blooming lavender bushes in a sunny garden with potted plants and lawnmower visible.

Red Creeping Thyme: The Fragrant Carpet for Dry Lawns and Fewer Mosquitoes

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

Summer is approaching and the patio is calling – but parched lawns and biting pests can spoil any enjoyment. One...

Woman tending colourful flowers with butterflies in a sunlit garden, gardening gloves and watering can nearby.

Lantana: the little-known shrub that flowers almost all year

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

While roses are taking a break and summer flowers have long since faded, one shrub quietly keeps providing colour –...

Woman wearing a straw hat harvesting nettle leaves in a sunny garden with gloves and a metal bucket nearby.

Nettles in the Garden: Why You Should Keep Them

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

Many hobby gardeners reach for a spade at the first opportunity and ruthlessly pull every nettle from the bed. That...

Person tending seedlings in a tray on a wooden table with watering can and spray bottle in garden setting.

Harden Off Tomatoes: The Essential Step for a Bumper Harvest

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

The calendar says it is planting time, the sun is shining and the temperature is rising: so it seems natural...

Man planting a young tree in a garden with a watering can and spade nearby on a sunny day.

Why Monty Don plants shrubs in March

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

While shop displays packed with seed packets tempt gardeners and online retailers brim with new varieties, British gardening expert Monty...

Person planting seeds in soil near blue and white flowers in a garden with a wooden fence background.

Sow Love-in-a-Mist in March for Bees and Birds

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

When winter slowly begins to loosen its grip, one often-overlooked flower is enough to turn a garden into a lively...

Man pruning plants in a garden with gardening gloves, watering can, and plant guide on a wooden bench.

Photinia or Pittosporum: The Robust Hedge Choice for 2026

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

Many amateur gardeners are facing the same question in 2026: should they stick with the familiar Photinia, or is it...

Woman wearing a hat tending to ripe tomatoes growing in a garden with watering can and wooden bucket nearby.

Bison Manure: The Natural Tomato Booster for Bigger Harvests

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

Many amateur gardeners water, mulch and compost – yet still end up with meagre tomato crops. One inconspicuous natural fertiliser...

Young woman in a beanie tending to a vegetable garden, covering lettuce plants with a cloth at sunset.

Late frost warning: how to protect your garden from cold nights

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

For many gardens, this could prove disastrous. After an exceptionally mild winter, plenty of amateur gardeners have already made a...

Person in gardening gloves and hat removing small snake from stone garden wall near plants and gardening tools.

Snakes in the Garden: These Ornamental Plants Create Ideal Hiding Places

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

When the ground begins to warm after winter, snakes also emerge from hibernation. Adders and other species then look for...

Hands chopping fresh herbs on a wooden board next to potted herb plants on a sunny kitchen windowsill.

7 Perennial Herbs for Fresh Greens in Late Winter

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

While most amateur gardeners are still leafing through catalogues and dreaming of tomatoes, peppers and courgettes, certain herbs are already...

Woman tending potted bamboo plants on a balcony with gardening tools and city buildings in the background.

Heavenly Bamboo: The Better Alternative to Bamboo for Balconies

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

An Asian alternative scores with its appearance, resilience and lower maintenance needs. Anyone hoping to bring greenery to an urban...

Person wearing gloves kneeling in grass while gardening with tools near flowers and a garden hose.

How to Control Nutsedge in Your Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

Anyone who has had nutsedge in the garden soon realises that it is not an ordinary weed. Its shoots may...

Person gardening near a tree with colourful lilies and garden tools in a bright, sunny flower bed.

Asiatic Lilies Under Black Walnut Trees: Juglone Tolerance

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

Anyone with a black walnut tree in the garden will know the issue: many plants struggle, while some simply die...

Man trimming bright yellow flowering bush with garden shears beside a table holding a garden tool and calendar.

Forsythia: Why pruning in March destroys the flowers

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

As the days lengthen and the first buds burst open, gardeners are eager to get started: everything should look neat,...

Person planting leaf oak lettuce seeds in soil on a balcony garden with pots and a green watering can nearby.

Truffaut Oak Leaf Lettuce Seeds for 1.79 Euro: A Spring Bargain

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

The days are getting longer, the appetite for fresh greenery is growing – and a tiny purchase at the garden...

Person planting flowers in a raised garden bed with gardening tools and plant labels nearby.

3 Ground-Cover Perennials for Flowerbeds in Bloom All Year Round

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

A discreet trick used by professional gardeners can keep flowerbeds in bloom throughout the year – without constant replanting. Many...

Woman watering plants with a spray bottle in a garden while a squirrel stands on the edge of the planter.

Peppermint Oil and Squirrels: Does This Garden Remedy Work?

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

Many garden owners swear by peppermint oil to keep troublesome squirrels away – but how much truth is there in...

Man kneeling in frosty garden covering raised bed with cardboard for composting autumn leaves and vegetable scraps.

Create a Lasagne Garden in Winter for a Fertile Vegetable Bed

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

While the beds lie frozen, the groundwork for this year’s harvest is already under way below ground – provided you...

Gloved hands holding a wooden bird feeder filled with nuts and berries, surrounded by small birds on snowy ground.

Feeding Birds: The Nordic Method for Winter Gardens

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

As winter gradually eases, many people in Central Europe make a crucial mistake when feeding birds – Nordic gardeners take...

Person gardening, kneeling on a path, planting colourful flowers in a sunny garden bed next to a large flower pot.

Lantana: the underestimated queen of the garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

Lantana, also known as shrub verbena, is one of those plants that is impossible to overlook once it has found...