Page 5 - News

Man kneeling on a mat planting seeds in soil outdoors with gardening tools and a watering can nearby.

How to Control Nutgrass in the Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

Nutgrass, botanically known as Cyperus rotundus, is regarded worldwide as one of the most troublesome garden weeds. At first glance...

Man kneeling in garden planting a young tree with soil, shovel, and watering can nearby on a sunny day.

Planting Fruit Trees: Why a Few Crucial Centimetres Matter

Harriet M. Ashford • October 24, 2026

Anyone planting an apple, cherry or apricot tree in March or April imagines fragrant blossom and fruit picked from their...

Woman harvesting ripe cherries from a tree in a sunny garden with a book and pruning tools nearby.

Pruning a Cherry Tree: A Neighbour’s Tip for a Bigger Harvest

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

A neighbour’s tip was all it took to turn things around. Many garden owners know this exact disappointment: you carefully...

Hoopoe bird with striking orange and black crest standing on cracked soil in garden with plants and bird baths.

A Hoopoe in Your Garden: What Its Visit Really Means

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

Its appearance, however, is far more than mere chance. Anyone spotting a hoopoe in their own garden for the first...

Woman tending to blue and white flowers in a wooden planter on a sunny balcony with other potted plants.

Nigella: the easy cottage-garden flower for months of colour

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

Many amateur gardeners stare helplessly at seed packets in spring: what will deliver plenty of colour, require little effort and...

Person kneeling on lawn adjusting a red lawnmower with grass and gardening tools nearby in a backyard.

Correct lawn mowing height: how to keep moss at bay

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

Many amateur gardeners are damaging their lawn without realising it – simply by using the wrong cutting height. This single...

Hand spraying water on seedlings growing in labelled peat pots on a sunlit windowsill.

Action seed kit: the £1.99 snail system for March sowing

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

The first sowings of the year are often the most exciting moment for gardening enthusiasts – and, at the same...

Person pruning a green flowering plant in a garden bed with a trowel and open notebook nearby.

Monty Don’s March Hydrangea Pruning Trick for More Flowers

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

Many amateur gardeners do everything right in spring – yet still ruin their hydrangeas with one tiny mistake. Anyone hoping...

Person's hands tending to basil plants on a sunny windowsill with lavender and gardening tools nearby

Keep Spiders Away with Lavender, Mint and Basil on the Windowsill

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

An old trick puts a stop to it. Many people reach for aerosol cans and harsh chemicals in these situations....

Hand planting seeds in soil with seedlings, watering can, seed packets, trowel, and tomatoes nearby in garden bed.

Sow These Seeds in March for an Abundant Summer Vegetable Harvest

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

If you merely wait now, you lose weeks of harvesting time: a few inconspicuous sowings in March already determine how...

Person decorating a cactus with colourful jelly beans by a sunny window in winter.

Why Your Easter Cactus Does Not Flower at Easter

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

It stays richly green and looks healthy – yet your Easter cactus produces not a single flower just in time...

Person planting a young nettle plant in soil with gardening tools and a botanical guidebook nearby.

Weeds as Soil Indicators: The Best Free Soil Test

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

You may be destroying the best free soil test available. Wild plants can suddenly appear everywhere: between young vegetable plants,...

Brown chickens dust bathing in a wooden sandbox with a sack and gardening shovel nearby on a sunny day.

Dust Bath for Chickens: A Simple Defence Against Red Poultry Mites

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

If you head to the coop in spring and find anxious chickens with ruffled feathers and noticeably fewer eggs, feed...

Person planting flower bulbs in garden bed next to basket of colourful flowers and gardening trowel.

Planting summer bulbs in March: seven stars for a long flowering season

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

Picking up a spade and a box of bulbs in March gives your summer garden a genuine head start. The...

Person kneeling on a garden path pouring peeled garlic cloves from a small metal bucket onto the ground.

Garlic against snakes: a natural garden barrier in March

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

Many people begin preparing their balconies, gardens and patios in March – only to realise later that reptiles also find...

Person pruning a small plant in a terracotta pot on a sunlit balcony with gardening tools nearby.

Save Your Oleander After Winter: The Right Care Plan

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

Many oleanders look beyond saving after winter: brown leaves, bare shoots and scarcely any sign of life. Yet, with the...

Person mowing overgrown grass in a backyard with an electric lawn mower on a sunny day.

Mowing the Lawn in Spring: This Mistake Weakens It

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

Many people start using the lawnmower far too early in spring – and in doing so weaken precisely what they...

Hand placing a coin in a birdbath with two robins perched nearby and gardening gloves on the edges.

1p Coin in a Bird Bath: Does the Copper Trick Keep Water Clear?

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

A curious tip is currently circulating on gardening forums and social media: anyone with a bird bath in the garden...

Man kneeling to mulch soil around a small tree in a sunny garden with gardening tools nearby.

Japanese Maple Care in March: The Simple Step for Healthy Growth

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

Many Japanese maple owners will recognise the problem: brown leaf edges, dried-up shoot tips and very little new growth, despite...

Young woman watering plants while sitting on wooden bench on sunny balcony surrounded by potted greenery.

IKEA NÄMMARÖ: The 3-in-1 Privacy Screen for Small Outdoor Spaces

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

Many people furnish their terrace with attractive plants and comfortable chairs, only to realise later that they do not actually...

Hands tending to green lettuce plants in a raised garden bed with wool plant cosy and watering can nearby

Old Wool Jumpers as a Natural Slug Barrier for the Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

Many keen gardeners know the frustration: carefully planted lettuces, tender brassicas or young dahlias vanish overnight amid a mess of...