Page 50 - News

Person spreading fertiliser in lush garden with green wheelbarrow, child playing and dog in background.

Spring lawn fertiliser: choosing the right NPK for a greener lawn

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

As the days draw out and the ground slowly thaws, the lawn starts to wake up too. If you simply...

Blackbird and robins perched on a rosehip bush in a snowy garden with a wooden fence and window in the background.

How Dog Rose and Potato Rose Turn Your Garden into a Winter Bird Haven

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

While plenty of hobby gardeners buy bird seed by the kilo, others create a genuine haven for blackbirds, robins and...

Woman adjusting a hanging orchid plant in a sunlit indoor garden room with various potted plants.

Phalaenopsis orchid: why a hanging basket outdoors in summer makes it bloom again

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

A simple change of location can transform things completely. In countless living rooms, you’ll find magnificent orchids that never show...

Man laying landscaping fabric along a garden path bordered by plants and two wheelbarrows.

Gravel Surfaces Without Weeds: How to Build Them Properly with a Root Barrier and Weed Membrane

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Smart gravel paths, a driveway finished with pale chippings, a cosy seating area laid with decorative gravel: surfaces like these...

Hands in gloves pruning a rose bush with red secateurs in a garden with dry soil and wooden fence.

When to Prune Roses: The Perfect Timing Window

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

The perfect window of time is surprisingly small. Every year, countless amateur gardeners find themselves staring at their rose bushes,...

Person planting seeds in soil inside a glass bowl next to a potted peace lily on a wooden table by a window.

Peace Lily: The Watering Routine That Brings Back Blooms

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

The peace lily is often seen as a low-fuss houseplant. It copes with the occasional missed watering and sits in...

Person harvesting morel mushrooms in a garden patch with a basket and gardening trowel nearby.

How to Grow Morels in Your Garden with Wood Ash and Apple Pomace

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Morels are often seen as the holy grail for mushroom lovers: uncommon, pricey and notoriously difficult to track down. Each...

Father and son gardening together in a raised wooden planter box in a sunny backyard.

Lidl launches Parkside wooden planter box with trellis for 29.99 euros

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Lidl is kicking off spring with a garden buy that promises far more than you’d expect for the money: a...

Person standing on a ladder applying sealant to a house gutter in a sunlit garden with blooming trees.

Keep Wasps Away Early: Seal Weak Points Around Your Home

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Many homeowners only realise there’s a problem when the patio is already buzzing with yellow-and-black squadrons. Yet a major wasp...

Person kneeling and planting flowers in a vibrant, well-maintained garden under warm sunlight.

Eight robust, low-maintenance perennials for lazy gardeners

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Many amateur gardeners end up giving up in frustration when summer heat, torrential downpours and an overpacked diary all hit...

Person placing orange peels in garden soil with a curious tabby cat nearby among colourful flowers.

How Orange Peel Keeps Cats Out of the Garden Beds

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Anyone who plants tulips, crocuses and other signs of spring with a sense of anticipation will recognise the problem: the...

Person wearing gloves pruning plants with garden shears in a sunny flower bed beside a brick wall.

March pruning in the garden: what to cut back now

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Pruning the right plants and trees now sets you up for a season packed with flowers, fragrance and healthier growth....

Person wearing gloves holding garden pruning shears near budding tree branches on a cold day with visible breath.

February apple tree pruning: fruit pruning for a bigger harvest

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Many hobby gardeners barely glance at their apple tree in gloomy February. The beds look bare, the lawn is sodden,...

Young man adjusting solar garden light in flower bed during evening in suburban backyard.

Aldi’s Garden Bright Solar Uplighter for the Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

When you picture long summer evenings now, most people look first at plants, outdoor furniture or the barbecue. One detail...

Child planting flowers in a garden bed with a gardening book open beside them on a sunny day.

Perennials in the garden: how to tell them from annuals, biennials and shrubs

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

The word perennial sounds straightforward, yet in a border it rarely is. Perennials, annual flowers, tubers, shrubs: if you want...

Hands planting seeds beside leafy vegetables in raised garden beds with a watering can nearby.

Stop slugs with a raw wooden plank in the vegetable patch

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Anyone with a vegetable patch will recognise the morning horror: yesterday the seedlings were still delicate and healthy; today, only...

Woman wearing a hat and jacket planting berry shrubs in a garden on a sunny autumn day with a steaming mug nearby.

Plant these three berry shrubs in January for a productive berry garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Anyone hoping to stock their berry garden with fresh fruit does not need to wait for spring. January, in particular,...

Person in straw hat adding snails to a tomato plant in a raised garden bed with vegetables.

Snail Shells: Free Calcium for a Zero‑Waste Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Among last year’s leaves, fresh seedlings and damp soil, you’ll often spot empty snail shells. Most people sweep them into...

Sunlit wooden patio with cushioned lounger, small table, iced drink, and various potted green plants beneath a clear sky.

15 Clever Garden Fence Ideas for Privacy, Protection and Style

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Most gardens are finished off with hastily installed chain-link fencing or a dull, off-the-shelf privacy screen. It’s a missed opportunity,...

Person sowing clover seeds in soil with a watering can and gardening tools on grassy patch outdoors.

Micro clover: a simple trick to fix bare patches in your lawn

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

A simple trick is all it takes. Plenty of garden owners know the routine: as soon as the snow has...

Hands filling a terracotta pot with soil using a small black garden spade indoors by a window.

What a White Layer on Potting Soil Means for Houseplants

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

There’s more to it than appearance alone. Plenty of plant lovers know the moment: you water your favourite houseplant, run...