Page 53 - News

Man sifting soil in garden while girl and dog watch in sunny backyard filled with flowers and greenery

Moles in the Garden: Why Molehills Can Help Your Lawn

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Many people reach for drastic measures straight away - and end up undermining their own garden happiness. Molehills are often...

Woman examining plant leaves with a magnifying glass in a garden on a sunny day.

Lemon tree in April: brown bumps, sticky leaves and how to beat scale insects

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Anyone who moves their lemon tree from indoors to a balcony, patio or the garden in April looks forward to...

Person watering colourful petunias and marigolds on a balcony garden with gardening supplies nearby

Calibrachoa: How to Get Overflowing Balcony Boxes with Million Bells

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Many balcony gardeners know the pattern: pricey window boxes, attractive pots, planted with the best intentions - and by July...

Man using a plastic cover to protect steam rising from plants in a raised garden bed in a backyard.

Ice Saints 2026: dates, background and gardening guidance

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

May is widely seen as the heart of spring: the moment to get tomatoes and courgettes going and to fill...

Woman wearing a straw hat pruning colourful lantana flowers on a sunny patio with watering can and plant food nearby.

The Lantana Shrub: A Colour-Changing Bloomer for Garden and Balcony

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

When late autumn arrives and you still want bright flowers in the garden or on the balcony, the choice quickly...

Person placing a lemon tree in a terracotta pot on a balcony with gardening gloves and thermometer nearby at sunset.

Late frost in March: protecting potted lemon trees on the balcony and terrace

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

For lemon trees kept in containers, this can be fatal. A lot of hobby gardeners are delighted in March when...

Person pruning diseased leaves from rose plants in a garden with a metal bucket nearby.

How to Prevent Black Spot Disease on Roses in March

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Black spot disease is the nightmare many amateur gardeners dread. Instead of a sea of glorious flowers, by July you...

Tabby cat resting on grass near bird feeders surrounded by colourful flowers in a sunlit garden.

How to Protect Birds from Cats in the Garden: The 3-2-1 Rule

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

If you adore cats but also celebrate every sparrow that visits your garden, you can end up with a genuine...

Person feeding seeds into a white swan-shaped bird feeder in a snowy garden.

How to Upcycle a Swan Vase into a Winter Bird Feeder

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

People often walk straight past old swan vases because they look out of place in a modern living room. Out...

Person pruning yellow flowers near red lawn mower in garden with spring blooms and a wooden fence.

Forsythia: the natural signal for the first spring lawn mow

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Plenty of amateur gardeners reach for the lawnmower far too early in spring - and then spend the whole summer...

Person tending to purple clematis flowers on a sunny balcony with potted plants and a watering can.

Compact Clematis: a secret weapon for small city balconies and courtyards

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

If you only have a narrow courtyard, a tiny garden or a few square metres of balcony, you’ll know the...

Woman wearing a straw hat harvesting ripe tomatoes in a garden with a basket full of fresh tomatoes.

Three heat-tolerant tomato varieties for heatwaves: Cornue des Andes, Green Zebra and Noire de Crimée

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

With the right choice of variety, your tomato bed can turn into a true yield machine-even during heatwaves. Plenty of...

Person kneeling and using a garden fork to plant seedlings in a vegetable patch with a watering can nearby.

Spring digging in the vegetable garden: why turning the soil can damage it - broadfork and mulch instead

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

That familiar, well-practised movement can do lasting harm to your soil. For generations, vigorously digging over the vegetable patch has...

Person rewinding a green garden hose on a reel in a sunny backyard garden.

How a Garden Hose Attracts Snakes in Spring

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

As soon as lawnmowers, hedge trimmers and the rest come back out in spring, snakes also begin to stir from...

Woman crouching to tend pink and white flowers in a sunlit garden beside a wooden bench and watering can.

Gaura vs Roses: the low‑maintenance eight‑month bloomer

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Many amateur gardeners are now quite literally digging out their roses and throwing them out of the border. Roses are...

Person sprinkling turmeric powder over dried orange peels on a table outdoors near blooming hydrangea flowers.

Orange Peel for Hydrangeas: A Simple Soil Boost

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Many home gardeners reach for labour-intensive fixes when hydrangeas fail to flower as hoped: lots of watering, pricey specialist fertiliser,...

Person scrubbing moss on a sunlit patio with a brush, cleaning spray, and natural cleaning products nearby.

Remove Moss from Your Patio with Vinegar and Bicarbonate of Soda

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Many homeowners spend hours scrubbing the patio, driveway and garden paths every year, only to find the green film creeping...

Person cleaning leaves of a potted plant on a wooden table with care spray and watering can nearby.

ZZ plant in March: six simple steps for stronger growth

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Right now is when it’s decided whether your ZZ plant will really take off this year - or just tick...

Person planting seedlings in a raised garden bed with gardening tools and notes nearby in a backyard.

What to Plant in March for a Strong Garden Year

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Planting wisely in March sets you up for generous flower borders, productive vegetable beds and a strong harvest through summer...

Person cleaning terracotta pot with sponge on balcony table surrounded by plants and watering can.

Simple Dishwashing Sponge Trick for Garden Soil and Balcony Pots

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

When the new gardening season begins, beds, balcony planters and pots can quickly reach their limits. The sun grows stronger,...

A hoopoe bird with an orange crest stands on soil near a person's hand holding a garden trowel in a flower garden.

What It Means When This Exotic Bird Visits Your Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

If you are lucky enough to spot this exotic-looking visitor in your own garden, you will probably stop in your...