Page 58 - News

Potted Japanese maple tree with red leaves by a wooden door, gardening tools and a watering can on stone path.

Acer palmatum: the elegant Japanese maple for residential entrances

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

The search for refined landscape features has turned Acer palmatum into a genuine architectural highlight. This ornamental tree blends a...

Illustration of a tree with visible roots in soil, a hand using a trowel, and an open notebook with a pen nearby.

How microbes may help oak trees cope with climate change

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

Oak trees are capable of surviving for centuries, but climate change is bringing drought, degraded soils and disease far more...

Person tending to a snake plant on a wooden windowsill with pots and soil nearby.

Why Saint George’s Sword Leaves Bend and How to Fix It

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

Among the most familiar houseplants in homes and flats, Saint George’s sword (snake plant) stands out for its toughness and...

Hands tending to a basil plant in a terracotta pot on a wooden windowsill with watering can and seeds nearby.

Growing Basil at Home: Fresh Leaves for Fast Harvests

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

Having fresh leaves ready for a quick harvest means giving home-grown basil some specific care at planting time. This aromatic...

Child exploring a cracked clay pot in a garden with a bird guidebook and magnifying glass nearby.

Rufous Hornero Nest: What It Means to Find One in Your Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

Coming across a rufous hornero nest on a tree, wall, post, or a structure close to your home usually means...

Person cleaning outdoor tiled terrace with brush, bucket, and garden hose at sunset.

Washing the Balcony with a Hose: Why It Can Damage the Floor

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

Washing the balcony with a hose can feel like the quickest way to shift dust and grime, but this habit...

Person adding organic fertilizer to a potted hibiscus plant with red flower on a balcony table.

How to fertilise hibiscus by reading the leaves

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

Before adding any fertiliser to the pot, it is best to work out what the hibiscus is trying to "say"...

Hand placing a plastic bottle upside down in soil in a terracotta pot on a balcony with other potted plants.

A Practical Guide to a PET Bottle in Pots

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

During spells of intense heat, many people notice that pots dry out very quickly and plants start to struggle from...

Scientist in a lab coat examining a plant and holding a tablet with data in a greenhouse lab.

How botanic gardens can unite living collections to protect plant diversity from extinction

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

Botanic gardens have built up one of the largest living stores of plant diversity on the planet. New research shows...

Child planting flowers in a garden bed with colourful blooms and a hummingbird nearby.

Hardy Perennial Plants for a Sustainable Spring Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

Creating a lush green outdoor space at this time of year calls for strategic choices so you can enjoy lasting...

Hands planting a small plant in soil beside snake plants with a garden hose and pots nearby in sunlight.

How Saint George's Sword Spreads and Multiplies

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

Saint George's sword is one of the most common ornamental plants in homes and offices in Brazil. It is well...

Person tending to white flowering plants in terracotta pots on a sunlit patio outside a house door.

Weeping jasmine: the fragrant plant for a sheltered front entrance

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

The weeping jasmine is an ornamental plant admired for its arching, trailing stems and its pale, pleasantly scented flowers. Because...

Hands planting seedlings in a raised garden bed with labelled test tube markers and gardening tools nearby.

Reusing Empty Pens in the Garden: Practical Ideas

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

A pen that has run out of ink is often binned as soon as it stops writing, but this small...

Hands inspecting orchid plant leaves with a magnifying glass on a wooden table near a window.

Transparent Spots on Orchid Leaves: Causes, Identification and Care

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

Small, clear-looking patches on orchid leaves often worry growers. Before you remove any leaf, it’s worth checking what the marks...

Person planting young plants in a communal garden surrounded by apartment buildings on a sunny day.

The Miyawaki method: Akira Miyawaki mini-forest in 3 m²

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

The approach created by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki makes it possible to turn small urban plots into dense pockets of...

Hands wrapping a rosemary plant in a terracotta pot with aluminium foil on a wooden table outside.

Using Aluminium Foil in a Rosemary Pot: What It Does and How to Do It Safely

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

Placing aluminium foil on a rosemary pot can reflect light, help deter small insects and boost the brightness around the...

Hands pruning a small olive tree with ripe purple olives in a garden setting.

When to Prune a Jabuticaba Tree: Best Timing and Care

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

People who grow a jabuticaba tree often watch the seasons closely to judge when it is safest to step in...

Hands watering a potted green plant on a wooden table with sunlight and other plants in the background.

Jade plant care for healthy growth at home

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

Caring for the jade plant has become increasingly popular among people growing houseplants, largely because it is a tough species...

Person pruning pink and white bougainvillea plant in terracotta pot on balcony table with watering can.

Dipladenia (Mandevilla): the Bougainvillea-like Climbing Plant

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

The Bougainvillea-like climbing plant many people look for is dipladenia, also sold under its botanical name Mandevilla. Its pliable stems...

Person gardening with a trowel near rosemary plant and pumpkins in a sunny garden bed.

Why Rosemary Shouldn’t Be Planted Near Pumpkin

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

Rosemary is heat-tolerant, copes well with dry spells and needs very little fuss, yet it can lose strength when it...

Woman kneeling outdoors planting a small palm tree in soil on a sunny patio with gardening tools nearby.

Best Palm Trees for a Small Backyard: Compact Palms with Non‑Aggressive Roots

Harriet M. Ashford • August 13, 2026

Choosing the right palm tree for a small backyard sounds straightforward-until you start thinking about shade, looks, cracked paving, burst...