Page 6 - News

Man kneeling and examining a tree in front of a brick house covered with ivy on a sunny day

Ivy on Trees and House Walls: Leave, Trim or Remove It?

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

Yet reaching for the pruning shears with the best intentions can do more harm than good. Ivy has a poor...

Man planting seedlings in a garden bed with labelled plants and a watering can nearby on a sunny day.

Plant these 5 “camel perennials” by 31 March to save water in summer

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

Increasingly prolonged heatwaves and occasional hosepipe restrictions leave amateur gardeners asking the same question: how can a garden remain attractive...

Person kneeling and using a hand fork to tend soil in a raised garden bed with young plants and a basket nearby.

Vegetable bed: why deep digging harms the soil

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

The first mild day arrives, your hands are itching and the spade is already waiting: it must be time to...

Young man leaning on balcony railing with birds flying over residential area in daylight

How to Keep Pigeons Away from Your Balcony or Terrace

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

Anyone living in a city with a balcony or roof terrace will know the issue: pigeons land, nest and leave...

Hand spooning soil into a small potted plant on a windowsill with gardening tools nearby.

Metal Spoon in the Flowerpot: What the Plant Trick Really Does

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

Anyone seeing a spoon in a plant pot for the first time could easily assume it has been forgotten there...

Hands planting a small fig tree in a terracotta pot on a wooden table by a sunlit window.

Propagate a Fig Tree from Cuttings in Late Winter

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

Many amateur gardeners do not realise that an existing fig tree may already hold the potential for another one. With...

Man kneeling indoors setting up a white air purifier near an open door with a large ant outside.

House Centipedes: How to Keep Them Out of Your Home

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

A sudden glimpse of a very fast, long-legged centipede racing across a bathroom tile can alarm many people. Yet their...

Hand planting purple flowers in raised stone garden bed with gardening trowel and bee nearby.

Blue Cushion Aubrieta: Transforming a Retaining Wall into a Flowering Feature

Harriet M. Ashford • October 23, 2026

With the right perennial, a problem feature can become a brightly coloured focal point. Many gardens have one: an austere...

Man in protective suit inspecting a large wasp nest under a house roof with a flashlight.

Asian hornet nests: where to look in spring

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

Those who know where to look can prevent a great deal of trouble. With the first mild days of the...

Two blue tits eating sunflower seeds from a person's hand in a blossoming garden with a birdhouse and table in the background

How to attract tits to your garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

It could instead be full of tits, song and life. Many amateur gardeners dutifully put up a nest box in...

Two elderly men discuss paint colours and plans by a garden wall in a sunny residential street.

Can a neighbour refuse to render the side facing your own property?

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

Can a neighbour refuse to render the side facing your own property? Anyone living in a densely built-up residential area...

Person watering potted plants with a metal watering can on a sunny balcony or patio.

Rainwater vs Tap Water: What Your Plants Really Notice

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

The first summer downpour arrived overnight. As the city finally cooled, rain hammered on metal roofs, balconies and old tarmac....

Person cleaning green moss off tiled floor with scrub brush and spray bottle on a sunlit patio with plants nearby

Remove Moss and Algae from Your Patio with Potato Water

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

Many homeowners face the same issue in spring: over the winter, moss, algae and lichens have taken hold, leaving the...

Person planting flower bulbs in soil of raised garden bed with watering can and labels nearby

Summer Tubers and Bulbs: What Alan Titchmarsh and Sarah Raven Plant in March

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

While many amateur gardeners are still considering the first lawn cut, experienced professionals are already focused on something else: summer-flowering...

Person kneeling in grass using a small rake with a watering can and seed bag nearby in a backyard garden.

Three March Tasks for a Lush, Moss-Free Lawn

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

Act smartly now and you will lay the groundwork for lush green grass right into autumn. Rather than buying costly...

Hand holding lemon with cloves on wooden kitchen surface, steaming bowl with cloves, fruit bowl and bananas in background.

Cloves against fruit flies: the natural kitchen trick without chemical spray

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

Only moments ago, the worktop was spotless; now a whole swarm is circling brown bananas or the leftover red wine...

Person tending to pink and red flowers on a balcony with gardening tools and soil on a wooden table.

Diascia: the overlooked summer queen for colourful balcony planters

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

Many people dream of planters overflowing with colour well into autumn. Yet geraniums usually end up back in the shopping...

Robin bird standing on the ground near a small wooden birdhouse and green foliage in a garden.

The small garden detail that decides whether the robin stays

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

One small detail at the base of your shrubs determines whether the robin stays – or avoids your impeccably tidy...

Hands placing a plastic bottle over a lettuce plant in a raised garden bed with gardening tools nearby.

Plastic bottle method: protect plants from slugs without slug pellets

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

Many amateur gardeners reach for packets of blue pellets in frustration when they find nothing but chewed lettuce stalks in...

Young person adding fresh rosemary to a steaming pot in a bright, modern kitchen.

Why Boiling Rosemary Is Dividing Cleaning Experts

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

The first time I watched someone boil rosemary on the hob, I genuinely assumed they had abandoned their dinner. There...

Person planting seeds in a raised garden bed with gardening tools and a notebook nearby in sunlight.

Prepare Garden Soil in February: 5 Steps for a Better Harvest

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

Many amateur gardeners are not yet thinking about beds, tomatoes or courgettes in February. For seasoned gardeners, however, this month...