News
How to Grow Lavender on a Sunny Balcony in Pots for Flats
Harriet M. Ashford
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Growing fragrant plants in flats can completely change the feel of a home, adding everyday wellbeing. Lavender stands out as...
News
Rhubarb Leaf Liquid for Tomatoes: The Forgotten Summer Defence
Harriet M. Ashford
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In back gardens and on balconies alike, tomato growers face the same quiet threats each summer - and the results...
News
The common Bougainvillea watering mistake that stops flowers
Harriet M. Ashford
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Many Bougainvillea owners keep making the same easy-to-miss mistake. Bougainvillea is often seen as the queen of Mediterranean-style patios -...
News
Fennel, the “Boring” Plant That Turns Your Garden Into an Airport for Pollinators
Harriet M. Ashford
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The first time it struck me, the garden felt oddly hushed. My dahlias were immaculate, the roses were laden with...
News
How the front garden can deter burglars with the right planting
Harriet M. Ashford
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Plenty of people head off on holiday - but the uneasy question remains: what happens to your house and garden...
News
A Simple Guide: Hanging Old CDs on a Tomato Plant to Protect Ripe Tomatoes from Birds
Harriet M. Ashford
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Hanging old CDs on a tomato plant is a straightforward way to guard nearly ripe fruit without using chemical products....
News
Japanese Azalea: A Practical Guide for a Flowering Balcony in Pots
Harriet M. Ashford
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Having a flower-filled balcony that feels lively is a common wish for people living in modern flats. The Japanese azalea...
News
Chlorophyll-Rich Leaf Extract: A Simple Liquid Feed for Home Gardeners
Harriet M. Ashford
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More and more home gardeners are trying a low-tech remedy: a chlorophyll-rich green leaf extract that encourages growth without relying...
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Agapanthus: the March P–K trick for gigantic flower stems
Harriet M. Ashford
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If you pick up a hand fork for a quick tidy-up in March, you can enjoy spectacularly tall flower heads...
News
Hanging Bottle Caps in the Garden: Shine, Movement and a Simple Bird Deterrent
Harriet M. Ashford
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Hanging bottle caps around the garden repurposes a common bit of waste to create shine, movement and gentle rattling sounds...
News
How Chemical-Free Beds Work in Real Gardens
Harriet M. Ashford
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The morning smells of damp soil as the sun slowly climbs over the fence. An older couple stand between their...
News
Desert Rose Care: Sun, Watering and Flowering Tips
Harriet M. Ashford
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Is there anything nicer than watching a desert rose open its brightly coloured blooms on the balcony? This succulent, known...
News
Creating a Vernal Pool in the Garden for Amphibians and Biodiversity
Harriet M. Ashford
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Creating a vernal pool in the garden turns low-lying patches into thriving ecological havens. This straightforward project uses rainwater to...
News
Where should lavender never be placed?
Harriet M. Ashford
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Keeping a garden scented and elegant starts with choosing the right plants for the space you have. Lavender stands out...
News
How to Attract a Hoopoe with the Right Nest Box
Harriet M. Ashford
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More and more hobby gardeners are wondering how to entice this exotic-looking bird with its striking feathered crest right to...
News
How to Use Coffee Grounds in the Garden
Harriet M. Ashford
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Coffee grounds are a straightforward household leftover that many people now reuse in the garden because they can boost the...
News
Sow Nigella damascena (love-in-a-mist) in March for bees and birds
Harriet M. Ashford
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As the first proper spring sunshine returns, borders can suddenly feel bare and unfinished. In gardens, on balconies and in...
News
Why Gardeners Are Hanging Corks on Lemon Trees
Harriet M. Ashford
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On a quiet suburban road, where lemon trees spill over low garden walls, residents have begun to notice something odd....
News
The Perfect Sidewalk Tree: Eco‑Hero or Menace?
Harriet M. Ashford
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A man in a fluorescent vest swears under his breath on the pavement. A concrete slab has buckled by a...
News
Plants That Grow in Water: Violet, Coleus and Begonia
Harriet M. Ashford
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Some plants that grow in water can form strong roots in clear vases, glass jars and other simple containers, without...
News
Dish Soap for Citrus Trees: The Simple Kitchen Spray That Stops Pests
Harriet M. Ashford
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The first genuinely warm weekend of the year arrives and you wander into the garden with a mug of coffee...
