News
Why Overprotected Plants Grow Weak
Harriet M. Ashford
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The year’s first cold snap arrived on a Tuesday, sending half the neighbourhood out into their gardens armed with blankets,...
News
3 Vegetables That Prefer Growing in Pots
Harriet M. Ashford
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We have all had that moment: staring at a corner of the garden stripped bare by slugs and wondering whether...
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How Kitchen Scraps Become Natural Compost for Better Garden Soil
Harriet M. Ashford
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It all begins with the soil. Push your fingers into a healthy garden bed and it yields slightly, rather like...
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The 5-Minute Scent Garden Puzzle That Stopped My Border Collie Digging
Harriet M. Ashford
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Fresh holes every morning, muddy paws, and that feral look that says, “I’ve got energy to burn.” I had tested...
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How No-Dig Gardening Changed My Vegetable Beds
Harriet M. Ashford
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The first spring I chose not to dig my vegetable beds felt deeply unnatural, almost like I was cutting corners....
News
The innocent garden plant that snakes quietly love
Harriet M. Ashford
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The first time I spotted a snake in my garden, I did not register what it was immediately. I caught...
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Why Stones at the Bottom of Pots Harm Drainage
Harriet M. Ashford
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On a calm Sunday, you at last have a moment to repot the forlorn little pothos on your windowsill. You...
News
How Fennel Creates a Healthier Garden
Harriet M. Ashford
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Early evening in a small back garden on the edge of town. The hosepipe is still dripping, the air is...
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Rainwater: How to Avoid the €135 Fine From February 3
Harriet M. Ashford
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On a bleak Tuesday morning, with drizzle lingering stubbornly in the air, Pierre pulls his green watering can along the...
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Citronella Geranium: The Lemon-Scented Plant That Helps Keep Mosquitoes Away
Harriet M. Ashford
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On the first pleasantly warm evening of spring, the windows can finally be thrown open. The television murmurs in the...
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Brown Tips on Spider Plants: What Your Plant Is Telling You
Harriet M. Ashford
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The first time I noticed brown tips on a spider plant, I reacted like any devoted plant owner: I blamed...
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How to Create Year-Round Colour with Shade Perennials
Harriet M. Ashford
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You plant a few things there in spring, cross your fingers, then close the patio door and return to the...
News
Lasagna Gardening: Turn Winter Waste into Rich Soil
Harriet M. Ashford
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Most people put their tools away until April, but an increasing number of gardeners are using winter to turn worn-out...
News
Companion Planting: The Simple Trick That Protects Your Vegetables All Season
Harriet M. Ashford
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When I first noticed it, I genuinely assumed my neighbour had gone mad. Her neat lines of tomatoes and beans...
News
Lawnmowers at Midday: Why Quiet Hours Can Bring Legal Risk
Harriet M. Ashford
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No yelling, no confrontation. Only a lifted eyebrow, a finger aimed at the clock and a curt “Not between noon...
News
Why Gardeners Plant Vegetables in January
Harriet M. Ashford
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The sky hangs low, your fingers are numb and the ground seems barely awake. Most people are indoors beneath a...
News
How Early-Spring Pruning Helps Shrubs Stay Healthy and Flower Freely
Harriet M. Ashford
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The shrubs have that uncertain late-winter look: bare stems, a handful of frost-scorched leaves, and growth still waiting to reveal...
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How Eggshells Help Protect Tomatoes from Slugs and Sad Plants
Harriet M. Ashford
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In the early morning, while the neighbourhood remains hushed, Anna walks into her compact back garden with a coffee in...
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How to Space Indoor Plants in Pots for Healthier Growth
Harriet M. Ashford
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They are not yellow or crisp; they simply look… deflated. Three thriving plants sit crammed into a single long rectangular...
News
How Letting Weeds Stay Protects Your Garden Soil
Harriet M. Ashford
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The first time I chose not to pull out every weed, it felt as though I was violating an unwritten...
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Pruning Plants at the Right Time
Harriet M. Ashford
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The neighbour’s hedge looked as though it had survived a particularly painful break-up. It was late March, the first bright...
