Page 69 - News

A group of people gardening together in raised beds, planting and harvesting fresh vegetables outdoors.

How Community Gardens Help You Find Purpose

Harriet M. Ashford • September 18, 2026

The plants are not the first thing you notice. The sound is. Metal trowels striking terracotta pots, quiet laughter floating...

Man inspecting a potted plant on a wooden table in a bright, plant-filled living room.

Why Houseplant Brown Tips Appear and How to Stop Them

Harriet M. Ashford • September 18, 2026

Your once-thriving living-room jungle has suddenly begun to look worn out. For plenty of plant owners, dry, brown tips can...

Person in a yellow coat pouring red liquid on a snowy path with a dog sniffing nearby outside a house.

Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Rock Salt for Icy Pavements

Harriet M. Ashford • September 18, 2026

Across North America and Europe, councils and householders are seeking ways to make pavements safer without damaging soil, scorching pets’...

Hand placing rosemary cuttings with roots in a glass of water on a kitchen windowsill with pots and soil.

How to Propagate Rosemary in Water and Grow New Plants

Harriet M. Ashford • September 18, 2026

A modest rosemary plant on a windowsill can, with the right treatment of its shoots, quietly turn into a whole...

Person checking watch while standing behind a red lawnmower on a grassy lawn in a backyard.

Midday lawn mowing turns risky from February 15

Harriet M. Ashford • September 18, 2026

At 11:58 a.m., the first lawnmower starts up, its harsh rattle slicing through a winter sun that had been peaceful...

Hand placing a potted green plant with an evil eye charm on a white table by a bright window.

How a Jade Plant Can Protect Your Home From the Evil Eye

Harriet M. Ashford • September 18, 2026

She says that, before then, each week seemed to bring another irritation: a dripping pipe, a passive-aggressive neighbour, or an...

Woman gardening in vegetable patch with basket of fresh carrots and tomatoes beside her on wooden path

The old no-dig gardening habit making vegetables healthier

Harriet M. Ashford • September 18, 2026

On a mild April evening in a modest suburban garden, the sound reaches you before the sight does: the measured...

Person potting a green plant in a terracotta pot on a wooden table with gardening tools and pots nearby.

The Small Pot Upgrade That Unlocks Plant Growth

Harriet M. Ashford • September 18, 2026

On a grey Tuesday morning, I found myself glaring at my fading basil plant as though it had let me...

A robin perched on a plate of mealworms beside gloved hands on a snowy wooden table near a bird feeder.

How to Help Robins Through a Brutal Cold Snap

Harriet M. Ashford • September 18, 2026

The first robin touches down with barely a whisper, a tidy bundle of feathers settling on the frozen grass. You...

Person pruning pink and white flowers growing over a cracked brick garden wall on a sunny day.

The Dark Side of Climbing Plants and Picture-Perfect Blooms

Harriet M. Ashford • September 18, 2026

A cascade of wisteria, with violet flowers spilling across a white-brick front, is the sort of scene neighbours stop to...

Person planting a seedling in a garden bed with gardening tools and a basket of bananas nearby.

The Exact Spot Where Banana Peels Actually Boost Your Plants

Harriet M. Ashford • September 18, 2026

The first time I flung a banana peel straight onto my tomato bed, I felt strangely pleased with myself. It...

Person holding a small gardening trowel with other garden tools and pots on a wooden table.

How Labelling Garden Tools Saves Time and Energy

Harriet M. Ashford • September 18, 2026

The shovel was there yesterday. You remember propping it against the shed, with mud still stuck to its blade as...

Person in winter clothes hanging a wooden bird feeder with birds around in a snowy garden at sunrise.

How an affordable bird feeder helps garden birds survive winter

Harriet M. Ashford • September 18, 2026

By morning, the garden had fallen silent in that peculiar winter fashion, with every sound muffled by the cold air....

Hands pouring coffee from a glass jar into a glass cup on a wooden board by a windowsill with orchids.

Molasses for Orchids: How Phalaenopsis Can Bloom Again

Harriet M. Ashford • September 17, 2026

Anyone who receives a Phalaenopsis as a gift is usually delighted by its spectacular display of flowers – only to...

Child planting flower bulbs in soil among blooming ranunculus flowers in a garden on a sunny day.

Ranunculus instead of tulips: the new favourite flower for spring

Harriet M. Ashford • September 17, 2026

Many beds look much the same in April: a few rows of tulips, attractive for a brief spell, then suddenly...

Woman tending to various potted flowering and leafy houseplants on a wooden table in natural light.

Heart-shaped plants to grow indoors and in the garden

Harriet M. Ashford • September 17, 2026

Also called Lamprocapnos spectabilis (previously classified as dicentra), this elegant, delicate-looking perennial bears strings of heart-shaped blooms along arching stems...

Hand spraying water on a blooming orchid plant on a wooden table by a window in natural light.

Espresso Orchid: Caring for Oncidium Sharry Baby

Harriet M. Ashford • September 17, 2026

The Espresso Orchid, botanically known as Oncidium Sharry Baby, is regarded as a small diva on the windowsill. However, anyone...

Pink and red azalea flowers in a white pot on a wooden table in a cosy living room with sofa and candles.

Why the Indoor Azalea Is Stealing Christmas 2025

Harriet M. Ashford • September 17, 2026

Cold light, thick coats and hushed streets: then, in the centre of the sofa area, an unexpected burst of vivid...

Hands tending a blooming orchid in a transparent pot on a sunlit windowsill with mist and plant care items nearby

How to Care for an Orchid with Abundant Flowering at Home

Harriet M. Ashford • September 17, 2026

Having a beautiful orchid brightening the living-room window can completely change the atmosphere of any modern flat. This elegant plant...

Person arranging roses and tulips in a glass vase on a kitchen counter by a window with potted plants.

Sugar Trick for Cut Flowers: Revive Your Vase Bouquet

Harriet M. Ashford • September 17, 2026

Everyone knows the situation: a magnificent bouquet sits on the living-room table at the weekend, but only a few days...

Person sowing flower seeds in a garden bed surrounded by seed packets and blooming flowers.

Seven flowers to sow in March for a colourful summer garden

Harriet M. Ashford • September 17, 2026

The seed packets are coming back out of the drawer, the sun is gaining strength and your fingers are itching...