Page 7 - News

Woman pouring water over a golden retriever’s head while kneeling on a forest trail next to a backpack.

Pine Processionary Caterpillars: Protect Your Dog on Walks

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

An inconspicuous caterpillar can cause devastating damage within only a few hours. While many owners casually pick up the lead,...

Person loading blue jeans into a front-loading washing machine in a bright laundry room.

Five washing machine routines that protect your clothes

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

Most people think about temperature, programme and detergent when starting the washing machine. Yet the real difference is often made...

Man planting pink flowers in a vibrant garden with daffodils, irises, and gardening tools during golden hour.

Perennials, Peonies, Daffodils and Garden Irises for a Long-Lasting Border

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

Many gardens look bleak at the end of winter. The beds are bare, the soil is cold and nothing appears...

Hands placing food wrapped in aluminium foil inside a freezer drawer with containers of vegetables.

Aluminium Foil Freezer Trick: Less Ice and Lower Electricity Costs

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

A simple kitchen-foil trick promises freezer drawers that remain easy to open – along with noticeably lower electricity costs in...

Young man in apron pouring iced tea into a jar on a balcony with potted plants and fresh vegetables.

Banana Peels as Natural Fertiliser for Plants

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

Anyone who enjoys eating bananas will know the problem: the peel is left behind and usually ends up in the...

Person using an iron and baking soda on a stained shirt to remove a yellow stain on a wooden table in a bright kitchen.

Remove Old Grease Stains with Baking Soda, Parchment Paper and an Iron

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

A seemingly ruined T-shirt, a greasy tablecloth, a stained tea towel – and the washing machine has made no difference?...

Woman wearing a straw hat tending to plants in a raised garden bed on a sunny day.

Bergenia: the living weed barrier for your garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

Across gardens of every size, bare ground is increasingly being overtaken by unwanted plants as chemical weedkillers vanish from garden...

Person pruning budding branches on a fruit tree in an orchard with tools and harvest nearby.

Prune These Four Fruit Trees Before 10 March for a Better Harvest

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

Many home gardeners give their fruit trees attention only once the first buds begin to swell. By that stage, however,...

Scientist in lab coat and safety glasses examining battery cells at desk with laptop and car model.

China leads battery production but risks losing the solid-state battery race

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

China is not falling behind in the battery race. On the contrary, the country still controls much of the industrial...

Young man harvesting ripe tomatoes on a sunny balcony garden surrounded by potted plants and flowers.

How to Grow Tomatoes on a Small Balcony in Containers

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

Sarah looks out at her tiny balcony, scarcely 1.2 metres across, and wonders whether she has lost the plot. Three...

Person in casual clothes placing laundry into a tall, mesh laundry basket in a bathroom.

Lidl door laundry bag: a smart space-saving solution for small bathrooms

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

Living in a compact flat often creates the same dilemma: you want your home to feel tidy, calm and stylish,...

Man gardening under a blossoming tree with plants, gardening tools, watering can, and a notebook nearby.

Five Essential Plantings for a Lush Spring Orchard

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

A sluggish beginning or a riot of blossom: gardeners insist the difference lies in what grows under, alongside and just...

Person cleaning a white surface with a cloth and spray bottle in a bright bedroom with wooden floor.

Why Wiping Baseboards Makes Your Whole Room Look Cleaner

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

You spot it just as you are about to leave. The carpet has been vacuumed, the cushions plumped and the...

Person planting seeds in a garden bed with garlic bulbs and vegetable seedlings in the morning light.

What to Sow in a January Vegetable Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 22, 2026

January can give the growing year a quiet but valuable reset, even though many gardeners put their tools away until...

Hands placing a plant cutting into a jar of water on a sunny windowsill with potted plants nearby.

Spider Plant Not Producing Plantlets? The Real Reasons and Simple Fixes

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

For months, your spider plant has been growing beautifully – yet the characteristic hanging plantlets are completely absent. What is...

Person scrubbing moss off outdoor tiles with a brush, bucket of soapy water, and yellow cleaning liquid nearby.

Remove moss and algae from patios with washing-up liquid

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Many homeowners do not realise that neither a pressure washer nor harsh chemicals are needed to get rid of this...

Person planting flower bulbs in terracotta pots surrounded by colourful flowers on a balcony table.

10 essential summer bulbs for gardens and balconies

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Winter has passed, the beds look bare and window boxes feel dreary. Right now is the moment that determines whether...

Person pruning rosemary bush with garden shears in sunny outdoor garden setting.

How to prune rosemary in March for abundant flowers

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Many amateur gardeners are surprised in spring by a tall, woody rosemary plant that is bare at the bottom and...

Person watering an orchid plant in a transparent pot on a kitchen countertop with corn and cooking pot nearby.

Cooked Corn Fertiliser for Orchids: A Gentle Trick for Tired Plants

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Withered flowers, limp leaves and bare stems: once its display has faded, a potted orchid is often relegated to the...

Hoopoe bird with a striking crest foraging on soil near a person reading and holding a garden dustpan.

What a Hoopoe in Your Garden Reveals

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Many people have no idea what this reveals about their garden. Anyone who spots a hoopoe in their own garden...

Hands planting a young rose cutting in a terracotta pot beside blooming pink and red roses in a garden.

Rose wire trick: turn a seemingly dead branch into a new plant

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Many amateur gardeners cut away every rose shoot that appears exhausted without hesitation. Yet these branches often retain enough life...