Page 73 - News

Hands hanging colourful plastic plates on a string above a raised garden bed with leafy green plants.

How Hanging Plastic Caps Protect Vegetable Produce from Birds

Harriet M. Ashford • September 13, 2026

Growing vegetables and plants at home calls for protection against small intruders that target tender shoots. Creatively hanging plastic caps...

Person examining tree bark closely with magnifying glass in grassy yard during autumn.

Tree Trunk Signs to Watch Before Leaf Changes Appear

Harriet M. Ashford • September 13, 2026

The tree trunk can show important warning signs before more noticeable changes appear in the leaves. Alterations to the bark,...

Robot lawn mower cutting grass on a garden lawn with person controlling it via smartphone app.

Dreame A3 AWD Pro 5000 review: the ultimate 4×4 robotic lawn mower

Harriet M. Ashford • September 13, 2026

Four wheel motors, a 360°-scanning 3D LiDAR, two AI-powered cameras, the ability to tackle slopes of up to 80%, and...

Man stacking sandbags in garden to build a raised wall on a sunny day with wheelbarrow nearby

Build a Retaining Wall from Concrete Bags: A Practical Garden Guide

Harriet M. Ashford • September 13, 2026

A slipping slope, crumbling bank or unstable terrace: many gardens need support – yet hardly anyone fancies formwork, a mess...

Colourful garden bed with pink peonies, purple alliums, blue hydrangeas, lavender, and yellow daffodils in bloom.

The Best Companion Plants for Peonies

Harriet M. Ashford • September 13, 2026

Anyone who has stood before a large peony border in May or June is unlikely to forget the sight. The...

Hands planting seedlings in soil inside a plastic container on a wooden table with gardening supplies nearby.

How to Reuse a Margarine Tub for Home Gardening

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

Once empty, margarine tubs can be given a practical new purpose by people who grow plants at home. Provided the...

Brown chickens pecking in a garden with a wooden coop, tomato plants, a watering can, and a basket of eggs.

Chickens to Keep Snakes Out of the Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

As soon as temperatures rise, many people in rural areas know the feeling: snakes suddenly begin appearing in the garden....

Woman in beige dress tending to white flowers on garden pergola with watering can and gloves on wooden table.

Fragrant Climbers for Full Sun in Summer

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

Creating a pleasant outdoor space in summer begins with choosing the right ornamental plants. Growing fragrant climbers can turn sun-drenched...

Hand spraying a mist from a glass bottle with leaves inside near a wooden table with herbs and a bowl.

Rosemary and Bay Leaf Water Sprayed at the Entrance: What It Is For

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

Rosemary and bay leaf water sprayed at the entrance is a popular household tip, used chiefly to create a herbal...

Person opening curtain beside a windowsill with potted plants and a small amber bottle in natural light.

Why an Orchid Has Healthy Leaves but Does Not Flower

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

An orchid may have green, firm, seemingly healthy leaves yet go for months without producing flowers. This does not automatically...

Woman tending to a colourful flower garden with a watering can and gloves on a sunny day.

Tough Perennials for a Low-Maintenance Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

Many keen gardeners know the pattern: planting with enthusiasm in spring, finding everything dried out by high summer, then starting...

Person watering potted plants on a sunlit balcony with gardening tools and bottles nearby.

How to Make a Watering Can from Recycled Packaging

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

A sturdy container can take on a second purpose in the garden, becoming a watering can made from recycled packaging...

Person sprinkling crushed eggshells around rose plant in garden bed next to gardening book and trowel.

How eggshells improve rose bush soil naturally

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

Growing flowers at home calls for ongoing attention to the soil to ensure abundant new growth throughout the year. Adding...

Hand reaching to touch leaves above a rustic clay oven on a wooden post in a sunny garden setting.

What a Rufous Hornero Mud Nest Reveals About Your Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

If a mud nest has suddenly appeared on your veranda, a tree branch or even by a window, there is...

Person pruning young basil plants in terracotta pots on a wooden table outdoors with gardening tools nearby.

April cuttings: 7 plants to propagate cheaply and quickly

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

If you want to fill your beds, containers and window boxes without wincing at the garden-centre checkout, now is the...

Man controlling robotic lawn mower with smartphone in garden next to wooden deck on sunny day

How to choose the best robotic lawn mower for your garden

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

RTK, NetRTK, LiDAR, cameras, automatic mapping, drive wheels and cutting width: robotic lawn mowers come with no shortage of selling...

Man installing wood-effect tiles on balcony floor beside potted plants and tiling tools in daylight.

Small City Balcony: WPC Decking Boards or Porcelain Stoneware?

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

A small city balcony poses a big question: WPC decking boards or porcelain stoneware? Anyone wanting a quick, clean and...

Child in a green shirt kneeling on forest path, observing a line of caterpillars with a backpack and sunglasses nearby.

Processionary Caterpillars: Why Their Urticating Hairs Are a Hidden Risk

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

A line of caterpillars moving head to tail may look too orderly to pose any danger. With processionary caterpillars, however,...

Person planting colourful flowers in a container on a balcony with soil, gardening tools, and a November calendar.

Calibrachoa: How to Create Spectacular Balcony Flower Cascades

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

Many people admire balcony boxes in the height of summer, overflowing with cascades of flowers, and wonder how their neighbours...

Person assembling a wooden crate on wheels with gardening tools and plants on a balcony.

How to Turn a Wooden Fruit Crate into an Organiser Trolley

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

When Clara noticed that items on the balcony were continually left scattered around, she looked for a way to make...

Hedgehog sniffing a nest with speckled eggs on sandy beach near a small wooden box labelled DOC and a yellow flag.

How Hedgehogs Became a Threat to New Zealand's Native Species

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

During the nineteenth century, small mammals were deliberately introduced to tackle agricultural problems on Oceanian farms. Yet this human intervention...