Page 74 - News

Arborist measuring a large tree trunk with a tape measure near equipment and a "do not cut" flag.

Crack in a Tree Trunk: What It Can Mean

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

Noticing a crack in a tree trunk often leads people to assume at once that the tree is diseased or...

Young woman tending to potted flowers on a sunlit balcony with various colourful blooms and gardening tools.

10 Summer Bulbs for Gardens and Balconies: Plant Now for Flowers Until Late Summer

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

Many people look out of the window in March and see nothing but bare beds and dreary balcony planters. Yet...

Children planting and watering vegetables in a school greenhouse garden on a sunny day.

How 2,000 Plastic Bottles Created a Greenhouse at Richardson Primary School in Canberra

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

More than 2,000 plastic bottles that might otherwise have gone into the bin have been given a new purpose at...

Young man tending to potted plants on a sunny apartment balcony with gardening tools nearby

New Asian Balcony Plant Replaces Bamboo Quietly

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

An lesser-known Asian plant is quietly taking over – and it is often a much better fit. Many amateur gardeners...

European robin perched on an upturned terracotta pot with garden tools and birdseed nearby.

Why European robins ignore conventional nest boxes

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

Many garden owners put up well-intentioned nest boxes, then wonder why the European robin ignores them. This small bird, recognisable...

Hand holding a spoonful of white powder being added to soil in a terracotta pot with a snake plant by a window.

Should You Add Sugar to a Snake Plant?

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

Adding sugar to a snake plant has become a popular trick, supposedly boosting the microorganisms in the potting mix and...

Hands holding soil with worms underground near a wheat field with tractor and sprayer in the background.

How Glyphosate Herbicide Affects Earthworm Reproduction and Soil Health

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

The presence of earthworms is a sign of a healthy, balanced agricultural environment. However, repeated use of synthetic chemical products...

Person tending to colourful petunias in railing planter on a sunny balcony with blurred buildings in background

Calibrachoa for Small Balconies: A Colourful Trailing Plant

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

Calibrachoa is particularly appealing for anyone with limited room, as it thrives in pots while producing a remarkable number of...

Person kneeling, planting lavender in pots outdoors on a sunny day with gardening supplies around.

Lavender: the natural spring blend for abundant July flowers

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

Many keen gardeners spend the summer watering and encouraging their plants, yet still wonder why their lavender produces hardly any...

Person cleaning leaves of a potted plant on a wooden table in a sunny garden with gardening tools nearby

How to Use an Old Kitchen Sponge in the Spring Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

Anyone preparing their balcony or garden for the new season usually thinks about fresh compost, fertiliser and hardy varieties. Few...

Hands releasing a blue dragonfly above a garden bed with yellow flowers and ladybugs in sunlight.

Why Dragonflies Near Your Home Signal Natural Balance

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

Watching graceful insects glide above plants on sunny afternoons often sparks instant curiosity among residents. The swift flight of dragonflies...

Man inspecting newly laid asphalt on a suburban road with construction plans and a yellow hard hat nearby.

Recycled Asphalt Driveways: A Greener Alternative to Concrete

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

A few years ago, a thick layer of concrete in front of the house was seen as a sensible, almost...

Man using smartphone to operate robotic lawn mower cutting grass in a sunny garden patio area

Ecovacs Goat A1600 LiDAR Pro review: the robotic mower that tackles lawn edges

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

A line trimmer on a wire-free robotic lawn mower was a bold move. With the Goat A1600 LiDAR Pro, Ecovacs...

Young man cleaning a balcony floor with water, soap, and a brush surrounded by potted plants on a sunny day.

Clean Your Patio Naturally: Five Home Remedies Against Moss

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

With a few simple home remedies, your patio can look presentable again – without resorting to harsh chemicals. When people...

Mosquito biting a person's arm with a red laser targeting it on a wooden table outdoors.

Mosquitoes Use Infrared Sensing to Find Human Hosts

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

Mosquitoes appear to find us especially appealing. Alongside our scent and the air we exhale, uncovered skin effectively acts like...

Close-up of a black ant tending to four white larvae on soil inside a transparent container.

Queen Ants Use Hygienic Cannibalism to Protect Their Colonies

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

Ant mothers are masters of tough love: they have no opportunity to indulge their unwell young. US researchers have discovered...

Boy catching butterflies under a streetlight at night with a laptop and scientific equipment on a table nearby.

How Light Pollution Confuses Moths and Disrupts Ecosystems

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

For much of their evolutionary history, moths have found their way through the night using the moon and stars. Now,...

Scientist in lab coat collects soil samples in field with tractor and tablet showing data nearby.

Global Pesticide Harm Is Rising Across Farming Regions

Harriet M. Ashford • September 12, 2026

Modern farming depends extensively on pesticides to safeguard crops and sustain high food yields. Yet scientists have established over time...

Scientist in lab coat examining a clear bottle labelled WHO containing mosquitoes in a laboratory.

Early warning of alpha-cypermethrin resistance in mosquitoes

Harriet M. Ashford • September 11, 2026

Public-health programmes throughout the tropics use alpha-cypermethrin sprays to kill mosquitoes that transmit dengue, Zika and chikungunya. The insecticide acts...

Coral reef teeming with fish and snorkeller, tropical island with birds flying overhead in clear sky.

Invasive rats reshape coral reefs in the Chagos Archipelago

Harriet M. Ashford • September 11, 2026

Rats can arrive on tropical islands as stowaways, after which the birds that once nested there begin to vanish. It...

Cockroach on a clear laboratory tray with two circular textured samples and a jar in the background.

Newborn German Cockroaches Learn Their Colony’s Faecal Odour

Harriet M. Ashford • September 11, 2026

Cockroaches commonly cluster in dim hiding places with easy access to food, dampness and safety. Fresh research suggests that newborn...