News
Mosquito gut cells switch off human-hunting after blood feeding
Harriet M. Ashford
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Scientists have found a small group of cells in the mosquito gut that switches off the drive to hunt humans...
News
Crop Rotation: How Soil Recovers Between Seasons
Harriet M. Ashford
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Soil has a memory. When one bed grows the same crop season after season, a subtle but persistent change takes...
News
How to use an old washing-up sponge in the garden
Harriet M. Ashford
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While gardeners are still dealing with changeable weather and irregular watering, an everyday item is usually thrown away without a...
News
Nepeta: the compact lavender lookalike for small balconies
Harriet M. Ashford
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I first noticed this plant squeezed into a chipped terracotta pot on a slim urban balcony: the sort of spot...
News
Right of Light and Trees: When Neighbours Cut Without Consent
Harriet M. Ashford
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The sound of a chainsaw pulled him from sleep. Initially, he mistook it for a lorry reversing in the next...
News
Putting Aluminium Foil at the Bottom of Plant Pots: What It Does
Harriet M. Ashford
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Placing aluminium foil at the bottom of a plant pot is a common practice among home growers. It is often...
News
How Ladybugs Are Replacing Pesticides on Farms
Harriet M. Ashford
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Tiny red specks scramble over one another, tumbling on to the farmer’s hands as he tips a box above a...
News
Why Fewer Plants Create a More Luxurious Garden
Harriet M. Ashford
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The gardener looked worn out. Not because she had been digging or cutting back plants, but because she had spent...
News
How Long Can Ticks Survive Indoors in Your Home?
Harriet M. Ashford
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Could a tiny tick remain alive in your home without you realising? Many people assume ticks quickly die after coming...
News
Lidl Parkside wooden planter with trellis for just under £30
Harriet M. Ashford
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Many balconies and compact gardens look bare, drab and rather uninviting after winter. Lidl is now bringing a compact piece...
News
Sarcococca: The Fragrant Evergreen Shrub for Winter Gardens
Harriet M. Ashford
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The first time I caught the scent of a sarcococca in mid-January, I genuinely assumed someone nearby had sprayed costly...
News
The Sugar Trick for a Lawn With Less Moss
Harriet M. Ashford
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Rather than reaching for pricey specialist feeds or harsh moss killers, something completely different is ending up on the lawn:...
News
March fertiliser: 11 perennials that need feeding
Harriet M. Ashford
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Many hobby gardeners find themselves in May staring at beds with only a few flowers and blaming the weather. In...
News
Aubriete: Transform a Retaining Wall into a Spring Flower Cascade
Harriet M. Ashford
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Many amateur gardeners know the situation: the borders look immaculate, the lawn is neatly trimmed, yet the retaining wall behind...
News
New tax on private garden greenhouses alarms pensioners
Harriet M. Ashford
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At 7:15 on a Tuesday morning, the light inside Margot’s modest suburban greenhouse has an almost sacred quality. Tomatoes wind...
News
Sprouting Garlic Keeps Snakes Out of the Garden in March
Harriet M. Ashford
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A bit of kitchen waste is turning into a secret weapon. As temperatures climb in March, life returns around patios,...
News
Pro Method for Growing Strawberries Indoors - Right in the Living Room
Harriet M. Ashford
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Using a professional technique, the strawberry dream can still work - right in your living room. Anyone living in a...
News
January pruning for hydrangeas, climbing roses and pome fruit trees
Harriet M. Ashford
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Many amateur gardeners put their feet up in winter and let beds and shrubs doze. It makes sense: outside it’s...
News
How to Grow Wax Flower on a Charming Balcony
Harriet M. Ashford
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A flower-filled, charming balcony is the ambition of many flat residents looking to bring a touch of urban nature into...
News
Why Raised Beds Dry Out So Fast - and How to Keep Them Moist
Harriet M. Ashford
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The first time you make a raised bed, it brings a real sense of achievement. New timber or gleaming metal,...
News
Five bad neighbours for basil in the garden
Harriet M. Ashford
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Basil is often seen as an easy-going kitchen herb and a classic partner for tomatoes. But not every plant makes...
