Page 8 - News

Front garden with bright red berries, green shrubs, pink flowers, and reddish foliage in front of a house.

Thorny plants against burglars: protect your garden naturally

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Many homeowners initially think of an alarm system, cameras and a security door. Less well known is that carefully chosen,...

Solar garden lights illuminate a brick wall with pink roses beside a stone patio and green potted plants.

Garden Bright Solar Uplighter: Affordable Garden Lighting at Aldi UK

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Step outside in the evening and it quickly becomes clear how much a few well-placed lighting accents can improve the...

Person spreading green pea or avocado dip on a slice of sourdough bread on a wooden table outdoors.

Fava Beans Instead of Avocado: The Green Toast Spread You Can Grow

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Avocado prices are rising, the fruit travels long distances, ripens unpredictably and too often ends up in the bin: avocados...

Person cleaning moss off outdoor patio tiles with brush, water bucket, and brooms in sunny garden.

Clean Your Patio With White Wine Vinegar After Winter

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Many homeowners put off patio cleaning because they picture heavy-duty equipment, expensive specialist products and losing half a Saturday. Yet...

Person placing a potted peace lily plant into a shallow bowl of water on a wooden table by a window.

Peace Lily Watering: The Simple Method for White Bracts

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

A small change to the way you water it can transform the situation completely. In countless living rooms, a lush...

Garden hose on lawn with grass snake inside and a gloved hand reaching towards it next to a watering can.

Garden hose attracts snakes: the hidden danger in your garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Many amateur gardeners eagerly bring the shears, lawnmower and watering equipment out of the shed in spring. Yet few realise...

Man trimming ivy growing on a tree trunk in a sunny garden near a house.

Ivy on Trees and House Walls: When It Protects and When It Causes Damage

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Many amateur gardeners pull ivy from trees and house walls – fearing it will cause damage. Yet such drastic action...

A colourful garden bed with pink peonies, blue hydrangeas, purple alliums, lavender, and green foliage in sunlight.

The Best Companion Plants for Peonies in Your Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Many garden owners put peonies anywhere in a border, then wonder why the flowers look attractive rather than truly spectacular....

Child hanging a wooden birdhouse on a tree branch in a vibrant garden during sunset.

Why Tits Stay Away from Your Garden: Common Mistakes and Simple Solutions

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Many amateur gardeners put time, money and care into their gardens, hoping for a paradise full of birdsong – only...

Person planting small flowers in a garden bed with gardening tools and a watering can nearby.

Snowdrops After Flowering: Care Tips for Stronger Bulbs

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

The delicate snowdrops have finished flowering, the garden suddenly looks empty – so what now? Anyone who gets it wrong...

Person pruning red and green foliage with shears in a garden next to a waste bin filled with garden clippings.

Photinia Black Spots: The Natural Step That Protects Your Hedge

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Many amateur gardeners feel genuinely alarmed when this happens. Anyone who cares about their Photinia hedge will recognise the shock:...

Person lifting a plastic sheet in a garden reveals a coiled snake on the soil beside a clipboard.

Black Plastic Sheeting Can Turn Your Garden into a Viper Hiding Place

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

An apparently harmless item near a patio or vegetable bed can quietly turn your garden into a favourite hiding place...

Child in a garden tending to pink and yellow flowers at dusk with string lights in the background.

Miracle Flower: From Seed to a Night-Time Cloud of Flowers in 60 Days

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Many amateur gardeners know the feeling: spring arrives full of promise, yet the beds remain bare for ages. Perennials can...

Person walking on patchy lawn carrying green watering container with gardening supplies on wooden deck nearby

Spring Lawn Fertiliser: How to Create Rich Green Turf

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Winter can leave its mark on the lawn, but the right spring fertiliser can turn a dull patch into rich...

Great tit bird in mid-flight feeding on white flowers with bird feeder and green foliage in background.

Black elder: the overlooked shrub that attracts great tits to your garden

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

A seemingly ordinary shrub can transform this overnight - provided it is planted in the right way. Anyone eagerly awaiting...

Hands planting snowdrop flowers in soil with watering can, trowel, and seed packet nearby in garden bed.

Snowdrop Care: How to Build Strong, Lasting Colonies

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Snowdrops may look like delicate heralds of winter, yet they are remarkably tough. What happens once flowering has finished is...

Young woman sitting at a wooden table outdoors, writing in a notebook with gardening tools and lawnmower nearby.

What Not to Do in the Garden in March

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Many keen gardeners are ready to get going in March: clear away leaves, rake the beds, mow the lawn, trim...

Hands in gloves pruning a budding tree branch with garden shears in an orchard with apples and a ladder nearby.

Apple Tree Pruning in February for Heavy, Juicy Apples

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Many amateur gardeners sit back in February because nothing appears to be happening in the orchard. The trees are leafless,...

Woman relaxing with iced tea on a sunny balcony surrounded by potted plants and herbs.

6 Plants That Really Send Mosquitoes Packing

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

A mild summer breeze drifts by, glasses mist over, and quiet music spills from an open window somewhere nearby. Then...

Middle-aged man tending a colourful flower bush in a sunlit garden with a watering can and open book nearby.

Why Flowers in the Garden Bloom More Strongly Every Year

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

By early evening, when the light softens and the lawn has finally fallen quiet, the garden reveals another side of...

Person kneeling on grass watering soil with a metal watering can in a sunny garden.

Epsom Salt for Lawns: The €1 Trick for Greener Grass

Harriet M. Ashford • October 18, 2026

Reports are multiplying in gardening forums and across social media from amateur gardeners who say they have revived their lawns...