Page 80 - News

Person gardening by a small tree with a basket of leaves, a watering can, and a hand rake nearby on a wooden deck.

Japanese maple: the March mulch layer that prevents summer leaf scorch

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

Many garden owners are surprised each year by how quickly a delicate Japanese maple can scorch in summer or start...

Hand feeding seeds to a European robin perched on a plate outdoors with garden tools in background.

Feed Robins Porridge Oats and Cheese Tonight

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

By 4pm, the garden has already fallen into shade, and the birds behave differently – more alert, faster, almost pressed...

Person kneeling on grass sprinkling fertilizer with watering can and gardening tools nearby in sunlight.

The 1‑Euro bath salt trick: Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) for a greener lawn

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

A tip is currently doing the rounds in gardening forums and Facebook groups that sounds almost too good to be...

Hands striking a flint with pruning shears to create sparks on a wooden table outdoors with plants in pots.

How to Sharpen Pruning Shears Quickly Without Specialist Tools

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

The blades were grey, chipped and tacky, as though they had been gnawing through twigs rather than slicing them. He...

Person pruning pink and white flowers in terracotta pot on wooden table with watering can outdoors.

Oleander: The golden rule for masses of flowers

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

A simple rule of thumb can change things surprisingly quickly. Anyone who spends a holiday in southern Europe can hardly...

Person tending colourful sweet pea flowers growing on a wooden trellis in a sunny garden.

Sweet Pea: A Natural Barrier for a Beautiful Protected Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

Creating an attractive, sheltered outdoor space depends on choosing the right plant species. The climbing plant known as the sweet...

Person pruning pink and orange flowers in a balcony garden with a watering can and seed packet nearby.

Diascia: The overlooked summer powerhouse for balcony boxes

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

With the right trailing plant, that will not happen. Anyone planting up their containers in spring hopes for months of...

Woman using a broom to weed around a small plant in a gravel garden outside suburban houses on a sunny day.

How to Keep a Gravel Driveway Weed-Free with Three Natural Steps

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

Many garden owners will recognise the pattern: you spread the gravel with care, and for a few weeks the driveway...

Person watering a potted plant on a wooden table with gardening supplies and plants in the background.

Homemade Fertiliser for Yellow Leaves: 5 Kitchen Ingredients

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

Yellowing leaves are a common indication that a plant is experiencing an imbalance. In many instances, the issue is associated...

Hand placing an orchid stem with roots into a glass jar of water on a bright kitchen countertop next to corn and a spoon.

Phalaenopsis Orchid: A Simple Cooked Maize Root Booster for Fresh Blooms

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

A humble leftover from the kitchen can make orchid roots surprisingly responsive again. Plenty of hobby growers have seen it:...

Person watering soil in a white pot indoors next to a green houseplant and gardening supplies on a rug.

How to Water a Peace Lily Without Drowning It

Harriet M. Ashford • September 7, 2026

The hose was already on when Linda spotted the problem. Yellow leaves formed a ring around her prized peace lily,...

Woman tending to potted plants on a sunlit windowsill with gardening tools and a watering can nearby.

Citronella lemon grass in pots: natural mosquito protection for warm evenings

Harriet M. Ashford • September 7, 2026

When the first warm evenings beckon, a quiet nuisance returns: mosquitoes. A fragrant plant offers a discreet way to fight...

Person tending to a variety of potted cacti and succulents on a windowsill with sunlight streaming in.

How Germans Keep Cacti Healthy in Flats for More Than 20 Years

Harriet M. Ashford • September 7, 2026

Keeping a resilient plant in a flat calls for particular care that many people overlook in everyday life. In Germany,...

Hand pouring tea from a glass teapot into a jar with strawberries in a wooden garden planter box.

Coffee Grounds for Larger, Juicier Strawberries

Harriet M. Ashford • September 7, 2026

A simple kitchen trick can make all the difference. When the first white flowers appear above strawberry beds in March,...

Boy planting a young blossoming tree on a city street with gardening tools and a bucket nearby.

The Cazahuate Tree: A Street Tree for Shade, Flowers and Hummingbirds

Harriet M. Ashford • September 7, 2026

This little-known tree, native to Mexico and increasingly attracting interest from urban design professionals, achieves an unusual balance: it coexists...

Person planting a young tree under a blooming purple tree in a sunny garden.

Paulownia: the turbo tree with violet spring blossom

Harriet M. Ashford • September 7, 2026

A tree that shoots upwards almost as quickly as bamboo, yet stays politely where you put it and, in spring,...

Hand holding a bouquet of eucalyptus branches releasing steam in a bright bathroom.

How Eucalyptus in the Shower Creates an Everyday Ritual

Harriet M. Ashford • September 7, 2026

The first thing that registers is not the water, but the scent. A crisp, green rush cuts through the steam,...

Person trimming lavender with shears next to a spray bottle and open notebook on wooden bench outdoors.

The Golden Window for Lavender Pruning

Harriet M. Ashford • September 7, 2026

Where a dense, buzzing lavender hedge had filled the path the previous summer, there now stood a line of grey,...

Three blue tits perched near a cluster of red berries on a wooden surface with a metal bowl.

Why Holly Berries Keep Robins Returning to Your Winter Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • September 7, 2026

Winter seems to muffle every noise, as though somebody has lowered life’s volume. Just when you begin to miss summer’s...

Man trimming tall hedge on ladder while another man watches in suburban garden on a sunny day

Hedges Over Two Metres: What to Do Before 15 December

Harriet M. Ashford • September 7, 2026

A man pauses with secateurs in his hand, looking up at the dense green barrier dividing his modest garden from...

Man kneeling and gardening with clay pot while three people watch in a sunny vegetable garden.

The Olla Method: The “Invisible Rain” Trick for a Thirst-Free Vegetable Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • September 7, 2026

The day’s heat still hovered in the air. The rain barrel had been empty for ages, and the lawn had...