Page 9 - News

Robin perched inside golden birdcage on wooden table with moths flying around in sunlit room by window

How Caged Birds Can Increase Kamitetep Moths in Homes

Harriet M. Ashford • September 9, 2026

Keeping pet birds in cages is a widespread practice, yet it can have an unexpected ecological effect inside the home....

Person hanging a green leafy potted plant above a wooden table with watering can and plant care tools in living room.

Hoya care: simple routines for a flowering living-room star

Harriet M. Ashford • September 9, 2026

Anyone who thinks their Hoya is merely “quite nice” has usually overlooked just one detail – a few simple routines...

Person controlling a robotic lawn mower on grass using a smartphone with a blank screen.

MOVA LiDAX Ultra 1000 review: a convincing LiDAR robotic lawn mower

Harriet M. Ashford • September 9, 2026

Mowing the lawn is a bit like ironing: nobody truly enjoys it, yet everyone appreciates the outcome. So when a...

Woman in hat spraying plants with water in a garden while child plays in the background outdoors.

White Vinegar and Washing-up Liquid for Weeds in Paving Joints

Harriet M. Ashford • September 9, 2026

Anyone who has spent hours on their knees pulling weeds from paving joints knows the frustration: no sooner is everything...

Scientist in a field examines a leaf with a digital sensor, tablet displaying plant data in the background.

Leaf-Worn Patch Detects Hidden Stress in Soybean and Tobacco Plants

Harriet M. Ashford • September 9, 2026

A patch worn on a leaf can identify concealed stress in living soybean and tobacco plants before any visible damage...

Hand spraying liquid from a spray bottle over a bowl of oranges on a wooden table in a garden.

Natural Orange Peel Repellent for Garden Insects

Harriet M. Ashford • September 9, 2026

Warm days call for extra care in outdoor leisure spaces, as urban pests often make their way into home gardens....

Person planting seeds in a terracotta pot in a vegetable garden with leafy greens and marigolds nearby.

Slugs in the Garden: Natural Control Without Blue Pellets

Harriet M. Ashford • September 9, 2026

Salads devoured, nerves frayed: anyone with a garden knows these slimy nocturnal avengers all too well. You head into the...

Woman tending to plants in a garden with lavender and rosemary on a sunlit patio.

Rosemary Is Replacing Lavender in Low-Maintenance Gardens

Harriet M. Ashford • September 9, 2026

Rosemary is increasingly taking the place of lavender in gardens for people who want fragrance, visual appeal and minimal effort....

Person planting colourful pansies and other flowers in a raised garden bed with a watering can nearby.

10 fast-growing perennials that quickly fill borders

Harriet M. Ashford • September 9, 2026

With the right perennials, that can be changed – far more quickly than you might expect. Hardy plants that return...

Hummingbird feeding from a red feeder held by hands in a sunlit garden with flowers and gardening tools.

5 Things Hummingbirds Need in May

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

Hummingbirds become far more active in May, as this is when they begin building nests, searching for food and protecting...

Person watering and fertilising young plants in a garden bed with a metal watering can on a sunny day.

Transplanting Seedlings: The 10 Litres per Square Metre Watering Rule

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

Cold mornings, mild afternoons and trays of eager seedlings can make spring gardeners rush a stage that plants experience as...

Person fertilising lavender plants in a garden with tablet fertiliser and gardening tools nearby.

Lavender: the simple spring trick for more flowers in July

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

A simple springtime trick can make this dream surprisingly realistic. Many gardens present a rather disappointing sight in summer: a...

Hand inspecting soapberry plant with black berries in garden bed, next to watering can and spray bottle.

Ants in the Garden: The Plants That Attract Them

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

Many keen gardeners are puzzled by trails of ants in their flowerbeds, without realising that they may have planted the...

Person spraying moss on stone tiles in a garden patio with brooms and a spray bottle nearby.

30-Cent Vinegar Trick: Remove Moss from Patio Slabs

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

Many homeowners and flat owners look out at their outdoor spaces in spring with frustration: the slabs are slippery, mossy...

Person harvesting fresh radishes from a raised garden bed with green plants in a backyard.

Four Ultra-Fast Vegetables for a March Sowing

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

As winter starts to release the garden, it shifts from dormant to full of potential. With a little forethought, several...

Man wearing a straw hat planting a small shrub in a sidewalk gap in an urban area during daytime.

Shrubs with Less Aggressive Roots for Pavements and Squares

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

Choosing shrubs for pavements and squares may sound straightforward, yet it often becomes a real puzzle. Everyone wants an attractive,...

Woman in denim overalls sowing seeds beside colourful wildflowers in a field with a watering can and insect house nearby.

How Five Million Native Pollinator Plants Are Bringing Landscapes Back to Life

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

Wet earth, bruised foliage and the light sweetness of countless tiny flowers that have yet to open after the night....

Person in white lab coat setting a test tube into a black device outdoors with a microscope and spray can nearby.

Private Mosquito Spraying Drives Tiger Mosquito Resistance in Raleigh

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

Most mosquito spraying in the United States takes place without any involvement from a government body. Raleigh, North Carolina, has...

Person planting lavender seedlings in a garden bed with a trowel and ripe tomatoes nearby.

Plants That Keep Ants Away From the Garden Naturally

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

In many home gardens, ants can become an ongoing problem, particularly when they start protecting aphids, damaging fresh shoots or...

Female scientist in a lab coat using a microscope and tablet by a riverside with test tubes and a clipboard on the table.

Study finds Anopheles darlingi malaria mosquito resistance growing in South America

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

Malaria is a severe illness that affects millions of people worldwide each year. In South America, it continues to circulate,...

Man pouring coffee grounds into a compost bin in a garden during late afternoon.

Homemade Compost Activator: Wake Up a Frozen Winter Heap

Harriet M. Ashford • September 8, 2026

Every gardener has a winter that almost defeats them. For me, it was the year my carefully made compost heap...