Page 97 - News

Man harvesting morel mushrooms in garden with basket of apples nearby on sunny day

How to Grow Morels in Your Garden with Fireplace Ash and Apple Leftovers

Harriet M. Ashford • August 24, 2026

Morels are treated as a luxury ingredient: scarce in the wild and pricey to buy. Every spring, plenty of mushroom...

Hands planting orange flowers in a garden bed with bees flying nearby and gardening tools on the soil.

Why Nasturtium Sown in March Protects Your Vegetable Garden from Aphids

Harriet M. Ashford • August 24, 2026

When you get your beds ready in spring, you usually start by thinking about carrots, tomatoes, courgettes or beans. Yet...

Person examining a leaf in a garden with gardening gloves, scissors, and spray bottle on a wooden board nearby.

Ticks in the Garden: Which Plants Attract Them and What Helps

Harriet M. Ashford • August 24, 2026

Anyone who enjoys a lush, slightly untamed garden often creates-without realising it-ideal conditions for ticks. Certain plants and garden features...

Hands potting fresh herbs in repurposed tin cans on a sunny windowsill with gardening tools nearby.

Empty Tins as Herb Pots for Balconies and Small Gardens

Harriet M. Ashford • August 24, 2026

A basic, everyday item from the kitchen is currently causing a stir in garden groups and on balconies. Instead of...

Woman enjoying the scent of pink and white flowers on a balcony with various potted plants in sunlight.

Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’: A Fragrant Winter Shrub for Garden and Balcony

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

Many balconies end up with the same trusty geraniums in their boxes year after year. Yet more and more keen...

Birds feed on peanuts and seeds on a snowy bird feeder as a person holds a fat ball in winter garden.

The Clever Old Broom Trick for Garden Birds in Winter

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

As we turn the heating up and shut the windows, blackbirds, tits and sparrows are quite literally fighting to get...

Hoopoe bird on soil near gardening tools including a trowel, gloves, and watering can in a garden bed.

What It Means When a Hoopoe Visits Your Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

Many amateur gardeners do a double take when a slim bird with black-and-white barred wings and a raisable crest suddenly...

Hands planting seeds in a small soil tray on a wooden table with seed packets and pots around.

7 Flowers to Sow in March for a Summer Full of Blooms

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

As the days stretch out, you can feel it in your fingers: it’s time to get back into the soil....

Woman harvesting root vegetables in a sunny garden with sunflowers and leafy greens in the background.

Topinambur: How the forgotten tuber is making a strong comeback

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

Wander through today’s modern self-sufficient gardens and, alongside tomatoes, courgettes and herbs, you’ll increasingly spot a slightly odd-looking tuber with...

Hands planting seeds in soil next to vibrant orange and yellow flowers in a raised garden bed outdoors.

Nasturtium in March: Natural protection from aphids and a magnet for bees

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

Many amateur gardeners kick off spring full of enthusiasm with tomatoes, courgettes and beans, but overlook a quiet star: an...

Person planting seeds with one hand and holding a metal watering can in a garden bed with leafy green plants.

The small watering mistake in rain that can cost your plants dearly

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

A small lapse in judgement that can end up costing your plants dearly. When you look out of the window...

Person tending to a garden bed with colourful hydrangeas and pink astilbe flowers on a sunny day.

Hydrangeas: The Best Companion Plants for a Cooler, Moister Border

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

Many keen gardeners will recognise the pattern: in the catalogue, hydrangeas look like lavish, perfectly rounded flower heads, yet in...

Person kneeling in a garden adding fertiliser to soil near blooming lavender plants on a sunny day.

Lavender feeding in spring: compost, bone meal and garden lime for more flowers

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

Many people tend lavender with care-sunlight, watering can and all-yet still end up with only a few flowers. The real...

Man harvesting freshly dug potatoes in a garden with yellow flowering plants and gardening tools nearby.

Topinambur (Jerusalem Artichoke) Is Making a Quiet Comeback in the Garden and Kitchen

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

An old tuber treasure has suddenly become a talking point in the garden - and in the kitchen. Plenty of...

Man in wool sweater and hat pruning a young tree in a garden on a sunny day

January pruning guide: hydrangeas, climbing roses and apple and pear trees

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

In January, many gardens look as if they’re fast asleep - yet this is exactly when you set the stage...

Person planting pansies in a vibrant flower bed with lavender, marigolds, and lilies on a sunny day.

10 Turbo Perennials: Fast-Growing Perennials That Fill Borders Quickly

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

With the right turbo perennials, your garden can look lush in no time. Plenty of hobby gardeners know the feeling:...

Person pruning rosemary plant in wooden planter on garden deck with gardening gloves and shears nearby

How to Save Rosemary with Brown Needles in March

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

The needles dry out, the tips look scorched, entire sprigs turn colour - and it’s easy to jump to the...

Woman planting a small tree in a garden with birds, a birdhouse, watering can and gardening tools nearby.

A simple March trick: a snacking hedge that brings birds back

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

The last of winter is fading and the garden can feel bare - but one smart planting move in March...

Person planting seedlings in soil beside a metal watering can in a garden bed with straw mulch.

Transplanting seedlings: the 10 litres per square metre rule for tomatoes, peppers and flowers

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

Anyone who moves tomatoes, peppers or flowers from small pots into a garden bed in spring will recognise the familiar...

Person planting a small tree in a pot near a hedge in a sunny garden.

Pittosporum hedge: the hardy replacement for failing red hedges

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

Many front gardens are showing the same disappointing sight at the moment: hedges that used to be thick and red-tipped...

Person gardening blue and purple hydrangeas surrounded by green foliage in a sunny backyard.

Hydrangeas: The Shade Trio of Hostas, Ferns and Astilbes for Bigger Blooms

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

Relying solely on fertiliser, a watering can and pruning shears misses one of the biggest factors behind abundant hydrangea flowers:...