Page 116 - Latest Articles - aucklandtrees.co.uk

Man kneeling in garden uncovering a snake hiding beneath a green tarp in bright daylight.

Tarpaulin in the Garden: Why It Attracts Snakes Near the House

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

When the sun returns in spring, garden jobs kick off everywhere: mowing the lawn, getting beds ready, hauling furniture out...

Person planting pink and blue flowers in a garden bed with bees flying nearby and gardening tools beside them.

Lungwort: the early nectar boost for shade beds, bumblebees and wild bees

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

A perennial with huge value for bees is often hiding in exactly those spots. When people think of bee-friendly spring...

Person sprinkling white powder onto moss growing between stone patio tiles in a garden.

Bicarbonate of soda to remove moss from your lawn, driveway and patio

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

A simple cupboard staple can get green surfaces back into shape. Plenty of keen gardeners end up staring at greened-over...

Hand holding a hanging bird feeder with seeds while a child sits at a table in a garden.

DIY Bird Feeding Station from a Metal Coat Hanger

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

When you pop into a DIY store or garden centre, the prices can be a surprise: plain bird feeding stations...

Person planting flower bulbs near a blooming cluster of snowdrops in a sunlit garden bed.

Snowdrops after flowering: the care steps for dense carpets

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

In late winter, snowdrops are often the first flowers to bring life back into the garden. Once those delicate blooms...

Person cleaning soil off a small tomato plant in a terracotta pot using a green sponge outdoors.

Using an Old Sponge in the Garden: Water Storage, Seed Starting and Protection

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Whether it’s eggshells, coffee grounds or vegetable peelings, more and more home gardeners are finding practical ways to reuse kitchen...

Person shaping a plant stem into a heart next to a heart-shaped leaf plant on a wooden table in a living room.

Turn a Spider Plant into a Living Sculpture with One Simple Move

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

With a single simple adjustment, it can become a living artwork that genuinely everyone notices. In many homes there’s one...

Middle-aged man planting a young tree in a vibrant garden surrounded by flowers and gardening tools.

Paulownia: the “miracle tree” for gardens-promise, pitfalls and climate claims

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

An exotic-looking tree has been popping up in more and more gardens, leaving neighbours amazed and filling gardening forums with...

Man sifting soil in garden while girl and dog watch in sunny backyard filled with flowers and greenery

Moles in the Garden: Why Molehills Can Help Your Lawn

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Many people reach for drastic measures straight away - and end up undermining their own garden happiness. Molehills are often...

Woman examining plant leaves with a magnifying glass in a garden on a sunny day.

Lemon tree in April: brown bumps, sticky leaves and how to beat scale insects

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Anyone who moves their lemon tree from indoors to a balcony, patio or the garden in April looks forward to...

Person watering colourful petunias and marigolds on a balcony garden with gardening supplies nearby

Calibrachoa: How to Get Overflowing Balcony Boxes with Million Bells

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Many balcony gardeners know the pattern: pricey window boxes, attractive pots, planted with the best intentions - and by July...

Man using a plastic cover to protect steam rising from plants in a raised garden bed in a backyard.

Ice Saints 2026: dates, background and gardening guidance

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

May is widely seen as the heart of spring: the moment to get tomatoes and courgettes going and to fill...

Woman wearing a straw hat pruning colourful lantana flowers on a sunny patio with watering can and plant food nearby.

The Lantana Shrub: A Colour-Changing Bloomer for Garden and Balcony

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

When late autumn arrives and you still want bright flowers in the garden or on the balcony, the choice quickly...

Person placing a lemon tree in a terracotta pot on a balcony with gardening gloves and thermometer nearby at sunset.

Late frost in March: protecting potted lemon trees on the balcony and terrace

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

For lemon trees kept in containers, this can be fatal. A lot of hobby gardeners are delighted in March when...

Person pruning diseased leaves from rose plants in a garden with a metal bucket nearby.

How to Prevent Black Spot Disease on Roses in March

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Black spot disease is the nightmare many amateur gardeners dread. Instead of a sea of glorious flowers, by July you...

Tabby cat resting on grass near bird feeders surrounded by colourful flowers in a sunlit garden.

How to Protect Birds from Cats in the Garden: The 3-2-1 Rule

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

If you adore cats but also celebrate every sparrow that visits your garden, you can end up with a genuine...

Person feeding seeds into a white swan-shaped bird feeder in a snowy garden.

How to Upcycle a Swan Vase into a Winter Bird Feeder

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

People often walk straight past old swan vases because they look out of place in a modern living room. Out...

Person pruning yellow flowers near red lawn mower in garden with spring blooms and a wooden fence.

Forsythia: the natural signal for the first spring lawn mow

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

Plenty of amateur gardeners reach for the lawnmower far too early in spring - and then spend the whole summer...

Person tending to purple clematis flowers on a sunny balcony with potted plants and a watering can.

Compact Clematis: a secret weapon for small city balconies and courtyards

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

If you only have a narrow courtyard, a tiny garden or a few square metres of balcony, you’ll know the...

Woman wearing a straw hat harvesting ripe tomatoes in a garden with a basket full of fresh tomatoes.

Three heat-tolerant tomato varieties for heatwaves: Cornue des Andes, Green Zebra and Noire de Crimée

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

With the right choice of variety, your tomato bed can turn into a true yield machine-even during heatwaves. Plenty of...

Person kneeling and using a garden fork to plant seedlings in a vegetable patch with a watering can nearby.

Spring digging in the vegetable garden: why turning the soil can damage it - broadfork and mulch instead

Harriet M. Ashford • August 16, 2026

That familiar, well-practised movement can do lasting harm to your soil. For generations, vigorously digging over the vegetable patch has...