News
How Ladybirds Support Biological Control in Your Home Garden
Harriet M. Ashford
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Spotting tiny, brightly coloured insects in your balcony pots or among flowering beds can bring a real sense of closeness...
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Spring trick: turn a kitchen sponge into a water store for pots and balcony boxes
Harriet M. Ashford
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As the gardening season gets going, beds, pots and balcony boxes can quickly be pushed to their limits: young roots,...
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Ant tree (Triplaris americana): a low-maintenance choice for urban areas and home gardens
Harriet M. Ashford
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Among the most sought-after ornamental species, one in particular often tops the list for anyone wanting a fuss-free tree: the...
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How to Grow Lavender and Turn Your Outdoor Space into a Scented Retreat
Harriet M. Ashford
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Turning your outdoor area into a scented retreat becomes a genuinely rewarding project when you grow lavender with patience, care...
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Low-maintenance French garden with durable perennial flowers
Harriet M. Ashford
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Having a flower-filled back garden without exhausting upkeep is the big ambition for anyone with a hectic routine these days....
News
Night-blooming jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum) for a scented balcony at dusk
Harriet M. Ashford
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Night-blooming jasmine is the right flower for anyone who wants to fragrance a balcony at the end of the day....
News
Partial Shade: A Heatwave Survival Strategy for Your Garden
Harriet M. Ashford
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The first proper heatwave of the year arrived on a Tuesday. By 10 a.m., the roses in the front border...
News
Plants That Attract Ants in the Garden: Why They Keep Coming Back
Harriet M. Ashford
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People scatter powders, put up barriers, pour on specialist treatments - and still the ants return. The real trigger is...
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How to Grow Lavender on a Sunny Balcony in Pots for Flats
Harriet M. Ashford
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Growing fragrant plants in flats can completely change the feel of a home, adding everyday wellbeing. Lavender stands out as...
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Rhubarb Leaf Liquid for Tomatoes: The Forgotten Summer Defence
Harriet M. Ashford
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In back gardens and on balconies alike, tomato growers face the same quiet threats each summer - and the results...
News
The common Bougainvillea watering mistake that stops flowers
Harriet M. Ashford
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Many Bougainvillea owners keep making the same easy-to-miss mistake. Bougainvillea is often seen as the queen of Mediterranean-style patios -...
News
Fennel, the “Boring” Plant That Turns Your Garden Into an Airport for Pollinators
Harriet M. Ashford
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The first time it struck me, the garden felt oddly hushed. My dahlias were immaculate, the roses were laden with...
News
How the front garden can deter burglars with the right planting
Harriet M. Ashford
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Plenty of people head off on holiday - but the uneasy question remains: what happens to your house and garden...
News
A Simple Guide: Hanging Old CDs on a Tomato Plant to Protect Ripe Tomatoes from Birds
Harriet M. Ashford
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Hanging old CDs on a tomato plant is a straightforward way to guard nearly ripe fruit without using chemical products....
News
Japanese Azalea: A Practical Guide for a Flowering Balcony in Pots
Harriet M. Ashford
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Having a flower-filled balcony that feels lively is a common wish for people living in modern flats. The Japanese azalea...
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Chlorophyll-Rich Leaf Extract: A Simple Liquid Feed for Home Gardeners
Harriet M. Ashford
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More and more home gardeners are trying a low-tech remedy: a chlorophyll-rich green leaf extract that encourages growth without relying...
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Agapanthus: the March P–K trick for gigantic flower stems
Harriet M. Ashford
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If you pick up a hand fork for a quick tidy-up in March, you can enjoy spectacularly tall flower heads...
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Hanging Bottle Caps in the Garden: Shine, Movement and a Simple Bird Deterrent
Harriet M. Ashford
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Hanging bottle caps around the garden repurposes a common bit of waste to create shine, movement and gentle rattling sounds...
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How Chemical-Free Beds Work in Real Gardens
Harriet M. Ashford
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The morning smells of damp soil as the sun slowly climbs over the fence. An older couple stand between their...
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Desert Rose Care: Sun, Watering and Flowering Tips
Harriet M. Ashford
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Is there anything nicer than watching a desert rose open its brightly coloured blooms on the balcony? This succulent, known...
News
Creating a Vernal Pool in the Garden for Amphibians and Biodiversity
Harriet M. Ashford
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Creating a vernal pool in the garden turns low-lying patches into thriving ecological havens. This straightforward project uses rainwater to...
