Page 33 - Latest Articles - aucklandtrees.co.uk

Person spraying tomato plants with water from a bucket in a garden with greenery in the background.

Copper Broth: the old method against late blight on tomatoes and potatoes

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

In the 1970s, plenty of village gardens had a straightforward answer to this nightmare: a blue liquid mixed in a...

Person tending to hanging plant on a balcony with various potted plants and outdoor seating area.

Balcony trend: raised planters and plant stands for small spaces

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

If your balcony has so far been lined with pots shoulder to shoulder, you’ll have noticed one thing: it rarely...

Elderly man carefully tending to a bonsai tree on a wooden table in a sunlit room.

Penjing: How China’s “Landscape in a Pot” Art Is Returning

Harriet M. Ashford • August 23, 2026

Tiny trees, strangely sculpted rocks, a trickling stream inside a ceramic tray and perhaps a minute little house: Penjing turns...

Person kneeling and removing weeds from patio joints with a knife, next to a brush and bucket.

Weeding Paving Joints on the Terrace: The Right Timing for Lasting Clean Gaps

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

Between paving stones and patio slabs, something always seems to push through again each year. Homeowners scrub, scrape, spray vinegar...

Person harvesting ripe yellow apples from a small tree in an orchard with a basket nearby.

Nashi apple-pear tree: planting, care and an impressive harvest

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

Many home gardeners reach for the same reliable fruit trees every year: apple, cherry, pear - job done. Yet an...

Person tending colourful pink and blue flowers with bees flying, near a watering can, trowel, and open sketchbook.

Lungwort: the insect-friendly early spring bloomer for the shade garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

Anyone thinking of insect-friendly spring flowers usually pictures sun-soaked borders. In cooler, semi-shaded parts of the garden, things can feel...

Person spraying tomato plants in a vegetable garden with fresh greens and a steaming cup nearby.

Rhubarb Leaf Brew for Tomatoes: A Chemical-Free Shield in the Veg Patch

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

Fungal diseases and aphids tear through garden beds, while gardeners reach-often in frustration-for spray bottles or familiar home remedies. Yet...

Hands pruning a potted poinsettia plant on a sunlit wooden table by a window.

Poinsettia (Christmas star): how to save it in March and April and get red bracts again

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

The pot looks miserable: the red bracts have faded, a few leaves have turned yellow, and it’s very tempting to...

Person tending a lemon tree in a terracotta pot on a balcony with other potted plants and a watering can nearby.

March Frost Protection for a Potted Lemon Tree: The Simple Insulating Plate Trick

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

The winter months are almost over, your lemon tree is putting on fresh growth, everything feels safe - and then...

Person mowing a lawn with a push mower near a garden shed on a sunny day.

March lawn mowing: the one-third rule for a thicker lawn

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

Cut at the wrong time and you’ll weaken your lawn - act wisely and it will become noticeably denser. After...

Person pouring coffee grounds into a jar beside raspberry plants with fresh raspberries in a colander.

The Cup Method with Coffee Grounds for Your Raspberry Bush

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

Many amateur gardeners give away part of their harvest every year - simply because they don’t know an amazingly simple...

Man in a straw hat planting shrubs in a garden bed with labelled plants and gardening tools nearby.

Photinia to Pittosporum: a hedge reset for spring 2026

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

For years, evergreen Photinia has been one of the most commonly planted hedge shrubs in front gardens and along property...

Woman arranging a vintage metal chair on a sunlit terrace with potted plants and a watering can nearby.

Antique Objects for Old-World Garden Charm

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

If you’re daydreaming about an enchanted Italian courtyard or a romantic cottage garden, you don’t need a total rebuild or...

Hands tending to tomato seedlings in a tray on a windowsill with a whole tomato and knife nearby.

The tomato slice trick: turn one tomato into a tray of seedlings

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

Anyone staring in disbelief at increasingly pricey fruit and vegetable shelves may not realise that the starting point for a...

Person cleaning green moss growing between rooftop tiles using a brush and cleaning supplies.

Potato Water: The Free Terrace Trick for Removing Moss and Algae Without Bleach

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

A free kitchen trick is all you need. Plenty of homeowners still reach automatically for harsh cleaners when moss and...

Hands wearing gloves using red garden shears to prune a budding rose stem in a garden bed.

Roses: the right time to prune for more blooms

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

Many home gardeners face the same puzzle every year with their roses: one wrong cut at the wrong moment, and...

Two boys sitting at a wooden table outdoors with fruit plate, juice, and a bee flying between them.

Asian hornet in the garden: stay calm and reduce the risk

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

Many people panic - and that reaction is often what puts them in danger in the first place. The Asian...

Hands adding crushed eggshells as compost to a succulent plant in a terracotta pot on a wooden table.

Sedum Drainage Trick: Kitchen Shells and Stones for Healthy Plants

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

Anyone growing Sedum - often known as stonecrop (including ‘wall pepper’ types or taller orpine) - in a pot or...

Two blue tits flying towards a sunflower seed feeder held by a person in a garden setting.

Sunflower Seeds: The Simple Way to Attract Tits to Your Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

Many keen gardeners would love to see more birds in the garden - especially lively tits with their yellow-and-blue plumage....

Person pruning tree branches with secateurs while standing on a step ladder in a garden.

The old gardener’s trick for pruning a cherry tree in spring

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

An old gardener’s trick in spring determines whether your cherry tree is laden in summer or produces only a handful...

Woman tending to plants on a sunlit balcony with wooden furniture and various potted plants.

The 2026 Balcony Trend: Raised Planters Replace Floor Plant Pots

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

Anyone still lining their balcony floor with a row of plant pots will soon look decidedly old-fashioned. Interior lovers are...