Page 38 - Latest Articles - aucklandtrees.co.uk

Person spraying weed killer on paving stones with garden tools, dog and child playing in background.

Washing-up Liquid and Vinegar Spray for Weeds: Does It Work and What Are the Risks?

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

Between paving joints and gravel paths, weeds return year after year. That is why many garden owners reach for household...

Small birds around purple coneflowers and garden gloves on a snowy raised wooden garden bed in a backyard.

How Purple Coneflower Turns Your Garden into a Winter Buffet for Tits

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

Many garden owners put up bird feeders in winter and still wonder why only the odd bird turns up. The...

Man planting seeds in garden soil next to a calendar marked 17 September and a soil moisture gauge

Why He Sows Beans on September 17 Every Year

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

Not the 15th. Not the 18th. The 17th, or nothing. Each year, as the light turns gentler and the evenings...

Person tending to indoor potted plants, removing a yellow leaf, with watering can nearby on the floor.

Why Your Houseplants Are Dying Even With Regular Watering

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

The leaves were perfectly fine on Monday. By Thursday they’d gone limp, picked up spots, and somehow looked… dusty with...

Person setting up a projector displaying a festive winter scene on a house garage door at dusk with two people walking nearby

Solar Christmas projectors: Gifi’s budget light show for your front garden

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

A single small spike light and a few half-hearted rays of winter sun can be all it takes for a...

Person gardening with a small spade in a pot releasing steam, surrounded by plants and gardening supplies.

Composting Kitchen Waste: What Really Happens When You Do It Properly

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

You hover between options: the general waste, the council food-waste caddy, or finally that much‑talked‑about compost bin at the back...

Woman tending to purple flowering plants in a sunny garden with a jug of lemonade in the background.

Red thyme: the thyme carpet that replaces lawn and puts off mosquitoes

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

A modest little herb can change everything. Anyone who enjoys summer evenings in the garden knows the double headache: a...

Person watering tomato plants in a raised garden bed on a sunny day with a watering can.

The Best Time to Water Your Garden: 5–8 a.m. Can Save Up to 30% Water

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

The hose felt warm in my hand the moment I lifted it. Not hot, exactly-more that tepid warmth that tells...

Person planting young plant in soil with spade and watering can nearby in garden at sunset.

How to Plant Honeysuckle for the Best Results

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

Honeysuckle can appear effortlessly charming, yet success depends heavily on when you plant it and how you look after it...

Person sowing seeds in a garden bed with a basket of nuts, trowel, watering can, and basil plant nearby.

Hazelnut shells: the overlooked garden trick

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

Hazelnut shells are one of those materials. They look insignificant, feel like rubbish, yet they contain a straightforward little trick...

Hand reaching towards colourful lavender flowers with butterflies and potted plants in the background.

Agastache: the drought-proof plant butterflies can’t resist

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

The sun had already scorched the grass into a brittle, unforgiving crust when the first butterfly arrived. Then a second....

Person pruning a fig tree branch with gardening shears in a backyard garden.

Late-winter pruning for a fig tree: more figs, fewer leaves

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

Many amateur gardeners know the frustration: a fig tree covered in magnificent leaves, yet by the end of summer there...

Blackbird pulling a worm from a shallow terracotta bowl near sliced apples and nuts on a wooden board outdoors.

Why blackbirds stay on the ground in winter – and ignore garden feeders

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

Every winter, people put out fat balls and top up seed hoppers, then puzzle over why one well-known garden bird...

Woman tending to plants in a wooden planter on a sunny balcony with gardening tools and soil bag nearby.

Lidl Parkside Wooden Planter Box with Trellis: A Quick Garden Upgrade

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

Anyone looking out of the window at grey paving slabs or a bare patch of soil has a quick route...

Man in a hat inspecting ripe tomatoes growing in a greenhouse with gardening tools nearby.

How Organic Market Gardeners Grow Red, Sweet Tomatoes

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

Organic market gardeners will insist there’s no magic at work. What they describe instead are small, steady decisions made again...

Person arranging potted plants on a wooden windowsill with a digital clock showing 9:33.

Why Your Easter Cactus Won’t Flower: The Common Winter Mistake

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

Often, it comes down to a single care mistake made in winter. Plenty of plant lovers will recognise this pattern:...

Woman holding eviction notice near potted plant outside house with legal documents and gavel on table.

Orlando HOA Lawsuit Over Backyard Changes: What Homeowners Need to Know

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

In a peaceful subdivision to the east of Orlando, a couple made a few straightforward tweaks to their garden: two...

Hands using pruning shears to trim basil plant on a balcony with herbs and a notebook on a wooden table.

Why Regularly Cutting Herbs Makes Basil, Mint and Rosemary Grow Better

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

The basil on the window ledge looked like a plucked chicken. Just a few long, woody stems, topped with a...

Hands grilling meat and vegetable skewers on a barbecue outdoors with a red kettle grill and table in the background

Why Wire Brush Bristles Make Your Grill Barbecue Dangerous

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

The smoke had only just begun to curl off the barbecue when Mark noticed it: a faint prickling at the...

Woman in apron enjoying the scent of purple flowers while gardening on a sunny balcony with potted plants.

Heliotrop: the easy-care plant with a vanilla scent that flowers for months

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

A modest cluster of flowers is currently becoming a go-to tip among amateur gardeners - thanks to its heady vanilla...

Hand sprinkling crushed eggshells on wooden table with gardening gloves, citrus fruit, and blue hydrangeas in background

Hydrangeas: Citrus Peel Booster for Bigger Blooms

Harriet M. Ashford • August 21, 2026

Anyone hoping for lush, globe-shaped hydrangea blooms in the garden or on the balcony will know the frustration: small flower...