News
Why Some Plants Thrive in Poor Soil and Collapse in Rich Soil
Harriet M. Ashford
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The first time I spotted it, it was tucked away in a neglected corner of my garden: a cracked stretch...
News
The One Sign Your Garden Gives Before Things Start to Go Downhill
Harriet M. Ashford
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You may not spot it straight away. You are carrying a watering can, drinking coffee and checking your phone between...
News
Why October Cuttings Multiply Currant and Blackcurrant Bushes for Free
Harriet M. Ashford
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Across smallholdings and back gardens, growers use this transitional month to establish new berry bushes, improve their chances of success...
News
Natural Moss Control for a Healthier, Moss-Resistant Lawn
Harriet M. Ashford
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The vivid velvet-like patches can look appealing at first, but the charm soon fades when the grass beneath begins to...
News
How Letting Garden Plants Struggle Builds Resilience
Harriet M. Ashford
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On a sweltering afternoon in late July, Mark stood at the centre of his compact urban garden with a hose...
News
How Damp Seed Can Turn Garden Bird Feeders Into a Winter Health Hazard
Harriet M. Ashford
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Across the UK and US, millions of people put up feeders when the first frosts arrive, believing they are offering...
News
How Root Bullies Secretly Stunt Growth in Mixed Garden Beds
Harriet M. Ashford
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At first, the bed seemed flawless: an upbeat blend of dahlias, salvias, basil, tomatoes and a young Japanese maple sharing...
News
The Spring Garden Mistake That Can Quietly Ruin Your Garden
Harriet M. Ashford
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Olivia walked into the garden on the first warm Saturday of spring, coffee in hand, with the particular relief that...
News
How Compost Layers Speed Up Decomposition
Harriet M. Ashford
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The first thing that strikes you is not the scent. It is the warmth. Lift the lid of an ordinary...
News
How to Let a Living Garden Grow Wild
Harriet M. Ashford
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The lawn was technically “perfect”, yet nothing ever took place on it. There were no bees or birds, only a...
News
Why Your Seedlings Turn Weak and Leggy
Harriet M. Ashford
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You notice them on the windowsill while having your morning coffee, and your stomach immediately drops. Only yesterday, the seedlings...
News
How Rosemary Turns Your Garden into a Pollinator Magnet
Harriet M. Ashford
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The first time I became aware of the problem was on a humid July afternoon, when my garden felt less...
News
How Eggshells Quietly Transform Tired Garden Soil
Harriet M. Ashford
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The bucket was hardly glamorous: a dented ice-cream tub, orange-stained by tomato sauce and tucked into a kitchen corner. Onion...
News
23 Regions Ban Lawn Mowing From Noon to 4 p.m.
Harriet M. Ashford
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At 12:03 p.m., the street falls unexpectedly silent. The neighbour who normally brings out his mower straight after lunch is...
News
How to Save Supermarket Basil Before It Dies
Harriet M. Ashford
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You wander into the kitchen, still not fully awake, and spot it again: the miserable basil plant slumping beside the...
News
Watering Less Often but Much Deeper During Heatwaves
Harriet M. Ashford
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The street was still, apart from the soft spray of sprinklers and the steady drone of air-conditioning units struggling against...
News
Plan Your Garden by Mature Plant Size, Not Label Spacing
Harriet M. Ashford
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The seed packets seemed to be giving me orders. “Space 8 inches apart.” “Plant 12 seedlings per square foot.” Their...
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Why Hawthorn Has Gardeners Arguing About Winter Food for Robins
Harriet M. Ashford
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“If you don’t plant hawthorn, you’re selfish,” she snapped, pointing a gloved finger towards the empty hedge boundary. Plastic seed...
News
The One Drainage Mistake That Kills Potted Herbs
Harriet M. Ashford
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The basil looked flawless at the garden centre: full, aromatic and covered in leaves. Twenty minutes later, on my small...
News
Why Garden Centres Quietly Hate Calendula, the Pot Marigold
Harriet M. Ashford
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On a grey March morning at my neighbour’s allotment, I saw her do something that would make most garden centres...
News
Why Your Compost Smells Bad and How to Fix It Fast
Harriet M. Ashford
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The first warm day of spring arrives, and you lift the lid of your compost bin expecting the rich, woodland...
