Page 81 - Latest Articles - aucklandtrees.co.uk

Woman smelling purple heliotropium flowers in garden with watering can and gloves nearby on sunny day

Heliotrope: the vanilla flower making balconies and patios smell like summer

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

Many hobby gardeners are after a plant that offers more than something that’s simply “nice to look at”. They want...

Person wearing gloves carefully handling a snake coiled on plants in a garden bed bordered with stones.

Adders in the garden: which plants attract them and what to change before mid-March

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

From around mid-March, adders and other snakes begin to leave their winter hideaways and may move closer to our homes....

Person trimming a potted rosemary plant with scissors using a ruler for measurement on a wooden table outdoors.

Rosemary pruning in March: how to keep it compact and flowering

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

Many hobby gardeners are surprised every year: the rosemary has certainly grown, yet the flowers now sit only right at...

Bare feet standing on a lush green clover lawn with white flowers, a watering can, and a lawnmower nearby.

Low White Clover (Micro-Clover): The Quiet Alternative to a Traditional Lawn

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

As lawns scorch in the height of summer and the lawnmower is out non-stop, an unassuming plant is emerging as...

Hands arranging a red tulip in a bouquet of yellow and red tulips in a glass vase on a kitchen table.

Needle Trick for Tulips: The 3‑Second Method to Fix Drooping Stems in a Vase

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

Many people reach for home remedies such as copper coins or a splash of alcohol in the vase water. A...

Woman pruning white flowering shrubs in a well-maintained garden with red-leaved plants nearby on a sunny day.

Photinia vs Pittosporum: the evergreen hedge alternative to ‘Red Robin’ and Thuja

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

Anyone wanting to shield their garden from prying eyes often turns to fast-growing hedge plants. First, Thuja seemed to be...

Person planting a Swiss chard seedling in a garden bed with a basket of harvested stems nearby.

Forcing Rhubarb in the Dark: Harvest Earlier with Sweeter Stalks

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

A straightforward trick from the veg patch can bring your rhubarb harvest forward by weeks - and the stalks turn...

Person placing a white orchid plant in a transparent pot into a bowl of water on a wooden kitchen countertop.

Get Orchids Blooming Again: the Five‑Minute Bath Trick and the Dark Phase

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

With a surprisingly simple tweak, that can change completely. Anyone who’s ever been given a beautifully flowering orchid will know...

Person gardening with gloves on a balcony surrounded by purple flowers and flying bees in sunlight.

Nepeta × faassenii catmint: the tougher alternative to lavender

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

Anyone looking to brighten up a balcony or garden in spring often reaches for lavender almost without thinking. A touch...

Hands hanging a brown paper wasp nest trap on a wooden beam in a garden with flowers and gardening tools nearby.

Asian hornet: the paper bag trick to deter nests in your garden

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

If you want to sit comfortably in the garden in summer, there is a new worry on many people’s minds:...

Person applying white plaster or paint to a terracotta plant pot on a wooden table outdoors

Terracotta Pots: The Ceramic Trick with Paint and Bicarbonate of Soda

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

Plenty of hobby gardeners know the frustration: after one or two winters, beloved terracotta pots can look truly sorry for...

Man in a blue sweater pruning blue hydrangea flowers in a sunny garden.

Monty Don: the March cut that saves hydrangea blooms

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

Anyone who has ever seen a photograph of hydrangeas covered in lush, ball-shaped blooms expects the same spectacle at home....

Young woman planting seedlings in a raised garden bed with a watering can and smartphone nearby.

The Best Time to Sow and Plant Out Tomatoes

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

Chapo: A lot of garden lovers put their tomato plants into the ground far too early - and later wonder...

Red lawnmower on grass beside a person wearing jeans, with a rake lying on a dry patch in a fenced garden.

First spring lawn cut: when to mow and how short to set the mower

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

When the first mild days arrive, many keen gardeners instinctively wheel the lawnmower out of the shed. It looks diligent...

Father and sons installing a wooden birdhouse on a tree in a sunny garden.

Owl Nest Box in the Garden: A Simple Way to Help During Breeding Season

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

If you ever catch a muffled “hoo-hoo” in the small hours, you may not realise how fiercely these birds compete...

Person tending to potted spider plant on a windowsill with a watering can and other plants nearby

Spider Plant Kinked Leaves: Causes and Fixes

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

Many owners are puzzled: the spot seems right, watering is regular - and yet the spider plant suddenly looks tired,...

How Sprite or 7Up Keeps Roses Fresh for 5 to 7 Days

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

Heads often start to droop after only a few days. A simple kitchen trick can make a noticeable difference. Plenty...

Person wearing gloves planting colourful pansies in garden soil with a trowel and seed trays nearby

Living mulch in March: ground-cover perennials that keep weeds down

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

As many hobby gardeners know, it can feel like a losing battle: you finish weeding a bed, and after the...

Man covering young plants with a protective mesh in a sunny garden with blooming tulips nearby.

Ice Saints 2026: Frost Dates and Safe Planting for Your Garden

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

Spring is in full swing: garden centres are packed, and seedlings are jostling for space on windowsills. Yet one anxious...

Person planting a flower in a garden bed surrounded by colourful blooming flowers on a sunny day.

15 Robust Perennials to Transform Your Garden Beds This Spring

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

After the colder months, a glance out into the garden often reveals little more than flat, bare patches. It’s easy...

Woman spraying a tomato plant affected by leaf disease in a garden with a homemade remedy.

Bicarbonate of Soda in the Garden: Why the “Harmless” Powder Can Burn Leaves and Ruin Soil

Harriet M. Ashford • September 6, 2026

More and more amateur gardeners are reaching for household remedies instead of chemicals. On social media, countless videos promote a...