Page 97 - Latest Articles - aucklandtrees.co.uk

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...

Person pruning young green plants in a raised garden bed with gardening tools and seed packet nearby.

Mustard green manure in February: Sinapis alba for 18% higher yields

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

When February makes everything look grey and lifeless, forward-thinking gardeners can already begin the real season - in the soil....

Person lifting a green tarp to reveal a coiled snake resting on wooden planks in a garden setting.

Snakes in the Garden: Why Tarpaulins and Metal Sheets Attract Them in Spring

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

With the first warmer days of the year, many people start tidying their gardens: tools are put away, shrubs are...

Hand pouring liquid fertiliser onto soil near ripening strawberries in a garden bed.

Yeast Fertiliser for Strawberries: The Simple Water and Sugar Mix for Bigger Berries

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

Many gardeners will recognise the frustration: the strawberry plants look vigorous in the bed, yet the fruit stays small and...

Hand placing a large pine cone on soil on a wooden windowsill with potted plants and watering can.

A fir cone trick to keep houseplants alive in winter

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

Central heating, shut windows, poorly ventilated compost: during the colder months, living rooms develop conditions that put roots under serious...

Person sweeping gravel path in a garden with kettle and bucket nearby on a sunny day.

Natural ways to keep a gravel path weed-free without chemicals

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

Many homeowners will recognise the pattern: in spring the gravel path looks as though it has just been laid, but...

Person wearing gloves pruning fruit tree branches with shears in an orchard during autumn or early spring.

February winter pruning for apple trees: how to secure a bigger harvest

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

The orchard may still look as though it is asleep for winter, but it is precisely now that you determine...

Person wiping a wooden outdoor table surrounded by plastic and wooden chairs in a garden patio.

Winter‑Proof Garden Furniture: Materials to Avoid and What Lasts

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

Many garden owners face the same unpleasant surprise in late winter: what looked smart in spring suddenly resembles something ready...

Person watering a zucchini plant growing in a raised garden bed on a sunny day.

Courgette Watering: Progressive Watering for Bigger Harvests

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

Plenty of hobby gardeners water their courgettes regularly, yet still fail to get the most from the plants. What matters...

Great tit bird flying near purple coneflowers in a sunlit garden with a bird feeder in the background.

Echinacea (Purple Coneflower): The Perennial That Feeds Garden Birds All Winter

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

Plant it now and, next winter, you could be watching a real bird spectacle right outside your window. Plenty of...

Person watering tomato plant in a terracotta pot on a balcony with gardening tools and other plants nearby

A simple bottle trick can save your plants

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

A simple bottle trick can save them. Anyone with houseplants, balcony pots or veg growing knows the issue: go away...

Person harvesting a root vegetable in a garden with sunflowers and a basket in the background.

Jerusalem artichoke is back: a comeback in gardens and kitchens

Harriet M. Ashford • August 22, 2026

For years it was dismissed as a granny’s vegetable: plain, forgettable and a little old-fashioned. Now the knobbly tuber with...