Page 32 - News

Close-up of a hand planting beetroot seeds in soil with a trowel and beetroot visible nearby in a garden.

Beetroot: The Forgotten Trick for Perfectly Round Bulbs

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

Many gardeners diligently sow beetroot in spring, only to be surprised later by long, misshapen roots instead of attractive round...

Woman in a straw hat tending lavender and pink flowers with a cat nearby in a sunny garden path.

Nepeta: The robust perennial for blue and pink summer flower beds

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

Anyone walking past their flower bed at the height of summer and still seeing dense carpets of blooms despite the...

Hand holding magnifying glass over garden bed with woman gardening and dog in the background in sunny backyard.

Plants that attract ticks in the garden and keep them away

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

Many keen gardeners enjoy lush greenery, shady spots and wild corners in the lawn. Yet these are precisely the places...

Hands spreading soil next to a potted peace lily on a wooden kitchen windowsill with sunlight.

Coffee Grounds for Peace Lily Flowers: The Simple Kitchen Leftover

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

The pot looks perfect on the living-room cabinet – only the flowers are missing. An unremarkable kitchen leftover can suddenly...

Person wearing a straw hat planting leafy green vegetables in a garden bed with gardening tools nearby

Bergenia as Living Weed Control for Your Garden

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

Many amateur gardeners will recognise the problem: no sooner has a border been neatly prepared than grasses and weeds reappear...

Hand planting a seed into soil in a terracotta pot on a wooden table with seedlings and gardening tools.

Zucchini Seeds: The Old Gardener's Trick for Strong Seedlings

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

Many home gardeners despair when zucchini seeds simply refuse to germinate – an almost forgotten trick from Grandma's garden suddenly...

Person tending to colourful flowers in a grey planter on a balcony table with gardening tools and watering can.

Four-Season Balcony Planter: Four Hardy Perennials Instead of Geraniums

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

Buying new balcony plants again and again, only for them to die miserably after the first frost? It does not...

Hands holding a magnifying glass examining a grub in soil among beetroot and lettuce in a garden bed.

Thick White Grubs in the Vegetable Bed: Panic in the Garden?

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

Thick, white grubs suddenly appear in the vegetable bed – is it time to panic in the garden? Not necessarily....

Hands planting a sprouting potato in soil with garden tools and blooming hydrangeas in the background.

Root Hydrangea Cuttings with a Potato: A Simple Garden Trick

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

When hydrangeas look brown, limp and scorched after a harsh winter, they are often ruthlessly thrown onto the compost heap....

Person scrubbing an outdoor tiled floor with a brush beside a bucket of water and a bottle.

Vinegar Method for Patio Cleaning: Remove Green Deposits Without a Pressure Washer

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

After months of cold, wet weather, stepping onto the patio can bring an unpleasant surprise: green deposits, black marks and...

Hands harvesting ripe tomatoes in a garden with straw mulch and a watering can on wooden decking.

Tomatoes: the simple mulching trick for healthier plants

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

A seemingly minor step can transform the outcome. Anyone growing tomatoes in the garden or on a balcony will recognise...

Hands holding a terracotta pot with colourful flowers while a hummingbird hovers nearby on a sunny balcony.

Lantana: the low-maintenance shrub for colour throughout the year

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

While geraniums fade in autumn and most beds look bleak in winter, one shrub quietly holds its ground: Lantana camara,...

Person adjusting a smiling scarecrow in a vegetable garden with green lettuce plants and gardening tools.

Build a Scarecrow to Protect Your Garden Harvest

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

Many garden owners know the same frustration: after weeks of careful tending, the finest fruit is suddenly pecked at, half-eaten...

Hands shaping wire into a heart around a green potted plant on a wooden table with tools nearby.

Turn a Spider Plant into a Living Sculpture

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

Many people already have this easy-care houseplant somewhere at home: on a sideboard, in the hallway or beside the television....

Person wearing gloves planting yellow flowering plants in a raised garden bed outdoors at sunset.

White Mustard Green Manure in February: The Simple Soil Booster

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

If, in late winter, you look at bare beds and assume nothing is happening in the vegetable garden, you are...

Person pruning branches from a young apple tree in a garden with a wooden crate of apples nearby.

Pruning Apple Trees in February for a Better Harvest

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

Many amateur gardeners wait for the first blossom to appear – and in doing so give away a large share...

Person planting white lily of the valley flowers in garden soil next to a tree with watering can and trowel nearby

Epimedium: The little-known perennial for dry shade beneath trees

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

Yet one little-known perennial can transform these troublesome spots surprisingly easily. Many amateur gardeners know the frustration: nothing grows beneath...

Hands placing a plastic container with lettuce and a large slug in a raised garden bed with leafy greens.

Salad Box Snail Trap: A Simple Animal-Friendly Garden Trick

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

A simple trick using an old salad box can put an end to the problem – without harming animals. Many...

Hand pouring hot water into a terracotta pot for plant propagation on a sunny wooden windowsill.

The Potato Trick That Can Revive Your Drooping Orchid

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

Your orchid is drooping in its pot, the flowers have gone – yet a simple kitchen trick can often help...

Person wearing gloves and a hat pruning red maple leaves with garden shears near a calendar and book.

When to Prune a Japanese Maple: Timing, Techniques and Common Mistakes

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

Many garden owners treat their Japanese maple as a prized possession. That is understandable: its delicate canopy, refined bark and...

Hands tending to basil plant growing in a raised wooden garden bed with peppers, tomatoes, and flowers.

Oregano in the Vegetable Garden: The Best Plant Partners

Gareth Whitfield • September 26, 2026

Oregano has an intense fragrance, grows dependably and also deters pest insects. These very qualities make this Mediterranean herb something...