Page 19 - News

Person planting flower bulbs in soil with gardening tools and seed trays nearby in a garden.

Plant Dahlias, Begonias, Lilies and Peonies in March for Continuous Garden Colour

Oliver Grant • October 5, 2026

If, come spring, you are left looking in dismay at fading beds and empty containers, you are far from alone....

Woman tending to a hanging orchid plant on a sunlit balcony with gardening supplies on a round table.

Phalaenopsis orchids: make them flower with a hanging basket

Oliver Grant • October 5, 2026

Countless homes have magnificent Phalaenopsis orchids on their windowsills, only for them eventually to produce leaves alone and not a...

Colourful garden bed with pink and white peonies, yellow and green plants, purple flowers, and a person tending the garden.

The best companion plants for peonies

Oliver Grant • October 5, 2026

Many amateur gardeners wonder why their peonies grow reliably yet never produce the spectacular display of flowers seen in parks...

Person pruning purple flowers in a hanging pot on a sunny balcony with potted plants and a watering can.

Plectranthus ‘Magic Mona Purple’: The Purple Perennial for Hanging Baskets

Oliver Grant • October 5, 2026

Many window boxes and hanging baskets look spectacular in spring, only to appear tired by late summer. The usual choices,...

Person watering lavender plants in a garden with terracotta pots and succulents on a sunny day

Drought-Loving Plants for a Garden That Needs Less Water

Oliver Grant • October 5, 2026

On one of those summer evenings when the heat still hangs over the courtyard like a blanket, I walk through...

Person watering a potted spider plant by a window with a metal watering can indoors.

Spider Plant Leaves Bent, Yellow or Dry? This Is a Warning Sign

Oliver Grant • October 5, 2026

Bent, yellow or dry leaves? This is a warning sign. If you know your Spider Plant, you will quickly notice...

Man planting pink peonies in a vibrant flower garden on a sunny day with gardening tools nearby.

Long-Lived Perennials: Daffodils, Garden Irises and Peonies for a Low-Maintenance Border

Oliver Grant • October 5, 2026

Many gardens look bleak at the end of winter. Beds are empty, the soil is cold and nothing seems to...

Hand placing a yellow sponge into a terracotta pot with soil on a wooden table with flowers and watering can.

How a Washing-Up Sponge Helps Garden Plants Retain Water

Oliver Grant • October 5, 2026

When the gardening season begins, beds, containers and window boxes can quickly be pushed to their limits: young roots, unpredictable...

Two small birds, a robin and a great tit, perched on a birdbath with rippling water, surrounded by berry bushes.

How to Turn Your Garden into a Natural Bird Buffet

Oliver Grant • October 5, 2026

Many garden owners instinctively turn to artificial feeders in the hope of attracting more feathered visitors. This often works in...

Lavender plants with bees, two metal watering cans, gardening trowel, and a straw hat on garden path.

Catmint Outperforms Lavender: Tougher, Longer-Flowering and a Bee Paradise

Oliver Grant • October 5, 2026

Yet one frequently overlooked perennial is tougher, flowers for longer – and sends bees into a veritable frenzy. Anyone planning...

Person using a rake to spread compost on a garden lawn with gardening supplies nearby on grass.

Moss in the Lawn: Why Washing-up Liquid Causes Problems

Oliver Grant • October 5, 2026

After the first mild days of the year, it is natural to inspect the garden with pride – only to...

Ornamental garden with silvery dusty miller plants, green foliage, and a small gardening trowel on gravel.

Create a Snow Bed with Stachys byzantina and Artemisia

Oliver Grant • October 5, 2026

Spring is waiting in the wings, yet many flower beds still look more like November: dark soil, only a few...

Hands spreading seeds in a garden bed with three freshly harvested carrots on the soil.

The Simple Sand Trick for Straight Carrots

Oliver Grant • October 5, 2026

With a simple sand trick, you can avoid both problems almost completely. Anyone preparing their beds in spring looks forward...

Person watering a Monstera plant in a terracotta pot on a wooden table by a bright window.

Overwatering Houseplants: How to Water Without Drowning Them

Oliver Grant • October 5, 2026

The morning was still grey and the coffee was already half cold when Anna stopped in front of her shelf...

Sparrow holding a green pea on the edge of a wooden planter in a garden with lettuce and tomatoes.

Why the Sparrow Is an Underestimated Ally in the Garden

Oliver Grant • October 5, 2026

When people think of birds in the garden, colourful tits or the much-loved robin with its orange breast usually spring...

Woman smelling white and purple flowers on a balcony garden with potted plants and gardening tools.

One Freesia for a Fragrant Balcony and Terrace

Oliver Grant • October 5, 2026

Not a dozen pots, but just one flower. Many city dwellers dream of a fragrant summer terrace, yet quickly run...

Person kneeling in grass planting moss with gardening tools and supplies nearby in a sunny backyard.

Moss in the Lawn: Why Washing-up Liquid Does More Harm Than Good

Oliver Grant • October 5, 2026

Many amateur gardeners turn to quick online “secret tips” in spring – and unintentionally cause more damage than the moss...

Person planting a small fern in a garden bed near colourful hydrangeas with gardening tools and watering can nearby.

Hydrangeas: These 3 Perennials Produce More Flowers

Oliver Grant • October 4, 2026

Anyone who loves hydrangeas will know the frustration: catalogues show enormous flower heads, yet at home the panicles droop, the...

Person watering a spider plant in a white pot on a wooden table in a bright room.

Spider Plant Leaves Bending: Causes and Care Tips

Oliver Grant • October 4, 2026

Many owners only realise how serious the issue is once several leaves have bent, faded or even snapped off. At...

Hands pruning a young rose plant with secateurs in a raised garden bed on a sunny day.

When to Prune Roses in Spring: The Right Timing

Oliver Grant • October 4, 2026

Many keen gardeners face the same dilemma every year: winter begins to loosen its grip and the buds start to...

Person planting a green glass bottle in soil in a garden with other glass bottles and gardening tools nearby.

Bottle Borders for a Reused Garden

Oliver Grant • October 4, 2026

One Sunday morning, in an old village garden, long grass almost conceals an unusual edging: the bases of green, brown...