The problemMost of us have bought an orchid, enjoyed its flowers, then been left with a couple of leaves and a bare spike. Many assume the show is over and bin it or leave it on the sill out of guilt, watering it occasionally while expecting nothing. There it sits, dormant, waiting for a signal … Read more
Summer is in full swing, and June’s favourites show us that, before the record-breaking heatwave that covered a lot of the UK, you were embracing the season with gusto. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Some of you updated your summer wardrobe … Read more
Best Investments Over the Last 100 Years? Almost All Are Tech Companies.
Thanks to the Hobart gardening legend Hannah Moloney sharing a video about the green tomatoes in her greenhouse, I went outside in the glorious winter solstice sunshine today, down in the Huon Valley, and rummaged around in the crazily overgrown tomato plant that has been taking over my neglected compost heap. I came away with … Read more
Why You Shouldn’t Send Checks in the Mail
The summer solstice is behind us: where did the year go? But the next few weeks are still a good time to work out where your sunny spots actually are, and where they’re not. And that’s helpful for plotting out everything you might want to do and grow in your garden. Last June, I was desperate to peer at our … Read more
You can mow your lawn as little or as often as you like, but it won’t look truly perfect until you’ve neatened up the edges. As with most garden tasks, you can do this manually, using a decent pair of edging shears – or, if you’re not a fan of manual labour, you can use … Read more
After the two hottest May days on record in the UK last month, gardeners may be surveying the damage and dreading the summer months ahead. “Heatwaves early in the summer can result in scorched, brown leaves,” says Leigh Hunt, the principal horticultural adviser at the Royal Horticultural Society. “When temperatures climb over 35C, there are … Read more
My uncle has a mature and beautiful gingko tree, which also goes by the name of memory tree, which is a little ironic because he can’t remember where he put his hearing aid batteries, and yet he can recollect with pin-sharp detail the exact moment this tree’s predecessor was confiscated by a customs official on … Read more
The problemMost old houseplant guides suggest adding a layer of gravel or stones to the bottom of the pot before adding compost. It is presented as basic good practice; the thing you do to stop soil from retaining water, which can cause root rot. The hackThis layer of gravel is said to improve drainage by providing a place … Read more