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It feels almost illicit to admit this, but for the past few months I’ve been in two very useful WhatsApp groups that exist to serve people who live in a certain corner of London interested in home improvement and gardening. I’ve come to find the patter of insight and community feeling around matters such as … Read more

I’ve moved from the city to Melbourne’s outer east where everybody knows how to garden. Blundstoned parents swagger in for school pickup with secateurs in their belts and parsnips the size of your arm. They have wood chippers and chainsaws and trailers filled with enough mulch to cover a national park, which until yesterday I … Read more

Dads can be tricky to buy for. They often have everything already, or profess to want nothing. But beneath the smiling veneer of a man unwrapping a pair of novelty socks is someone who secretly wanted some fancy toiletries. Or a massage gun. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you … Read more

Whatever the weather, June marks the start of what we consider summer in the northern hemisphere, and many of us are seized with a frenetic desire to make the most of it. We want our homes to be light, airy and inviting and our outside spaces full of colour and scent – but if you’re … Read more

Cliodhna Dempsey’s letter (Bridal bucket is the best wedding gift, 26 May) brought back the happiest of memories. In July 1968 I was 21 years old, on the last day of my first year of teaching in Hampshire, and due to be married eight days later. My lovely class of first-year juniors, at final assembly, … Read more

What’s the problem?My daughter has a yucca plant on her landing, and while the lower side looks fine, the taller side is struggling. She suspects her partner might have overwatered it. Any advice? DiagnosisYuccas are drought-tolerant and sensitive to overwatering, and yellowing leaves, soft areas on the trunk or drooping stems are all indicators of this. … Read more

With each month that passes, we learn more and more about our readers. For one, you clearly love a bargain – the top budget choice in our group tests is often your favourite. You also love to get outdoors, whether that’s a camping trip or a walk in the local park. So it was no … Read more

It’s common these days for people to play music in their gardens on smart speakers or smartphones. But is it fair on the neighbours? Should gardens be quiet spaces without these kinds of sounds? Graham French, Sutton Coldfield Post your answers (and new questions) below or send them to [email protected]. A selection will be published … Read more

“Shoes off!” barked my slightly bossy friend Kit as I was about to cross her threshold. I was taken aback: was this a new habit adopted from social media or some lifestyle guru? Kit is not obsessive, but she is house proud. She lives in the country, her house surrounded by muddy lawn near a … Read more

Any garden is a special thing, but a walled garden? That’s something truly special: an outside that is an inside. When Tara Fraser and Nigel Jones first came to view this semi-derelict Regency house in 2016, they had no idea Ashley Court included a walled garden. “We saw this wooden door and pushed it open – and there it … Read more