BUSINESS

Can you hear it? That sound of the horticultural industry exhaling? We are at the end of the Chelsea flower show, AKA Gardening Christmas. Designers, contractors, nurseries, growers and gardeners have been beetling away building things, attending things, observing things from a distance and generally finding the whole event a delicious, exhausting, engaging, controversial affair. The … Read more

Dandelions are often seen by gardeners as burly thugs, but they do have their benefits. The flowers are rich in nectar and pollen, feeding pollinating insects, which have suffered steep declines in recent years. Numbers of flying insects in the UK have fallen by 78% since 2004, according to a survey based on sampling vehicle … Read more

What’s the problem?My jade plant’s leaves are turning red and falling off. DiagnosisThe jade plant (Crassula ovata) is a relatively hardy succulent that can develop red leaves when exposed to intense sunlight. However, this can also be caused by stress factors, such as temperature fluctuations or inconsistent watering. Some reddening is normal, but excessive redness accompanied by leaf drop … Read more

Frisbees, solar panels and a toilet are among the rather unorthodox stars of the Chelsea flower show, as horticulturalists attempt to show how gardens can be practical as well as beautiful. The event, now in its 112th year, usually tends toward showcasing peonies and roses over human waste. But the Garden of the Future, designed … Read more

This is a great time to be a shopkeeper, if that shop is for those worried about the breakdown of civilisation. “It started with Covid, and people weren’t looking for toilet rolls, put it that way,” says Justin Jones, who runs the online UK Prepping Shop, whose stock ranges from emergency food and wind-up radios … Read more

When the Filter asked me to test and rate six dating apps, it was a challenge I undertook without flinching. I’m something of an expert in this field: for close to a decade now, I’ve written and talked about my love life on public platforms. The reactions have always been mixed: friends roll their eyes, … Read more

A gardener and activist hired by the Royal Horticultural Society to help it reach out to younger and disadvantaged people has said its flagship Chelsea flower show celebrated “exclusivity over equity” as he walked away from the role. Tayshan Hayden-Smith, 28, was asked in 2022 to become the charity’s ambassador for young people and communities. … Read more

Any day now I am going to do a complete wardrobe reorganisation and then make tons of money selling my old clothes on Vinted. Also, learn Spanish. Go through the 10,000 photos on my phone, print out the nice ones of the kids and put them in nice frames, and create one of those charming … Read more

We know better than to take good weather for granted, especially with a weekend approaching. So with the forecast set to fair, it’s time to get outside (before it inevitably starts raining again). The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Whether you’re planning … Read more

Whether you’re enjoying afternoons lounging in the garden, a lively barbecue on the patio or a sundowner on the balcony, the right outdoor furniture can transform an outdoor space completely. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. No matter how beautifully your garden … Read more