BUSINESS

Gardeners should plant native “tredges” – foliage between the size of a tree and a hedge – to boost England’s tree cover, the Royal Horticultural Society has said. Taking inspiration from ancient woodlands could boost wildlife across England’s 25m gardens, according to experts, and help increase native tree cover. The UK’s woodland cover is approximately … Read more

Anthony Hawwa’s home Christmas light display, featuring 7,000 bulbs, might be more extravagant than most, but when it comes to the date of taking them down, he’s a proud traditionalist. He makes sure everything is boxed up and put away just after 7 January, the date Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas, every year. “I find it … Read more

Do you have what could be described as unusual living arrangements? Perhaps you live in communal housing, or a commune or with extended family. Maybe you have been living with friends for years and have no intention of changing this. We’d like to hear from you. Can you tell us how your unusual living arrangement … Read more

The problemCoffee lovers often wonder if waste from their morning habit can feed their plants. The internet says yes; coffee grounds are packed with nitrogen and organic matter, in theory making them a natural fertiliser and pest deterrent. But can the dregs from your cafetiere really replace plant food, or will they do more harm … Read more

At the end of our street, in an east coast city, is a huge park that’s easy to miss. Wedged in a valley between dead-end streets, its tall trees and fern-lined creek are a haven for native wildlife – and kids – especially on hot summer days. Yet pockets of remnant bushland like this are … Read more

I am a tool-care evangelist. I like to keep my harvest knife sharp and my garden fork hung up tidily in the shed. At least this is what I tell myself – because I believe tool care is important despite, in reality, being the kind of grower who drops her secateurs and forgets to pick them up … Read more