Home and Gardens
Tips and advice on how to get the best out of your home and garden.
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Grow Your Own Strawberries
Nothing evokes summer more than the scent and taste of strawberries. Their botanical name is ‘Fragaria’ – how utterly perfect, writes Flo Whitaker.
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How to Make a Garden Sofa Out of Pallets
The trend for upcycling raw materials into garden furniture is coming to a back garden near you.
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How to Create a Festive Garden
Having a creative Christmas at home is about more than just a tree and a few bits of tinsel.
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How to Grow Incredible Edibles
Some plants have got the lot – they look good and do you good. Flo Whitaker recommends planting some handsome vegetables in your flower borders.
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Alan Titchmarsh Talks Of Common Mistakes Gardeners Make
He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist and all-round horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh talks about the most common mistakes we make in our gardens.
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The Changing Seasons By Alan Titchmarsh
This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses the changing seasons, and why he ventures out into his garden in any weather.
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The Alan Titchmarsh Column: The Next Generation of Green-Fingered Gardeners
This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses the next generation of green-fingered gardeners.
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Why Many Plants Prefer Life In The Shade
Got a shady garden? Assume you can’t grow anything interesting? Not so, says Flo Whitaker. Many plants prefer life in the shade.
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How to Revive Your Garden After the Long Hot Summer
If you think you suffer from the heat as far as summer goes, think how that sun-baked fares without even so much as a dash of sun lotion.
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Why You Shouldn't Dig in Your Garden
There’s a secret universe right underneath our feet. Welcome to the magical, wonderful world of soil, writes Flo Whitaker.
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Salvias For Summer And Beyond
If you’re looking for easygoing, heat-tolerant plants with a long-flowering season, (and who isn’t?) you can do no better than salvias, writes Flo Whitaker
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Gardening: The Last Wild Orchid of the Year
Towards the end of August, on the lawns of the Isle of Wight an inconspicuous species of wild orchid, the last British orchid of the season, appears for just a few weeks, heralding the end of the summer.
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Ferntastic: Why You Should Consider Ferns For Your Garden
Dinosaurs ate them, and the Victorians obsessed about them; ferns are astonishing survivors from the prehistoric world and still have the power to enchant us, writes Flo Whitaker.
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Property Planning for Retirement
Property, equity and retirement can be a complex topic, so we asked Peter d’Aguilar to shed a little light on some of the options currently available
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What the Average UK House Price Could Get You on the Island (and Beyond)
In the UK right now the average house price is estimated at just over £245,000 (as of February 2021). But that figure obviously varies from region to region. So if you're a first-time buyer or looking to move to pastures new, which areas should you be looking at to get the best value for your money?
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Now's the Perfect Time to Plant Raspberries
Nothing says ‘summer’ more than home-picked fruit. Raspberries are easy to grow — and now’s the perfect time to plant them, writes Flo Whitaker.
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Plant Your Own Windowsill Garlic
It’s all go on the veg patch this month. Sow hardy winter greens and plant garlic for a tasty crop later in the year.
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Hanging Out With Holly
There’s a lot more to holly than spiky green leaves and a few red berries. Peter Erridge explains all things historical and prickly.
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Making Your Home Naturally Cosy
January doesn’t have to be gloomy after the Christmas decorations come down, it can be the ideal time to revamp the home as Adele Trathan explains.
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Spindles, Skewers and Toothpicks: The Euonymus genus
The euonymus genus contains over 150 varieties in the form of shrubs and trees, so there should be one type available to brighten every garden throughout the year.
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Wonderful Workspaces: Setting up a Home Office
In today’s climate, home offices have never been more desirable. We've got this advice for designing your own stylish workspace
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Blaze Away! A Look at Fiery Acers
Versatile and long-lived, no plants give better fiery autumnal colours than acers.
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GARDENING: Winter Greens
It’s all go on the veg patch this month. Sow hardy winter greens and plant onions for a tasty crop next year.
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Dressing Up: Create the perfect window display for your home
The right window dressing can transform the look and feel of a room without the need for a complete interior revamp. Take inspiration from the latest trends to redesign your window space,
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Queen of the Blues: Agapanthus in Late Summer
Coming in every shade from darkest inky purple to purest white, no summer garden is complete without the extraordinary blooms of Agapanthus.
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The Dirt on Hedges
Hedging is an important feature in many domestic and agricultural settings, designating boundary, providing habitat for wildlife and privacy for humans, and actually being a thing of beauty. Peter Erridge tells us more
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Bring the Outdoors In
Add plenty of extra space to your home, with the addition of a light-filled garden room, conservatory or orangerie.
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Caring for Houseplants
Were you gifted a houseplant at Christmas? Wondering what to do with it now? Hippeastrum (amaryllis) are extraordinary plants. Their huge bulbs can develop flowering spikes 60cms tall within six weeks. They are often sold as a kit, complete with flowerpot and compost.
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Your Guide to Maximising Your Sale
Steaming coffee and the aroma of freshly baked bread does not guarantee a sale, considering that the majority of buyers will view several properties, every little bit counts to help your's fall top of the shortlist.