Planning your garden so that you’re planting in the right places is important for growing healthy plants, but even so, pests and diseases can scupper your good work. Catching problems early is key to keeping your garden bug-and disease-free. While you’re watering the plants, keep an eye out for brown, curled or discoloured leaves, holes in … Read more
With spring finally here, it’s time to start a new DIY gardening project at home. Tomatoes are the perfect vegetables (or fruit if you want to be technical) to plant yourself, and there’s a super simple way to do it. All you need is another tomato and you’re ready to go. As demonstrated by YouTube … Read more
The best way to think of succulents is as ‘fat plants’. Parts of them, usually their leaves, swell up with water and this stops them from drying out in arid conditions. Cacti are the most obvious examples but sedums and sempervivums are also common. They all share that fleshy, tender look and often have grey-green … Read more
The best way to think of succulents is as ‘fat plants’. Parts of them, usually their leaves, swell up with water and this stops them from drying out in arid conditions. Cacti are the most obvious examples but sedums and sempervivums are also common. They all share that fleshy, tender look and often have grey-green … Read more
It’s essential to select the correct paint type and finish for the surface you want to cover. WHICH PAINT TO PICK? Melanie Adams, Director, Designerpaint.com reveals the secrets of paint formulas. Water-based emulsion works well on walls and ceilings. Eggshell and acrylic can also be water based but they’re tougher than emulsion. Some products are durable … Read more
There’s a misconception that hi-tech homes can’t also be knock-your-socks-off beautiful. Speakers, televisions and the smart panels that control audio systems, heating and lighting are just eyesores that get in the way of a well-designed interior – aren’t they? If that visual clutter is catching your eye, you’re simply not doing it right. Interior designers, … Read more
Whether you want a family-friendly space, an easy maintenance scheme, a place to grow-your-own or year-round flowers – these garden designs have got it pegged. CLASSIC COUNTRY A simple way to create a fantastic looking traditional favourite of gorgeous, continually flowering deep borders is to opt for colour theming (above). For example, team dusky pinks with reds, and keep blues, … Read more
As residents of the northern hemisphere, we’ve been conditioned to welcome as much sunlight as possible into our homes, and that includes the use of pale colours to illuminate a room. So it’s hard to put that to one side and consider a dark colour scheme, let alone the darkest one of all: bold, moody, … Read more
Plan your design, planting scheme and finishing touches to reap the benefits of a kitchen garden. What’s the difference between a kitchen garden and a vegetable patch? Well, the biggest difference is that the kitchen garden, or potager, is both productive and beautiful. A tall order you might think but with a bit of planning … Read more
Tips from paint experts on how to revitalise your space with gorgeous hues from a bygone era. BY JO ATKINSON Beautiful base ‘Warm and earthy, Sunday Stroll is a green with a hint of grey,’says Cathryn Helsby of Earthborn Paints. ‘Part of a new collection, it was developed for a project with the Prince’s Trust. … Read more