Bees are key pollinators and their numbers are in decline. Without a healthy population there are serious implications for many garden plants and food crops. Sharon Jervis, the founder of giftware retailer Beefayre, offers advice on how to attract bees to your garden. Plant lots of flowers of different colours and shapes. Blue, white, violet, … Read more
A tree will bring year-round interest and colour into even the smallest garden – but consider how big it will eventually become. WHICH TREE TO CHOOSE If you’d prefer a tree that doesn’t need any pruning, and grows to no more than about 3m tall, look at varieties that cross over between trees and shrubs. … Read more
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
Fill your rooms with glorious home fragrance and make it last longer with top tips from Victoria Davies, scents buyer at John Lewis. Don’t save scented candles for special occasions because over time the fragrance becomes weaker. When storing them, find somewhere that’s an even temperature – not too hot or cold. To maximise your candle’s burn time, allow it to … Read more
Your tech products are probably some of your most-frequently-used items. After all, how often do you not have your smart phone, tablet, or computer on you? But cleaning these devices isn’t as cut and dry as, say, your countertops — so make sure you avoid these mistakes when caring for them: 1 You spray or … 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
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
Learning the names that families use for their sitting room has offered plenty of amusement over the past couple of weeks. Much seems to depend on the part of the country and the social aspiration of the household. Her Majesty the Queen, at Buckingham Palace, has a White Drawing Room , so clearly “drawing room” is … Read more
It’s just possible that the old painting you picked up at a car boot sale could pay for your next holiday! New research from insurance company Direct Line found that one in six of us has unwittingly given away high-value items to friends, charity shops and jumble sales, only to realise they were valuable when it was too late. … Read more