Latest news with #HomesandGardens
The Sun
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Gardeners are being urged to put a penny in their bird bath this summer for important reason
PLACING a penny in your bird bath can have an unexpected benefit this summer. This simple and extremely cheap step can help to transform your garden decor, and help attract more birds. 2 As well as serving as a stylish feature, bird baths have a positive impact on your outdoor space. They attract birds to your garden, helping to control the amount of insects in your flowerbeds. However, they also tend to become a breeding ground for algae. But according to experts, there is a quick trick which can solve this problem, and there's no scrubbing involved.. The solution is also extremely cost-effective, as all you need is one penny. According to the experts at Homes and Gardens, throwing a penny into your bird bath can help to ward off algae. "The copper present in pre-1982 one or two-penny coins triggers a chemical reaction in your bird bath's water," the pros explained. They continued on to say that this "acts to naturally fend off the development of algae". Rocky Trifari, a bird enthusiast and owner of The Rocky Safari, spoke to the publication about the benefits of the hack. "Copper is a natural biocide with properties that interfere with the biological processes algae and other microorganisms rely on," the expert said. I hate my new build garden being overlooked so found a 5 METRE privacy fence to block out nosy neighbours for under £30 "When copper ions leach into the water, they promote an environment that discourages the growth of green algae, one of the main causes of that slimy, dirty water found in birdbaths." Make sure your pennies are free of rust or corrosion before adding them to your bird bath. Since birds drink and bathe in the water, prolonged exposure to these elements could cause health risks. While pennies won't act as a permanent solution to algae, they can definitely help reduce growth. What does the RSPB think? The organisation said: "Birds need water for drinking and bathing. "There are many ways of providing water in the garden, but the simplest? A bird bath. "Many people put food out for birds, but fewer provide a regular supply of clean water. Birds need water for drinking and bathing. "Bird baths are particularly important in weather extremes: During winter when natural supplies may be frozen, and in dry conditions such as hot summers with weeks of no rain. "But being small and enclosed, bird baths can easily become dirty and stagnant, and even dangerous, without regular cleaning. "Make sure you change the water in your bird bath daily and give bird baths a thorough clean once a week to help prevent the spread of disease." How to encourage wildlife into your garden THE Woodland Trust shared five top tips 1. Grow wild Let nature take its course to create a more attractive environment for all things wild. You don't have to leave your plot to develop into a small jungle – wildlife will thank you for just a small corner, border or planter. 2. Plant trees and shrubs Research has shown that gardens are more attractive to wildlife if they have trees. And those trees can bring a host of other benefits too, from reducing noise and flooding to fighting climate change. 3. Create homes If you want to attract a particular species, a ready-made home can look especially appealing to any wildlife passing through. 4. Offer a water source Water is crucial for wildlife. Making some available in your garden could be a lifeline, especially in extreme weather. 5. Serve an extra meal One of the best ways to persuade a plethora of wildlife to your patch is to give them access to an easy meal. Other cleaning hacks and gardening tips A £1 buy can also be used to transform your mouldy outdoor furniture. Alternatively, a kitchen ingredient can also be used to scrub up your garden set. Another budget buy is also said to leave your outdoor garden set gleaming in time for summer. Or you can opt to clean your garden furniture in seconds with a DIY hack. And an 80p hack helps to lift stubborn algae from your garden surfaces. 2
Daily Record
02-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
Gardeners urged to plant these 5 flowers to stop weeds from taking over
An infestation of weeds in your garden is one downside to the warm weather - experts recommend planting these flowers to put them off your lawn There's nothing more frustrating than battling a weed invasion in your garden. Luckily, experts suggest planting certain flowers to deter them from your lawn. As summer approaches, you might be spotting an array of unsightly growths appearing on your lawn. The combination of warmer weather and sunlight allows invasive plants to proliferate rapidly. Common UK weeds include dandelion, chickweed and the dreaded prickly milk thistle, which can be notoriously difficult to eliminate. Weeds do more than just spoil the appearance of your lawn; they can cause significant damage to neighbouring plants. This is because they drain nutrients from the soil, leaving little for the plants in your garden. They can also harbour troublesome insects, such as aphids, caterpillars and mealybugs, reports the Mirror. But before reaching for weed killer, Homes and Gardens suggests turning to these plants instead. Not only are they visually stunning, these perennial plants bloom year after year, saving you effort. Black-eyed Susans These vibrant yellow flowers feature jet black stigmas that naturally attract attention – hence their name. These unique flowers will not only add interest to your garden, but also help ward off weeds. This is due to their tendency to grow in dense patches, leaving little space for unwanted plants to infiltrate. They're best planted in spring as they require at least six hours of sunlight daily. Coneflowers These charming dusky pink coneflowers hail from North America and boast remarkable resilience. Their robust nature makes them perfect for withstanding the often erratic British climate. Thriving in both full and partial sunlight, these flowers require watering just twice a week. Katie Sunderlage, operations manager at the Holland Group, told Home and Gardens: "Once settled into your yard, you will find coneflowers remarkably low-maintenance." Verbenas Proudly bearing purple blossoms throughout the summer season, Verbenas are not only beautiful but practical. They offer generous ground coverage, which helpfully thwarts weeds from flourishing. For optimal growth, plant your Verbenas where they can bask in full or partial sun, ensuring that the soil has good drainage. They're also quite drought-tolerant, so there's no need for concern during the occasional heatwave. Blazing star Living up to their fiery name with vibrant electric purple petals, Blazing stars make their striking appearance in late summer. They're excellent at keeping weeds at bay as they naturally grow in dense clusters, and fortunately, cultivating them is relatively straightforward – all they ask for is direct sunlight. Blue grama This grass which is native to the American Midwest excels at weed prevention. Best suited to warmer environs, Blue grama is an ideal choice for those residing in Southern England or along the coast. Once established, it demands very little in terms of watering. Annual weeds in the UK generally start growing in early spring, around April. This is because soil temperatures rise, causing the weeds to begin to grow. They generally bloom in the summer before fully dying in winter.
Daily Mirror
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners urged to plant 5 flowers that stop weeds from taking over
These are five gorgeous flowers that do well in British gardens and which will prevent unwanted weed growth - even better they will grow back year after year so you only have to plant them once There are few things more infuriating than dealing with an infestation of weeds in your garden. Fortunately, experts recommend planting these flowers to put them off your lawn. With summer around the corner, you're probably noticing all sorts of unsightly growth cropping up on your lawn. Warmer weather and sunlight means that invasive plants are able to reproduce like wildfire. Common UK weeds include dandelion, chickweed and the dreaded prickly milk thistle. The worst part is that they can be incredibly hard to get rid of. More than just ruin the look of your lawn, weeds are known to cause huge damage to surrounding plants. This is because they leech nutrients from the soil, leaving little for the plants growing in your garden. They can also harbour problem insects, like aphids, caterpillars and mealybugs. But before you turn to a weed killer, Homes and Gardens recommend turning to these plants instead. Not only do they look gorgeous, these perennial plants blossom year and after year, saving you the hard work. Black-eyed Susans These bright yellow flowers have jet black stigmas that automatically draw the eye – hence the name. These unusual flowers will not only add intrigue to your garden, but also help stave off weeds. This is because they tend to grow in thick patches, which leaves little room for unwanted plants to worm their way in. They're best planted in spring as they require at least six hours of sunlight a day. Coneflowers These dusky pink delights are native to North America and are incredibly hardy. This means they're well suited to survive Britain's unpredictable weather. They prefer full or partial sun and need to be water twice a week. Katie Sunderlage, operations manager at the Holland Group, told Home and Gardens: 'Once settled into your yard, you will find coneflowers remarkably low-maintenance.' Verbenas These tall plants will produce purple flowers all summer long. Even better, they provide a high amount of ground cover, preventing weeds from taking hold. They should be planted in full or partial sun and in well-draining soil. It's also drought tolerant, which means you don't have to worry about it surviving a heat wave. Blazing star With their electric purple petals, these flowers look just like their name. They typically bloom in late summer and are great weed blockers as they tend to grow in clusters. Even better, they're relatively easy to grow – all they need is direct sunlight. Blue grama Native to the American Midwest, this grass is brilliant at preventing weeds. Of course, since it prefers warmer temperatures, it's a better option for those living in the south or coastal areas of the UK. Once planted, it needs very little watering.
Daily Mirror
23-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Alan Titchmarsh's simple gardening hack will banish weeds for good
Weeds can be a major headache for many gardeners, but Alan Titchmarsh has shared a simple trick that will keep them at bay - and you probably already have the tool needed Alan Titchmarsh, one of Britain's most loved gardening experts, has shared a nifty trick for those of us who are waging a never-ending war against pesky garden invaders – weeds. If you've got weeds coming up through your patio slabs or sneakily growing in your prized veggie patch, Alan reckons he's got the just the tool for the job. In a video talk with Waitrose and Partners on YouTube, Alan let slip his garden secret for maintaining a pristine flowerbed border while holding the line against those unwanted green gatecrashers. "Once your border plants have fattened up and covered the ground there's hardly any room for weeds to grow but until they have, you've got to keep that bare soil clean," he advised keen gardeners. He then revealed the genius behind the common garden hoe: "A little hoe like this skimmed across the surface will chop up annual weeds, separate the roots from the shoots and they'll fry in the sun. "So, with a bit of dead-heading and pruning, supporting those plants that need it and weeding your bare patches, you can have a border that looks brilliant right the way through the summer." Fancy that, no more dandelions, herb bennet, or couch grass turning your garden into their personal playground. Ruth Hayes, the green-thumbed expert at Homes and Gardens, agrees with Alan, citing the trusty hoe as a top-notch weed executioner for almost all common British weeds, barring a few stubborn holdouts. "This is better than forking and digging as it doesn't activate buried weed seeds," she shared with the publication. "I make an exception for perennial weeds such as dandelions, which need digging up root and all." However, other gardening aficionados suggest utilising salt to parch the weeds, by stopping them from soaking up the nutrients essential for their survival. Harry Bodell from PriceYourJob previously revealed to The Mirror: "Salt interferes with the weed's ability to absorb essential nutrients such as potassium, magnesium and calcium. The disruption in nutrient uptake weakens the plant's overall health, leading it to wither due to dehydration and die." According to Harry, a straightforward concoction of one part salt to two parts water should do the trick. But there's a warning for the green thumbs - this approach can also spell doom for your favourite blooms, unlike the gentler hoe or digging techniques. And adding to the cautionary advice, Kendall Marie Platt from Adventures with Flowers has also weighed in, warning: "Salt can be used to kill weeds but it damages the soil so badly that nothing else will grow not even plants you want to grow there. "It's much better to dig up weeds by hand."
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
When is spring? What is the difference between astronomical and meteorological spring?
The frigid weather is finally behind us in Oklahoma, at least for the time being, with a series of warm days ahead. In Oklahoma City, high temperatures are forecasted to be in the 60s and 70s this week, a stark departure from last week's subzero wind chills which kept ice and snow on the ground for days. But is this really the start of spring? When does spring begin? Here's what you need to know. Well, it depends on who you ask. Meteorological spring occurs during the months of March, April and May each year. So, for meteorologists predicting the weather, spring will start on March 1, 2025. But for those marking the change of the seasons by the celestial bodies in the sky, astronomical spring begins a little later. On March 20, 2025, when the sun is directly over the equator, also known as the vernal equinox, astronomical spring begins. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, experts had difficulty comparing statistics year-to-year because traditional seasons vary in length from 89 to 93 days. Meteorological seasons were created to make the seasons more uniform, consisting of the same three months each year. False spring is a period of unseasonably warm weather, which can trick us into thinking winter is over, according to a Homes and Gardens article. This can be frustrating for us, but can also cause problems for gardeners. The warm temperatures can plants and flowers to start blooming weeks before they normally do, but the fresh leaves and blossoms can be damaged when temperatures plummet once more. Right now, Oklahoma may be in its second "false spring" of the season, according to the Oklahoma Mesonet. HA! Ain't nobody falling for false spring #2! We see you, Mother Nature. But we'll enjoy it while we can! #okwx #okmesonet Posted by Oklahoma Mesonet on Monday, February 24, 2025 This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: When is the first day of spring? Is Oklahoma in a 'false spring?'
