Latest news with #OldRailwayLineGardenCentre
The Sun
a day ago
- General
- The Sun
The 49p plant that keeps wasps away – it flowers until September & fills your garden with gorgeous fragrance
THERE'S nothing better than lying out in your garden and soaking up the sun. And don't worry if your space seems prone to wasps because a handy hack can help to repel them. And since the current heatwave likely means more barbecues and garden get togethers, wasp season is officially here. If you want to enjoy your summer drinks and al fresco dining without worrying about these buzzing pests, you can swap out a chemical spray for a natural deterrent. With wasp populations increasing even further in July, now is the time to act. Thankfully, one of summer's most popular plants can double as a natural wasp repellent. But you'll want to get it in the ground now as once wasps beging building nests they become a lot more difficult to remove. That's when things get really costly, with professional removal fees reaching up to £241. Liam Cleary, who works as an outdoor plants expert at Old Railway Line Garden Centre, revealed that planting lavender is a simple and affordable solution to your wasp problem. 'Wasps are highly sensitive to strong scents, and lavender is one they really don't like," he explained. "Planting it near seating areas, doorways, or patios can help mask the smells that attract them, like food, sugary drinks, or perfumes.' Lavender contains essential oils like linalool and camphor, which give it that distinctive floral smell. I tried the best ways to stop mosquitoes on your summer hols - from sprays, patches & bracelets, one was a dud and stank And while this scent is pleasant to humans it can be overwhelming to wasps, which rely heavily on scent to detect food. But don't worry, pollinator insects will still be drawn to this garden plant. And since lavender is drought-tolerant, you don't have to worry about it in the summer heat. You can pick up a pot of lavender for £6 from Ikea, or lavender seeds for as little as 49p can be found at The Range. 'It's low maintenance, smells incredible, and keeps your garden feeling calm, all while helping you enjoy a wasp-free zone," the expert added. Keep pests out all summer Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mossies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass. If you're planning to add lavender to your outdoor space, choose a sunny spot. Lavender loves full sun and well-drained soil, so avoid shaded or damp areas. Be careful not to overwater as this can cause lavender to wilt or rot. And if you're particularly prone to wasp visits, try planting lavender alongside mint, thyme, or lemongrass for an extra layer of protection. Wasps are known become more aggressive from late June into August as their colonies grow and natural food sources decline. This makes them more likely to pester humans for sugary snacks and drinks so you may want to cover your food and drinks when enjoying time in the sun. 2 You should also avoid wearing bright clothing and strong perfumes if you want to steer clear of these stinging pests. Finally, keep these insects away from your home by sealing your bins and compost this summer. A 22p item from your kitchen cupboard can also help to repel wasps from your garden. Another 10p hack can also keep the pests from your garden all summer long. And you can also keep these insects from your home this summer with another handy trick. Or you can use a natural ingredient to repel wasps from your garden on a budget. An affordable bait method can also work in your favour when repelling pests.
Scotsman
28-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scotsman
National BBQ Week: The most popular foods for 2025
It's time to fire up the barbecue 🔥 Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... National BBQ Week takes place from May 26 to June 1 A BBQ expert has shared the most popular barbecued foods of 2025 BBQ chicken takes the top spot with 5,192 searches As we approach the warmer months of the year, it seems only right that we are starting to host barbecue's in our gardens. We are also right in the middle of celebrating National BBQ Week, a dedicated week to celebrating delicious barbequed food. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad From Monday May 26 to Sunday June 1, National BBQ Week is being held, giving people across the country the ideal opportunity to fire up the barbecue. To mark the celebration, a BBQ expert from Old Railway Line Garden Centre has shared the most popular BBQ foods for 2025, as well as expert tips on how to grill to perfection. National BBQ Week: The most popular foods for 2025 and tips for grilling to perfection | New Africa - What are the most popular BBQ foods for 2025? While burgers and sausages are usually known as the top barbecue foods, the study by Old Railway Line Garden Centre has found that Brits are now searching for a modern twist on the typical barbecued meat. BBQ expert Liam Cleary has shared the top five most popular barbecued foods, as most searched by Brits across the UK, with BBQ chicken taking the top spot. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Other popular searches include; BBQ ribs, BBQ corn on the cob, BBQ burger and BBQ sausages. How do you perfectly grill chicken according to a BBQ expert? Liam Cleary has shared his top tips to grilling chicken to perfection. Tips include; skipping the marinade, not using a meat thermometer, and cooking it on direct heat. Liam said: 'Chicken can easily dry out on the BBQ if you don't marinade it properly, and I don't mean just coating it in sauce right before you pop it on the grill. You need to prep it in advance. Infuse the chicken with those amazing flavours and let it soak in overnight. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'One of the biggest challenges with BBQ chicken is getting the temperature right. It's so easy to end up with burnt skin and raw meat in the middle. But using a meat thermometer can take out the guessing. The internal temperature should reach 75°C to be safe to eat, while still being nice and juicy.' Says Cleary In regards to cooking on direct heat, Liam said: 'People often think that to get crispy BBQ chicken, it has to cook over direct heat the whole time. But that will leave you with dry, burnt chicken' explains Cleary. 'To get the skin crisp and golden while ensuring the inside is still juicy, the trick is to use indirect heat to cook the chicken through first for roughly 20-30 minutes, then move it to direct heat for a few minutes at the end to get that perfectly crispy skin.' If you have a food and drink story to share with us, we'd love to hear from you. You can now send your stories to us online via YourWorld at It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.
