Wellness Ideas, Tips & Guides

With these two unconventional, homemade items you can gently coax your tomato seedlings to sprout well and become productive plants.

It wasn’t actually a lie, but I was misleading myself as well as anyone who reads my blog, when I talked yesterday about how behind the clematis were. In reality, it seems to be mostly the C viticella and C integrifolia that are either slow or not showing at all, whereas  C texensis like ‘Princess Diana’ and ‘Duchess of Albany’ are as floriferous as usual although not yet in bud, and the few Group 2 clematis are growing and flowering (or about to) as usual, like the striking Clematis ‘Kingfisher’ above.

A shady corner is often seen as a problem area in a garden, but it needn’t be so. There are masses of gorgeous plants that will thrive in shade. Silver or variegated leaves work really well to brighten a dark spot, as do white or pale flowers, which almost seem to glow in shade. There is a plant for every shady garden and here we share some of our favourites. Included are plants for both dry and moist soils, evergreen perennials to provide interest all year round, as well as deciduous plants that seem to appear from nowhere in spring to brighten the garden with their delicate beauty. Our choices include recommendations from the Gardeners’ World team and familiar faces from across the gardening industry.

Dragonflies were one of the first insects to inhabit this planet, arriving on the scene around 300 million years ago. They've had many millennia to perfect the art of hunting, flying, and living an extraordinary amount of time (for a bug anyway). They've even developed a knack for flying backward, which comes in handy when trying to catch flies and mosquitoes.

From fashion to home design to food, trends seem to come in cycles. While we’re not quite sure if we’ve circled all the way back from wide legs to mom jeans and back to skinny jeans again (please clue us in if you know!), one thing we know for sure: cooking over live fire is never going to go out of style.

Rainwater harvesting is the practice of collecting and storing rain for reuse, rather than letting the water run off and be absorbed into the ground or channeled into drains, streams, or rivers. It is one of the easiest ways to conserve water at home while also lowering your bills. Whether you opt for a custom-designed system or a simple rain barrel collection method, harvesting rainwater is a smart and sustainable choice.

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Last month, the EPA passed its first-ever legally enforceable drinking water standards on a handful of PFAS—a group of chemicals used to make non-stick coatings and products that resist heat, oil, water and more. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are toxic chemicals and are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because of their tendency to not break down.

It’s a strange in-between season at the moment, no longer really spring, but surely not summer yet, despite all the roses. Summer, however, is definitely on its way, despite the 36mm of rain on Wednesday and the thundery showers yesterday, and today’s vase contains the first evidence of both summer colour and summer abundance.

Your indoor plants bring you tons of joy all of the time, so you'll want to make sure that they're thriving during each season of the year. With summer soon approaching, we spoke with plant experts to gather their top five tips for caring for green friends during the warm weather months.

It’s almost Bloom time, that weekend in the Irish gardening year when we collectively convince ourselves that the sun shines in Ireland all year round and that picnics on the lawn dressed in boater hats and gingham sundresses are a good idea.

A lilac bush can be a bit dull when not in bloom, but the larger forms can be livened up by sending a climber through them.

If you have small space like a windowsill, or a tiny spot in your balcony where you want to grow some veggies, well, for that, you need to get those that can accommodate in small pots, right? Don’t worry! We have the tastiest ones for you!

There comes a time when indoor plants crave for some outdoor air, and summer is the best time to take them out to satiate their hunger!

Marty Baldwin

Pothos is a champion survivor, and might even go through an apocalypse if maintained well! However, if you are going to neglect it way too much, the plant may suffer and die. If you see yours in a bad state, too, here’s how to take care of it.

Pride month is swiftly approaching, and you might want to add some nods to the LGBTQ community in your home. But it can feel difficult to do that when your style is more subtle or leans towards neutrals and quiet luxury and so much pride decor is bright, bubbly, and colorful.

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When we picture lantana, we always imagine them growing along the borders in the garden or as in the corner. Well, these plants can be a fantastic addition to to any place hanging, too!

Spring is fading fast, and memories of the daffodil and tulip bulbs that we filled our beds and containers with are starting to fade also. Now is the time to think about summer-flowering bulbs to help a with the transition between spring and full summer. Just as a heads-up: Most gardens and sellers tend to lump tubers, corms, and rhizomes into a generic grouping referred to as “bulbs.” Many later-blooming bulbs are available from local nurseries and online resources. The common ones such as lilies (Lilium spp. and cvs., Zones 4–9), lily of the Nile (Agapanthus spp. and cvs., Zones 6–10), gladiola (Gladiolus spp. and cvs., Zones 8–10), and alliums (Allium spp. and cvs., Zones 4–9) are well and good, but two of my favorite bulbs bring a little more excitement to garden beds.

If only every garden was blessed with free-draining, loamy soil with the perfect pH and balance of nutrients. Life would be so easy and the choice of plants gloriously abundant. Sadly, most of us can only dream of or endlessly toil for this reality. I think in over 30 years of gardening, only a handful of properties have gifted my designs with near-perfect conditions. Every site seems to have at least one or more areas with poor soil. But thanks to tough and adaptable plants, not all is lost. There are numerous plants able to handle these conditions, the best ones being natives being the best ones.

As one of the most unmistakable and recognizable flowers in the world, the peony has been revered for its enduring beauty and fragrance for centuries. It is believed that these highly valued blooms have been cultivated in China since 1000 BC. Since then, hybridizers have been creating a myriad of spectacular cultivars in a wide range of colors and flower forms.

Vines are a great way to bring greenery to shady areas in your garden or home, and some of them can grow well without direct sunlight. Keep reading to discover these shade-loving vines.

Who doesn’t love roses, and we all want them to be full of flowers all the time! Sometimes, these plants run into some issues, especially when grown in pots, that can hamper their blooming. Let’s address those issues!

As Bridgerton returns for a third series, we celebrate its return by taking a look at some of the many filming locations from season three, which you can visit this summer. From urban oases to grand country estates, these include some of the UK’s most iconic stately homes and gardens.

Pothos, a popular and low-maintenance houseplant, is beloved by many and one of the joys of owning a pothos is propagating it! From selecting the healthiest cuttings to providing the optimal environment for root development, we’ll cover everything you need to know.

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Black Rose Tattoos are really personal and can allow you to showcase a ton of things with their rich symbolism. Ready to check these out?

Transferring a cutting from water to soil is a delicate process, and it needs to be carefully executed to avoid any damage to it. We have compiled some useful tips that can help you through this transition.

 Do you feel like your cat is missing out on all the outdoor fun? Well, fret no more! With some DIY patios, you can build them their own little piece of paradise.

From outdoor entertaining to improving curb appeal, it’s that time of year when a home’s exterior is front and center. But before you embark on any exterior updates, learn what the pros have to say when it comes to home exterior mistakes, so you can avoid making them in the first place.

With the first official day of summer only a few weeks away, the editors at BHG have been gathering warm-weather essentials in anticipation for the months ahead—and we're sharing them with you! Prep for summer entertaining with suggestions from our home and food editors, including a genius charcuterie board that comes with compartments for all your favorite meats and cheeses. Spruce up your summer tablescape with checkered linen napkins, or take the party on-the-go with a padded cooler bag that's perfect for picnics.

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While doing a deep clean or a massive decluttering can be both satisfying and rewarding, most will agree that it’s generally better to tackle your chores on a regular basis. But if you’re trying to create a weekly schedule, where to begin?

It seems that everyone wants to get away for summer, ditching their routines for a blissful retreat abroad. But the key to a relaxing mood all summer long might just be doing the opposite—by bringing the vacation atmosphere into your home. There are so many ancient design legacies across the world that can enhance your abode and turn it into a space you’ll never want to escape. 

Why have boring fences and hedges around your house when you can fill them up with different shades of colors nature has on offer with its stunning blossoms!