News - Page 57

We have put together some crafty ideas for recycling the Christmas tree to help you not only reuse your tree but to also make it easier for you when taking down the decorations after the 12 days of Christmas. When the festivities are over, it can sometimes be hard to find options for the Christmas tree that once stood in your home full of baubles and tinsel but with these ideas, not only will you have a fun crafty January but they will also make good use of your Christmas tree.

January’s here, the shortest day is behind us and it’s the start of another great gardening year. To help you get your garden into shape for spring, we’ve put together our top 15 gardening tips for January.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia, aka the ZZ plant, aroid palm or fern arum, is fast becoming one of the most popular houseplants available. With its neat, arching stems and glossy green leaves, it looks a bit like an outsize fern, making a fantastic focal point in any room. And if you’re after some extra impact, there’s Zamioculcas zamiifolia ‘Raven’ with its fabulous deep purple-black foliage.

It is an exciting time for gardeners, with new research, products and innovative techniques being introduced to help with environmental issues, wellbeing and community. The garden trends forecast reports we may see an increase in these areas.

When life is busy, it is easy to throw everything in a cupboard or drawer and close it up so no one can see, including you! Make it a new years resolution to go through all of your cupboards, drawers and wardrobes to have a clear out. Give books to charity, clothes to family and visit the tip with anything else that you cant repurpose or pass on. It might take some time, but it is incredibly therapeutic and will get you off to a great start for the New Year.

Be on trend and combine concrete accents with plants in your home for a stylish and cool look. Concrete is not just for building houses, it can be used in many ways and with the addition of plants to soften the view you can create something really special and personalised to your taste. From concrete kitchen work tops to plants pots, we have put together these ideas for you to try. 

There are many reasons to prune shrubs and trees, especially over winter. It can help to promote bigger growth, to train trees as cordons or espaliers plus it helps to encourage flowers, shape and remove dead and diseased wood. It is an important winter task and keeps those green fingers occupied in the colder months of the year. 

Winter can be a tough time for garden birds. It’s cold, food is scarce, and they use up much of their energy reserves just keeping warm. Our garden birds need all the help they can get at this time of year, so here are a few things you can do to make life easier for them.

With all of the festive trimmings, it is great to add some natural christmas decorations for a special personal touch. It can be great fun to get outside and start picking natural decorations to make in to your own. Not only will you be getting outside in the fresh air but you can then get home and decorate your rooms with pine cones and sprayed twigs while warming up with a tasty hot chocolate.

Create a cosy comfort look with a touch of rustic for a contemporary and functional environment yet with the feel of homely comfort. It is a beautiful look to create with tones inspired by our wonderful natural world. How do you get the look though? We have some pointers for you!