Landscaping

The Secret to Luscious, Sustainable Tomatoes: My Garden’s Journey You know, sometimes I think my garden is a lot like the business world – full of trends, challenges, and the occasional unexpected boom. Right now, in my little patch, it’s all about the tomatoes. Every season, I marvel at how these vibrant beauties keep me coming back, learning new tricks, and celebrating every success. It’s a bit like watching a brilliant product capture everyone’s attention, only these “products” are juicy, sun-ripened heirlooms. ...

Blooming Brilliance: My Journey with Australian Native Flowers (Hey there, fellow garden enthusiasts! Emma Chen here.) You know, sometimes I just stand in my garden, cup of tea in hand, and marvel at it all. It’s not just the colours or the scents, it’s the sheer resilience and uniqueness of these plants. Especially the Australian natives. I mean, we live in a country with such incredibly diverse landscapes, from the rugged outback to lush rainforests, and our flora is a huge part of that magic. ...

Gardens of the Year 2026: Celebrating a Decade of Green Inspiration! Ah, spring! That magical time when the earth finally stirs after its winter slumber, and my garden begins to whisper promises of new life. It’s a feeling I chase every year, that flutter of anticipation as the first tiny green shoots push through the soil. This year, though, there’s an extra buzz in the air, and it’s got me thinking about inspiration. Our beloved “Gardens of the Year” competition is hitting a big milestone – ten years! And to celebrate, we’re not just looking back, we’re inviting you to help pick the absolute “Best of the Best” from all the past winners. How exciting is that? ...

Goodbye, Nosy Neighbours: My Secret to a Private Garden (That’s Actually a Garden!) You know that feeling, right? When you’re out enjoying your garden, maybe sipping a cuppa or wrestling with a particularly stubborn weed, and you just… feel eyes on you. Yep, the dreaded nosy neighbour stare. I’ve been there! For years, my go-to solution was a hedge. It seemed like the obvious answer, the classic privacy barrier. But let me tell you, after 8+ years of digging, pruning, and occasionally wrestling with prickly bits, I’ve learned a thing or two about what really works. ...

My Garden is Buzzing with Ants – And That’s a Good Thing! Oh, the ants! If you’re anything like me, seeing those tiny, determined trails marching across your garden beds right now might send a shiver of dread down your spine. Especially after a toasty summer, it feels like they’ve decided my little patch of green is the hottest real estate in town. I’ve seen them everywhere – forming little highways on the patio, building miniature mountains in my petunia pots, and generally swarming around my precious plants. My first, almost primal, instinct? Grab the bug spray! ...

Beyond the Boring Box: My Top 3 Native Screening Plants That Outshine Any Hedge You know that feeling? You’re sitting in your garden, enjoying a quiet morning coffee, and then… your neighbor decides to have a lively BBQ, or a delivery truck parks right in your line of sight. Privacy, it seems, is a precious commodity these days. For years, the go-to solution has been the humble hedge. And yes, a well-maintained hedge can be lovely. But let’s be honest, sometimes it feels a bit… expected. A bit like wearing the same outfit to every party. ...

Hello fellow green thumbs! Emma Chen here, dusting off the potting soil and ready to chat about something that’s been on my mind lately, especially as the seasons start to shift. You know how it is – you’ve got your go-to spots for inspiration, those trusty resources you rely on for everything from coaxing a stubborn seedling to sprout to tackling a tricky landscaping design. For me, Better Homes & Gardens has always been one of those anchors. Whether I’m dreaming up new recipes for the harvest or trying to figure out why my tomatoes are looking a bit lackluster (a tale for another day!), they’ve always had something helpful. ...

The Sneaky Green Menace: Why You Need to Stop Bindweed in Its Tracks, Now! Ah, spring. That glorious time when the world shakes off its winter slumber, and our gardens burst back to life. The birds are singing, the days are longer, and – gulp – the bindweed is emerging from its subterranean slumber, ready to wage war on our carefully cultivated beds. As Emma Chen, an industry analyst who also happens to be a hopelessly devoted gardener, I’m here to tell you: don’t let it win! ...

It’s Emma Chen, reporting live from my slightly damp, but very hopeful, little corner of the world! Today, I’m not talking about soil pH or companion planting, though goodness knows I could go on about those for days. Instead, I’m channeling my inner Marie Kondo, but for a different kind of clutter – the kind that finds its way into our homes after a fateful trip to IKEA. You know the feeling. You walk in for a simple picture frame, maybe a new set of dish towels, and emerge two hours later, blinking in the daylight, with a cart overflowing with… well, everything. It’s the IKEA vortex, and it’s real! ...

It’s Emma Chen here! You know, I was just out in the garden this morning, admiring the way the morning dew clung to the [mention a specific plant you grow, e.g., lavender, rosemary, or a flowering bush]. It got me thinking about how much we love our green spaces, how much joy they bring, and yet… there are those little chores that can make us groan. And believe me, after 8+ years as an industry analyst, I’ve seen my fair share of data, but nothing quite prepared me for the overwhelming consensus on one particular cleaning task. ...