Explore the guides and resources available in Garden & Outdoor Home Maintenance.
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An informative guide to understanding moles and recognising signs of activity including molehills, tunnels, disturbed lawns and surface tracks. Covers their role in the garden, humane management ideas, seasonal activity and ways to reduce garden disruption.
PDF · 1 pageA practical guide to managing garden pests while protecting pollinators and other wildlife. Covers hand removal, water sprays, barriers, traps, removing affected growth, encouraging natural predators and good gardening practices, with additional information on gentle treatment options when needed.
PDF · 1 pageA colourful visual guide to beneficial garden insects including ladybirds, lacewings, hoverflies, bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies, moths, ground beetles, earwigs and parasitic wasps. Explains what they eat, how they benefit the garden and simple ways to encourage them.
PDF · 1 pageAn informative guide explaining why foxes visit gardens, common signs of fox activity and the problems they may cause. Includes safe and humane deterrent methods, ways to secure food and bins, protect plants and lawns, recognise fox signs and know when additional advice may be needed.
PDF · 1 pageA practical guide to recognising deer activity and protecting garden plants using humane methods. Covers signs including eaten shoots, stripped foliage, bark damage, hoofprints and droppings, along with fencing, plant guards, netting, repellents and planting choices.
PDF · 1 pageA detailed identification guide covering common garden pests including aphids, vine weevils, whitefly, spider mites, thrips, flea beetles, lily beetles, caterpillars, slugs and snails. Includes plants commonly attacked, signs to watch for, typical damage and a quick visual plant damage guide.
PDF · 1 pageA visual guide showing how garden pests and their natural predators form part of a balanced garden food chain. Includes examples of aphids, slugs, caterpillars and whitefly with their natural predators, plus a useful plant damage identification section to help work out what may be eating your plants.
PDF · 1 pageA detailed guide explaining why squirrels visit gardens, the damage they may cause and humane ways to protect bulbs, seeds, pots, fruit and bird feeders. Includes squirrel signs, deterrent ideas, garden protection methods and useful squirrel facts.
PDF · 1 pageA practical visual guide to recognising and preventing problems caused by rats and mice in the garden. Covers common signs, food and shelter sources, compost and bird feeder problems, prevention, responsible trapping and situations where professional pest control may be needed.
PDF · 1 pageA practical guide to garden birds, explaining why birds visit, the benefits they bring and the problems they can sometimes cause to seedlings, vegetables and fruit. Includes common garden bird identification and safe, humane methods for protecting crops while continuing to support wildlife.
PDF · 1 pageA comprehensive visual guide to identifying common garden bugs and understanding whether they are helpful, harmful or mostly harmless. Covers beneficial insects, common garden pests, pollinators, natural pest controllers and ways to encourage a healthy balance of wildlife in the garden.
PDF · 1 pageA colourful guide to creating a garden that supports bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Includes recommended flowers, seasonal planting ideas, water and shelter, nesting areas, pollinator friendly gardening tips and simple ways to provide food throughout the year.
PDF · 1 pageShort description: A detailed visual guide to understanding wasps in the garden, including common wasp species, their benefits, possible problems, the wasp life cycle, nesting places and signs of an active nest. Includes humane management methods, safety advice and a helpful comparison between wasps and bees.
PDF · 1 pageA detailed visual guide to creating a wildlife friendly garden, featuring birds, bees, butterflies, ladybirds, hedgehogs, frogs, toads and dragonflies. Covers wildlife friendly plants, food, water, habitats, seasonal care and simple garden projects.
PDF · 1 pageA colourful visual guide to the seven stages of the plant life cycle, from seed and germination through growth, flowering, pollination and seed dispersal. Includes a bean plant example, plant needs, different life cycles and methods of seed dispersal.
PDF · 1 pageA comprehensive visual reference to common gardening tools, including essential hand tools, long handled tools, watering equipment and specialist tools. Includes what each tool is used for, tool care, choosing the right tool and basic garden safety.
PDF · 1 pageA practical guide explaining why cats visit gardens, the problems they can cause and humane ways to protect soil, seedlings, pots and garden beds. Includes physical barriers, planting ideas, cat friendly alternatives and methods to avoid. Tags:
PDF · 1 pageAn informative garden reference explaining the role of ants, where they live, their benefits, common problems, their relationship with aphids and gentle ways to manage unwanted nests while protecting the wider garden ecosystem.
PDF · 1 pageAn informative visual guide to understanding healthy garden soil. Covers soil composition, sandy, silty, clay and loam soils, the soil food web, simple soil tests, soil improvement, pH and the benefits of healthy soil.
PDF · 1 pageA detailed visual guide to making garden compost, including balancing green and brown materials, layering, moisture, aeration, composting times, signs of healthy compost, troubleshooting and choosing a suitable location.
PDF · 1 pageAn easy introduction to home composting covering what compost is, green and brown materials, what not to compost, moisture, aeration, composting times, troubleshooting and ways to use finished compost.
PDF · 1 pageA beautifully illustrated beginner guide to creating a terrarium, from choosing a container and drainage materials through to planting, decorating, watering and ongoing care. Includes suitable plants, terrarium ideas and troubleshooting.
PDF · 1 pageA practical guide to collecting and saving seeds from garden plants. Covers recognising mature seeds, collecting, drying, cleaning, labelling and storing seeds, along with seed life, troubleshooting and good seed saving practices.
PDF · 1 pageA cheerful visual guide explaining how to grow sunflowers from seed, including choosing varieties, sowing, watering, thinning seedlings, staking, feeding, flowering and saving seeds.
PDF · 1 pageA step by step guide to growing strawberries in pots, hanging baskets or garden beds. Includes planting, watering, feeding, runners, mulching, harvesting, seasonal care, growing options and troubleshooting.
PDF · 1 pageA practical visual guide to growing tomatoes from sowing through to harvest. Covers varieties, germination, planting out, support, watering, feeding, side shoots, common problems and growing tomatoes indoors or outdoors.
PDF · 1 pageA colourful beginner guide to growing fresh herbs at home, covering pots, compost, sunlight, watering, planting, harvesting and popular herbs including basil, mint, parsley, thyme, rosemary and chives.
PDF · 1 pageA beginner friendly plant propagation guide showing how to take, root and care for plant cuttings. Includes equipment, choosing the correct stem, water and compost propagation, rooting, potting on and troubleshooting.
PDF · 1 pageAn easy visual guide explaining different types of sunlight and how much light plants need. Covers direct, indirect and low light, window positioning, signs of too much or too little light and examples of plants suited to different light conditions.
PDF · 1 pageA clear visual guide to watering plants correctly, including when to water, how to check soil moisture, correct watering techniques, drainage, common watering problems and a general watering guide for different plant types. A handy reference for beginners learning how to keep indoor plants healthy.
PDF · 1 page