Latest Articles - gas-installations.co.uk

Person planting a small tree surrounded by colourful flowers in a sunny garden.

Seven shade-loving flowers that keep a shade border in bloom all summer

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

Yes, it can be done. Many amateur gardeners give up on shady corners in frustration and make do with little...

Person stacking split firewood on a woodpile outdoors near a house at sunset.

Seasoned Firewood: the simple method that can dramatically boost heat output

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

Most people who burn wood picture a cosy fire, sparks flying up the chimney and the crackle of flames. What...

Person harvesting fresh radishes from a home vegetable garden on a sunny day.

These four fast-growing vegetables can be harvested in just 30 days.

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

March marks the start of the gardening season, but not everyone is prepared to wait until summer. The good news...

Hand sprinkling ground coffee into a jar on a wooden kitchen counter with a peeled banana and orchid plant nearby.

Two kitchen ingredients that can transform orchids - with no gimmicks

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

“Not too much, not too little,” she said, laughing as if it were the easiest thing in the world. Her...

Blue tits feeding from red berries held by hands on a garden table near a birdbath and birdhouse.

Clever gardening tip: Attract tits to your garden with this underrated berry trick.

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

Many gardeners get frustrated by aphids and caterpillars, even though the answer is sitting right outside the window - it...

Person wearing gloves cleaning a snowy wooden bird feeder with a brush on a winter day.

Winter bird feeding: how damp seed can turn a feeder into a health hazard

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

In many gardens, the bird table for tits, sparrows and robins is the only lively spot in an otherwise grey...

Person harvesting lettuce and cucumbers in a garden bed with gardening tools and watering can nearby.

The Lettuce Box Slug Trap: A Kind, Low-Cost Way to Protect Your Vegetable Garden

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

After a wet night, the garden often needs a major tidy-up: freshly sown beds can look stripped bare, delicate leaves...

Person planting a young palm tree in a sunny garden with gardening tools and plants around.

Chinese Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei): exotic impact for the garden, without the usual risks

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

While many people are already thinking about leaf blowers and winter protection by late summer, others are quietly planning the...

Young man kneeling and tending a vegetable garden with fresh produce in a basket nearby on a sunny day.

Rethink your garden: These three permaculture tips will change everything.

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

A keen amateur gardener may think they know every trick in the raised bed - until three simple permaculture methods...

Hands watering strawberry plants with small flowers and ripe strawberries in a raised garden bed at sunset.

Coffee Grounds for Strawberries: the spring feed that leads to bigger, juicier berries

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

The problem often lies not with the weather, but with the water you use. If you feed strawberry plants in...

Hands planting lavender in soil with gardening tools, fertiliser, and seeds nearby in a sunny garden.

Lavender: the spring feed that leads to a richer July bloom

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

Many home gardeners know the feeling: the sun is out, the plant is watered, and yet the lavender only produces...

Hands watering African violet plants on a windowsill with a small watering can and gardening tools nearby.

In March, the fate of your African violets is decided.

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

Many African violets look tired after winter: limp growth, dull leaves, and hardly any buds. March is exactly when they...

Hand holding a glass of water with lemon slice near window with mosquito and essential oil bottle on sill

Keep Mosquitoes Out of the Flat: the simple glass trick by the window

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

Many people want to air their home, sit out on the balcony, and still avoid being bitten constantly. Chemical sprays...

Person wiping a flat screen TV with a cloth on a wooden stand in a living room.

Coffee filters: the simple way to clean TVs, monitors and smartphones

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

Many people reach for glass cleaner, kitchen roll or expensive specialist cloths, only to discover later that they have left...

A hand drizzling honey from a spoon into a glass jug of water on a windowsill beside potted plants and a watering can.

Why a moth orchid stops flowering - and how a spoonful of molasses can help

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

Anyone who buys a moth orchid is often amazed by weeks of flowers. Once the blooms fade, though, disappointment sets...

Person cleaning a window with a cloth, next to two spray bottles and a small plant on the windowsill.

Glycerine on windows: how a simple mix keeps glass cleaner for longer

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

For many people, cleaning windows is one of the most frustrating jobs in the home, especially once the colder months...

Person painting a terracotta pot white on a wooden table with potted lavender plants nearby.

How to transform tired terracotta pots into a ceramic-style finish for less than £10 each

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

Many keen gardeners know the problem: terracotta pots left outside go green, develop white edges, and lose their rich colour,...

Person planting colourful pansies in a raised garden bed filled with blooming flowers and gardening tools.

Fast-growing perennials that transform a garden bed in no time

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

With the right perennials, you can make that happen much faster than you might expect. There are tough, long-lived plants...

Person potting a poinsettia plant indoors on a wooden table near a window with gardening tools nearby.

How to keep a poinsettia alive after Christmas

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

The glossy red has gone, the bracts have faded, a few leaves are already scattered on the windowsill - and...

Person pouring tea into a jar on a wooden windowsill beside potted plants and a small dish with tea leaves.

The kitchen trick that can bring a moth orchid back into bloom

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

Many orchids disappear into a quiet plant limbo after their first flush of flowers, even though one simple kitchen trick...

Person spraying a cleaning solution on moss growing between patio slabs outdoors on a sunny day.

A simple 30-pence kitchen ingredient can remove moss from patio slabs

Gareth J. Holloway • April 20, 2026

Every spring, many homeowners and flat owners look out at their outdoor space with irritation: the slabs are slippery, covered...