Learn how to grow hydrangeas and, from July into October, you can enjoy these shrubby stalwarts adorned with generous blooms in shades of cream, lime, pink, or blue. But, to get them off to the best start, you’ll also need to be aware of the optimum time to plant hydrangeas. Our guide has the information required to brighten the backyard and enjoy flowers for the house by discovering when to plant hydrangeas....

So what’s the secret? To learn how to grow onions you first need to know when to plant them – and that depends on the variety you choose, and where you live. When to plant onions When to plant onions There are three kinds of onions – long-day onions, short-day onions and day-neutral onions. The key difference between the three is the number of hours of daylight they need in order for the bulbs to form....

While the placement of a bird feeder may not be at the peak of your garden ideas, its position could prevent a window collision – an increasingly common threat for birds worldwide. In the US alone, 600 million birds a year die after a collision (253 million of these collisions occur at residential properties). However, you can combat this statistic by adjusting the placement of your bird feeder. Marc Parnell, author of the book series, The Birding Pro’s Field Guides (opens in new tab), explains what you need to know....

Your pool has an undeniable list of benefits, from its cool relief in the summer to its rejuvenative properties that treat stress and injuries. It can, however, cause stress, too – most usually in the form of this organism (belonging to a group of living things called protists). They appear in pools in the shape of a green stain and often give the water a green tint – meaning they are impossible to miss....

With many of us spending more time in our backyards, it only adds to the enjoyment when we can observe bees, butterflies, birds and other creatures enjoying our outdoor spaces, too. All gardeners have an important part to play in providing valuable shelter, habitats, food and water for wildlife, no matter how small or large your plot. There are endless easy ways you can do this, so add some of the ideas below to your garden ideas and welcome creatures great and small into your backyard....

A home workout can also be just as effective as a gym workout. Don’t worry if you have minimal space at home or no equipment – most of the exercises below can be done without weights, or only require a pair of light dumbbells, a skipping rope or a pull-up bar. For the best results try to aim for around 20-40 minutes of exercise three to four times a week. Consistency is key, but don’t worry if you miss a day or two, just keep going....

Of course, as part of the H&G team, I had access to our tried and tested list of the best mattresses, but talking to our mattress testers, I realised that there were so many things to consider before I bought, from how I sleep to more mundane features, such as the mattress’s warranty period. And, of course, I discovered that everyone’s mattress choice has to be unique to them. I got there in the end, but for anyone buying one for the first time, or after a long period (after all, the mattress market has changed hugely in the past 10 years), these are the things I wish I knew about mattresses before I went on the hunt for one....

Unsurprisingly, carefully-considered bathroom ideas and remodels are top priority for homeowners. In fact, Opendoor’s (opens in new tab) Consumer Trends Expert and broker associate Beatrice de Jong, believes that a good bathroom remodel will ‘increase a home’s resale value.’ Here are her top tips for getting the most from your bathroom makeover – and how to avoid any bathroom remodel mistakes. 1. Do a minimum remodel for a maximum return 1....

Hot weather (and bad weather), fungi and lawn care mistakes all have an inevitable impact on your efforts to make your lawn green and thick. And with these problems come symptoms that are a natural sign to take action. 5 most common lawn problems 5 most common lawn problems If you’re looking to accentuate your backyard landscaping ideas, these five common lawn problems may be holding you back. However, the solution doesn’t need to be a challenge....

Following a major extension project four years ago, the home now counts five bedrooms, four bathrooms and one half-bath among its rooms, as well as 4,300 sq ft of floorspace, excluding an additional attic and basement. ‘The architecture of the original house is a traditional foursquare home, and the architect complimented the original design very nicely with the new design’, says Lavender. ‘We wanted to create a warm, welcoming vibe that complimented the client’s desire for light airy spaces....

Her experience landed her a position as Director of Design for a worldwide hotel company, JHM Hotels, where she brought her talent to projects associated with Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, Taj India, and Starwood brands. Today as owner of Brown Interiors, Amber brings expertise in the hospitality industry and vast knowledge of large-scale interior design projects. Brown Interiors extensive experience spans the globe to bring each client a unique approach with individual attention to exceed their expectations....

Lorraine loved having room for her design studio and for her collections of porcelain, glass and textiles, but her husband was right, they did not need all that space. ‘If we move,’ he said, ‘we’ll find you a bigger garden.’ That was the clincher. Their home with its large, well-proportioned rooms, handsome cornices and tall windows, sold in a trice so, having looked at 30 smaller houses, they were beginning to feel a little bit anxious when the house they live in today came onto the market....

“Our Virtual Allstar AVA offers a high standard of customer service via artificial intelligence,” stated group chief customer happiness officer Adam Geneave. “AVA already handles millions of cases annually across other platforms such as Facebook, our app and airasia.com so it makes absolute sense to make her available on WhatsApp where there are more than two billion users worldwide.” He added that AVA currently handles more than 80-percent of customer cases, while the remainder are transferred to a Live Agent who assists directly....