Although August is technically the last month of summer, there's still so much to get done in the garden and plenty of prep to start on before the new season rolls around.

Whether you want to sort the garden out whilst the sun's still out or are looking to get ahead with next year's planting, August is a surprisingly busy time in the garden. And even though it can seem like you've only just finished your July gardening tasks, there's still planting, pruning and sowing to get done this time of year.

So, with no time like the present, get your essential gardening tools at the ready to start on these jobs to help your garden thrive, ready for autumn.

August gardening jobs to complete this month

Not only are there so many vegetables to plant in August, but there are various tasks to get done around the garden, from your lawn to your flower beds.

These are the seven jobs that gardening experts recommend getting done this month to keep your outdoor space happy, healthy and growing.

1. Continue deadheading for late-summer colour

Whilst there are a few plants you shouldn't deadhead in your garden ever, there are more than enough that need a good chop come August time.

“Deadheading is one of the most effective gardening tasks to tackle in August. Removing faded blooms will encourage plants to continue producing flowers later into the summer season," says gardening expert Paul Parker from J.Parker's.

"When cutting old flowers, make the cut just above a strong leaf joint or side shoot. This signals to the plant where to direct its energy, producing an abundance of fresh buds," he continues.

"Summer favourites such as dahlias, cosmos, petunias and geraniums can all benefit from regular deadheading and will produce noticeably more flowers as a result. Many annuals will also continue flowering well into autumn when spent blooms are removed regularly," Paul explains.

Having plants for autumn colour can help with that yearly sadness of seeing your favourite summer blooms end and wither away.

2. Protect pots from late-summer heat

August weather has been getting increasingly hotter over the years; preparing your garden for a heatwave has never been more important. And your patio container plants are among the most vulnerable when temperatures reach these intense levels.

“Potted plants will dry out much faster than borders during hot spells, so keeping them well watered is key. Water plants in containers during the cooler parts of the day, which helps the moisture reach the roots before it evaporates," says Paul.

"In August, a simple layer of mulch on top of the compost can make a big difference by helping pots stay hydrated and reducing the need for constant watering," he adds.

"If you notice water rushing straight through the container, it is likely that the compost has dried out. If this is the case, submerging the pot in a container of water for a short period will rehydrate the plant," recommends Paul.

Mulching your plants and adjusting their watering routine can be a real saviour during the dry, summer months.

3. Plant ahead for next season

It might seem strange, but if you're wondering when to plant spring bulbs, this month is a great time to start.

"Although it might feel early, August is one of the best times to start thinking about next year's garden," starts Nigel Lawton, plant buyer at Dobbies.

"Spring-flowering bulbs are beginning to arrive in-store, making now a great time to start planning colourful displays for next year. Plant early varieties such as alliums, daffodils and snowdrops in beds and borders," he adds.

"Add autumn-flowering crocus corms to borders or lawns now for a welcome burst of colour throughout September and October," continues Nigel. "Fill late summer gaps with Cyclamen, which provide beautiful flowers when many other plants begin to fade."

He recommends Hebes too, as they offer colourful flowers, evergreen foliage and an important source of nectar for bees and butterflies. Great plants for pollinators.

4. Refresh your beds and borders

Whilst you might already have planned with some late summer flowers, there are still other ways you can keep your space looking lush and colourful.

"As some early summer plants begin to finish flowering, now is the perfect opportunity to refresh your outdoor space," says Nigel. "Prune early summer-flowering shrubs once they've finished blooming to encourage strong new growth for next year's display."

"Continue deadheading roses, dahlias and other repeat-flowering plants to keep colour going well into autumn. Regular feeding with a liquid fertiliser will help flowering plants continue performing through the end of the season," he suggests.

"If you're heading away on holiday, move pots and containers into a shadier position where possible to help reduce watering requirements," adds Nigel.

Keeping your garden healthy whilst you're on holiday needn't be stressful; all you need to do is plan.

5. Continue feeding birds safely

If you're up to date on the latest official summer bird feeding advice, you'll know that when the seasons change, so do the needs of wildlife.

"It’s a divisive topic in the gardening world, but I’m here to cut through the noise to tell you that birds do need supplementary feeding in summer; it just needs to be done responsibly," says James Ewens, garden and wildlife expert at Green Feathers.

"Supplementary feeding is always necessary, especially in August when birds are still active for long daylight hours and still feeding their young. Birds need the best chance ahead of autumn, so responsible feeding is critical," he states.

"Trichomonosis is a risk for birds in summer; hygiene is critical as diseases are rife in August heat. Keep feeders topped up little and often, clean feeders by scrubbing thoroughly once a week, and keep water replenished for birds to hydrate and bathe. Avoid foods that spoil quickly in heat and use hanging feeders rather than flat ones, and provide nutrient-rich and easily digestible foods like sunflower hearts, mealworms and quality seed mixes," warns James.

You can also leave certain weeds to grow that are natural food sources for both birds and other forms of wildlife visiting your garden.

6. Watering your garden

It's no secret that knowing how to water your garden properly during summer is a top priority. This is even more important as we reach the end of summer.

"Watering is particularly important in August, especially during dry spells like the one we've been having. A quick sprinkle over the surface of the soil often isn’t enough because it encourages shallow roots that dry out quickly, and any newly planted shrubs will need special attention here," explains Dr Russell Sharp, Founder, Eutrema.

"Water deeply at the base of plants so moisture reaches further into the soil. If you have clay soil and it's been baked dry in the drought, consider applying a wetting agent/clay drainer product before watering to ensure the water can get into the soil and access the roots," he continues.

If you're currently under a hosepipe ban, there are ways you can still water your garden without breaking any rules.

7. Keep up with general maintenance

Along with all the big tasks, there's much to be done on a smaller scale too. With August pruning jobs, edible plant harvesting and lawn maintenance, you'll be plenty busy this month.

"It's also a good time to harvest vegetables regularly, prune summer-flowering shrubs once they've finished blooming, and give hedges a final tidy before autumn arrives," says Luke Newnes, gardening expert at Hillary's.

"Weeding little and often will stop unwanted plants from competing with your flowers and crops for moisture and nutrients. If you have a lawn, raising the cutting height slightly can help it cope better with hot weather and periods of drought," he states.

FAQs

What can I plant at the end of August?

Whilst you might think there's not much to plant in August, with it being towards the end of summer, there are always species that are ready to be added to your plot.

"Plant any hardy perennials that will establish before winter. Plants such as hardy geraniums, salvias and heucheras can still be planted now to give their roots time to grow before it gets colder," says Dr Russell.

"The soil is usually warm in late summer, which helps new plants settle in quickly, but they’ll need regular watering while they establish. It’s also a good time to plant spring-flowering bulbs such as crocuses and daffodils once they become available, although most gardeners wait until autumn for the main bulb planting season," he continues.

What can you still grow in August?

Even if you want to start vegetable gardening this month, you're not too late to begin and sow edible plants. There are quite a few to choose from, but of course they'll need to be seasonally appropriate to establish.

"There are still plenty of vegetables that can be grown in August, especially quick-growing crops that can be harvested before winter. Salad leaves such as rocket, lamb’s lettuce and winter lettuce are ideal because they grow quickly and can provide fresh leaves later in the season," says Dr Russell.

"You can also sow spinach, spring onions and radishes, although it’s important to keep the soil consistently moist while seeds are germinating. August is also a good month to plant out autumn and winter crops, such as young kale plants, which will grow on through the colder months and provide harvests later in the year," he adds.

"At this time of year you'll need to choose plants that match the shorter growing period ahead rather than starting crops that need months of warm weather to mature," suggests Dr Russell.

You can try succession planting too, which will allow you to have fresh produce all year round, no matter the weather or when you start.

It's best to start on your August jobs early; that way, when it's time to crack on with September's gardening to-do list, you're not already worn out.

Ooni has fundamentally re-thought how stand mixers work with their new launch, the Halo Core. Based on the way expert bread bakers use their hands, they've overhauled the design of traditional stand mixers, like the KitchenAid - and the revolutionary rethink is something to get excited about,

Ooni isn't shy about making a bid for the "best stand mixer" crown, and this time, I think they might take the biscuit (baking pun intended). The Halo Core's unusual design, reasonable price point, and clever details prove that this is a machine that could hold its own even under serious tent-worthy stakes.

So, how does it handle everything from focaccia and fougasse through to brioche and other bakes - and does it finally offer up a competitive alternative to the best KitchenAid on the market? Here's what I found.

Ooni Halo Core Stand Mixer review

• Colours: back, white
• Weight: 8.2 kgs
• Capacity: can make up to 10 12" pizza dough balls
• Settings: 20
• Material: die cast aluminium, stainless steel
• Accessories: Wire whisk, dough hook, beater, proofing lid
• Motor: 350 Watts
• Warranty: One year

Who would the Ooni Halo Core Stand Mixer suit?

• Serious bread and pizza bakers who want consistent, high-hydration doughs without babysitting the machine
• Home bakers upgrading from a planetary mixer who've hit its limits with sourdough, brioche or enriched doughs
• Multi-tasking cooks who want one machine that can go from whipping cream to kneading a loaf without swapping appliances

The Ooni Halo Core is really built for two overlapping audiences: people who bake bread often enough to have noticed the shortcomings of a standard mixer, and people who already own an Ooni pizza oven and want a natural companion piece for making dough at home.

If you fall into either camp, the spiral mixing action - lifted directly from Ooni's more commercial Halo Pro machine - is the headline feature, and it's the reason this feels less like a domestic appliance and more like a scaled-down bakery tool. Rather than have the planetary movement from the head of the stand mixer, Ooni has designed the Halo Core's bowl to move, which gives more stability and also lets the mixer move in ways that replicate a professional baker's hands.

Whilst this does focus on bread, it's not overkill for everyday use; the whipping and beating attachments mean it earns its counter space even on days you're not baking bread at all.

What is the Ooni Halo Core Stand Mixer like to use?

Using the Ooni Halo Core is very simple and intuitive. The machine comes with a wire whisk, a dough hook, and beaters, covering all the baking basics. This one also has a silicone proofing lid, for keeping your bread moist as you leave it to rest and rise.

The head locks back and lifts up and there is a dial on top, which you can use to navigate through the speed settings. There's also a digital timer on top, which is particularly handy for bread baking: it's the one function that I feel time is really key to measure.

Whipping cream: With the whisk attachment fitted, Halo Core moved through soft peaks in well under two minutes on a mid-range speed setting, and held stiff peaks without overwhipping into butter even when I pushed on for an extra thirty seconds to test its tolerance. The 20-speed dial (well beyond the usual six-to-eleven range most mixers offer) gave me far finer control for the transition from soft to stiff than I'm used to, which is useful when you're chasing a specific texture for piping.

Carrot cake batter: Creaming the sugar and oil, then folding in flour, spice and grated carrot, showed off the beater attachment's ability to incorporate air without overdeveloping the gluten in the flour, which is crucial for a soft, moist crumb. The auto speed adjustment kicked in as the batter thickened, preventing the flour from ejecting over the bowl edge, which is a common failure point on lower-torque machines.

Pizza dough: This is where the spiral mixing technology earns its keep. Unlike a planetary hook, which can struggle to get real traction on a stiff, low-hydration dough and ends up climbing rather than kneading, the spiral hook and central breaker bar work together to replicate the folding and stretching motion of hand-kneading. The "pumpkin lattice" action - the dough rounding and ridging as it's worked - was visibly forming a tight, silky gluten structure well before the machine's own kneading timer had counted down, and I could make anywhere from a single to a full batch of dough balls without the motor showing any strain or heat build-up, something DC spiral motors are specifically engineered to avoid.

Brioche: Enriched doughs are typically the stress test for any mixer, given the added fat and egg content slackens the gluten network and makes it slippery to work. Halo Core's patent-pending removable breaker bar stopped the dough from climbing the hook - a persistent issue on machines without one. The resulting dough was a smooth, elastic, windowpane-passing dough with none of the greasy separation you sometimes get when butter is added too fast. Top-tier gluten development for a dough that's notoriously difficult to mix mechanically.

Farmhouse loaf: For a straightforward high-hydration white loaf, the spiral action produced a dough with excellent extensibility and a silky, non-tacky finish straight out of the bowl, which is a dough structure I'd expect from hand-kneading at a bakery bench, not a countertop machine. The crumb on baking was open, even and well-aerated, which tells you the gluten strands were properly aligned during mixing rather than torn or under-developed.

How does the Ooni Halo Core Stand Mixer compare?

The comparison that matters most for UK home bakers is against the KitchenAid Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, still the default choice for most kitchens. KitchenAid's planetary action (the head-mounted hook orbiting around a static bowl) is versatile and well-proven for cakes, cookies and light batters, but it's not really designed with serious dough work in mind; the hook can struggle for traction on stiffer mixes, and heavy, long kneads run the risk of motor strain over time.

The Ooni Halo Core flips that engineering logic on its head, quite literally: with the bowl doing the moving and a spiral hook doing the kneading, it's purpose-built for the exact scenario where KitchenAid's tilt-head design shows its limits. Where the KitchenAid arguably still has the edge is footprint flexibility and the sheer range of third-party attachments built up over decades on the market - Halo Core's ecosystem, by comparison, is newer and narrower. But for anyone whose priority is dough quality over accessory choice, The Ooni Halo Core is doing something different and not just a different-coloured version of the same idea.

Should you buy theOoni Halo Core Stand Mixer?

The Ooni Halo Core Stand Mixer is bringing bakery-grade mixing technology into a home kitchen, and on the evidence of pizza dough, brioche and a farmhouse loaf, it succeeds. The compact, counter-friendly design means you're not sacrificing space for that performance, and the fact it whips cream and beats cake batter just as capably means it doesn't ask you to choose between an everyday mixer and a specialist dough machine. For anyone who bakes bread regularly, or who already has a home pizza oven and wants the natural next step, this is one of the most interesting stand mixers to land in years - and a serious challenger to the best stand mixer crown.

How we test stand mixers

At woman&home, we have a rigorous process for how we test some mixers not in the least because I am a keen baker so I’ll take any excuse to make cakes bread and whipped cream and call it work. Every stand mixer that I review gets at least two weeks on my countertop. Initially, I’ll put it through three tests that every stand mixer has to go through. Make a cake with the beating attachment; I whip cream with the whisk; and I need bread with the dough hook. This gives me a good gauge of how good the stand mixer is on the basics. With that in mind, I’ll move on to more adventurous bakes and cakes to find out the strengths and weaknesses of the stand mixer. By the end of my test, I'll have a good idea of who this suits and where other stand mixes are better. I’ll compare different models to give you a good gauge of what this is like in terms of value and where it sits in the market.

Fresh from a relaxing holiday, one of the worst things to come back home to is a plethora of dried-out, wilting and dying plants.

If you left it too late to discover the genius hack that keeps plants watered when you’re away, or the person you asked to keep them watered forgot, you might be ready to write them off. But there’s a clever trick involving a readily available "secret ingredient" that really works - and rather speedily.

Award-winning garden and landscape designer Matthew Wilson shared the best way to revive your dried-out potted plants using nothing more than water and a few drops of washing up liquid, and you’ll start spotting signs of revival almost overnight.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show medallist took to his social media, where he explained that, yes, even the professionals can forget to properly plan for the heat and plant care when going on holiday. But, thankfully, there’s a scientific reason why a few drops of washing up liquid can “save the day”.

He explained, “If you have this situation where the compost has really dried out to the extent that it's moved away from the edge of the pot and you can see a gap down it, then the secret weapon is washing up liquid.

How to use washing up liquid to revive dried out plants

“What you do is you add a few drops to a watering can," Matthew advises. "Make sure you do it after the watering can is full and not before because if you do it before, you just get bubbles. Then water that onto your pots."

“The reason it works is very simple. The ingredients in the washing up liquid [are] basically a cellular structure that binds water to things. It's what makes it clean your pots and pans.

“It does exactly the same thing in compost. It binds the water to the compost. In modern peat-free compost, they are inclined to dry out and this really works, trust me.”

In a follow-up video, he proved why we should trust his advice, showing the improvement his own "near-death" plants had made overnight after the first washing-up liquid watering.

While they hadn’t restored themselves to full glory, the plants that were all but dead had started to show signs of revived stems and leaves in a matter of hours.

Offering further advice, Matthew explained that a wide range of washing up liquids can be used for this hack, including greener or more eco-friendly brands.

He also explained that watering your plants with this mixture "once or twice is usually enough" to see it start to revive. After the first couple of times, it’s okay to return to your normal watering and maintenance, prepping plants for any future heatwaves and making sure they see out the rest of the summer.

Although it's a sad sight when your strawberry plants are finally done with producing fruit, there's still the matter of cutting them back for next year's growth.

Whether you've started vegetable gardening for beginners this year or have grown strawberry plants for years, it can be a little confusing knowing what to do once they've flowered and produced all the fruit they can. This is where you'll need some August pruning advice, as acting now can help with flowering and fruit production come next year.

This seasonal advice from Simon Akeroyd, posted this time last year on his Instagram @simonakeryodgardenwriter, shows how a brutal chop now can be extremely beneficial for your strawberry plants.

As one of the best edible plants to grow in pots, strawberry plants are a popular choice when it comes to growing your own produce. However, to ensure a fruitful return, they need a little maintenance at the end of their season.

"If your strawberries have finished fruiting, you should trim back excess foliage. As this exposes the crown to sunlight in late summer, meaning next year you will have more flowers and fruit," says Simon.

"It might look harsh, but trimming back excess strawberry foliage at this time of year will improve your crop for next year. Trim back strawberry foliage to expose the crown to sunlight. Just leave a few young leaves near the crown of the strawberry plant," he adds.

Ensure your essential gardening tools are completely clean and as sharp as possible; that way you're not risking any disease contamination or damage to the plant.

This is a pretty important task to add to your list of summer gardening jobs, as now is the time that strawberry plants begin to save energy for their next growth cycle.

"Between now and autumn is when strawberry plants are deciding how many flowers and fruit they will produce next summer. This depends on how much sun they receive at this time of year," explains Simon.

"If strawberry plants are in dense shade now and covered in excess foliage, then they won’t fruit much next year," he continues.

There are some plants well suited for shade, but your strawberries certainly aren't one of them. So keep them happy in the sun to get more fruit next summer.

Surprisingly, strawberries make fantastic ground cover plants, so if you're looking to make your garden look fuller and lusher, why not add the delicious plants to your beds too?

The consistent heatwaves and hot, dry weather this summer have certainly taken a toll on our gardens. And now, with hosepipe bans introduced in most areas, finding ways to keep plants hydrated is more difficult than ever.

Watering your garden during a hosepipe ban is an extreme challenge and can often mean you have to accept that you'll be helping your plants recover from sunburn once the dry weather subsides. However, if you didn't get a chance to prepare your garden for the heatwaves and don't want to let your plants perish, this guidance is just what you need.

Hosepipe bans are confusing, and with so many ways to water your garden plants properly, it can be a mystery knowing what you can and can't use. Luckily, garden design expert Ish (@gardening.with.ish on Instagram) has cleared up this confusion and shared what watering tools you're safe to use.

If you're trying to help your garden recover from the heatwave or simply need to find a way to water your plants during a hosepipe ban, don't worry, you're not alone.

"There's a lot of confusion going around when it comes to hosepipe bans as to what you can and can't do. So I thought I'd go through them to make it a little bit easier, because there are some things you can use that might surprise you," starts Ish.

"Obviously, a hose pipe you can't use; you can take a watering can, fill it up from an outdoor tap and water directly into the ground. Now, most people are saying, well, why can't I just put a hose in there and pour it out like that? And to be honest, very clever, very smart, but unfortunately we're still using a hose," he adds.

"That being said, there are a few hoses you can use, which are these little micro drips or the small little irrigations because they're reduced-pressure hoses and they do about two to three litres an hour, which is massively preserving water when you think how much you're using in your hose," Ish continues.

Irrigation systems like these are also ideal if you want to keep your garden healthy whilst you're on holiday during the summer months.

To ensure you're not breaking any potential garden laws, it's important to know the difference between irrigation systems and what's required when having them in your garden.

"Now, they prefer to use things like a micro drip system again or something like that, which is perfect for it, and they say if you're going to do it, the rule is it's gotta be a permanent fixture. You can't just pop that temporarily and be done with it, but you can pop it on a timer; that's fine," he points out.

"Whilst four millimetre hoses are allowed, the 13 millimetre soaker hoses that you find aren't allowed. It'sa bit confusing but effectively down to water preservation," Ish says.

Should you really be struggling to keep up with the water limitations, rainscaping your garden is a long-term yet effective solution.

"And last but not least, of course, rain collection systems are ideal too. They're great for storing water, of course; you can use them. They're not for the water company; they're for you," he finishes.

Rainwater harvesting can feel a little costly at the time, with water butts and guttering installments, but it'll save you money and stress in the long term.

When you're lacking garden space, it can feel like some aspects of gardening aren't possible for you, and making your own compost might be one of them.

Making your own compost usually means finding space for a large bin or building a heap yourself in a far-off corner of the garden. But if you're limited to only small garden ideas, having a large bin or a dedicated space for a heap isn't an option. However, don't give up on the sustainable garden idea just yet, as there is a way to make composting work for your space.

Expert garden writer Simon Akeroyd (@simonakeroydgardenwriter on Instagram) has shown just how customisable composting is and how easy and affordable it is to make your own compost no matter what your garden looks like.

Whether you're looking for ways to reduce costs in the garden or are giving the rewilding trend a go, making your own compost is a surprisingly simple and rewarding task. All you need to start is a crate or plastic box that fits your garden space.

"Buying compost can be expensive, but it is easy to make your own compost. You need a box with holes; add 50% green materials such as veg scraps and grass clippings, which are nitrogen-based," starts Simon.

"Then add 50% brown materials such as paper, leaves and cardboard for carbon, then just mix once a week. Occasionally add water if it's dry and place a lid on it to keep out wildlife," he continues.

If you want to stop rats coming into your garden, no matter how big or small it is, it's incredibly important you seal your compost bin as the food scraps are the perfect invite for them.

If you avoid the common composting mistakes, you won't have to wait long for it to be ready to use, and you won't have to spend a penny.

"After a few weeks or months, gorgeous compost. You can sieve it if you want a finer compost for seed sowing; it's easy, free and a great way to recycle," Simon points out.

One Instagram user comments that this method has worked for her even though she has a balcony garden.

She says, "I’ve done this for a couple of years now on my balcony (I live in a big city, so don’t have a garden). I have one large plastic pot where I put vegetable scraps, leaves and cuttings from my plants, and branches and sawdust, etc. In another large plastic pot, I put the compost from the first pot, which has mostly turned into soil. I have the two pots under a bench/storage thing I built."

Now you know nothing is stopping you from making your very own compost.

Want to go a step further in your sustainable gardening journey? You can learn the different ways to reuse compost in your garden, so when it's out of nutrients, it's still being put to good use.

Two months ago, I broke my Nutribullet, and I didn't realise quite how much I relied on it until it was gone. The fault was entirely mine (a word of warning: never blend hot, or even warm, ingredients), but losing it threw my whole kitchen routine into chaos. Suddenly I couldn't grind flax seeds for my breakfast, my smoothies were disappointingly lumpy with a hand blender, and even making a simple chocolate mousse felt like a challenge. It's funny how quickly an appliance becomes indispensable when you use it every single day.

Having tested plenty of contenders for our guide to the best blenders, I've watched the personal blender category become one of the most exciting corners of the kitchen appliance world. These compact machines are no longer just for protein shakes; they're powerful enough to grind, purée and blitz ingredients that once needed a much larger machine. So when I was asked to put the new Nutribullet Ultra through its paces, I was relieved and excited. After weeks without my trusty blender, I was more than ready to see whether Nutribullet's most powerful model could live up to the hype.

Thankfully, it didn't disappoint. Nutribullet's iconic silhouette is still instantly recognisable, but the Ultra is a thoroughly modern upgrade. The sleek touch controls give it a premium feel, the portable blending cups are perfect for busy mornings, and the extra power makes light work of everything from seeds and nuts to silky smoothies. Whether you're blending breakfast before work or whipping up healthy desserts after the gym, it's a personal blender that feels as though it's been designed around real life and after spending time with it, I wasn't keen to give it back.

Nutribullet Ultra Blender review

• Weight: 3.07kg
• Dimensions: 39 x 12 x 12cm
• Wattage: 1200W
• Voltage: 220-240V
• Cable Length: 75cm
• Included: 900ml and 700ml cups with lids
• Warranty: 2 years

Who would the Nutribullet Ultra Blender suit?

• Anyone with a fast-paced morning routine: the portable bottles mean you can blend and go, no decanting required
• Batch preppers and meal-planners: powerful enough to handle grinding and purées, not just smoothies, so it earns its keep beyond breakfast
• Small kitchens or shared households: its compact footprint means it doesn't demand permanent counter space the way a full jug blender does

The Ultra is best suited to anyone whose relationship with a blender is more functional than occasional — the sort of person reaching for it daily rather than dusting it off for the odd smoothie. Its portability matters most to people whose mornings move quickly, since blending directly into a bottle you can walk out the door with removes a step most blenders demand. But it's the power on offer that broadens its appeal beyond that — this isn't a one-trick smoothie maker, and anyone doing their own batch prep, grinding oats or nuts, or making purées and soups in smaller quantities will get genuine use out of it. Equally, if counter space is at a premium, its compact scale makes it easy to justify a place in the cupboard, brought out and put away without the commitment a larger blender demands.

Unboxing the Nutribullet Ultra Blender

The packaging is mostly recyclable, which is a welcome start before you've even reached the blender itself. Inside, you get two differently sized bullets, which handy for scaling a recipe up or down without needing to eyeball quantities, along with two bottle lids, which is what turns each bullet from a blending vessel into a portable drinks bottle. It's a simple system, but an effective one: blend directly in the bullet, screw on the lid, and you're out the door with nothing left to wash up before you leave.

What's the Nutribullet Ultra Blender like to use?

Setup is refreshingly straightforward. You get two differently sized bullets, both of which double as portable bottles thanks to the included lids, so the vessel you blend in is the vessel you drink from. On the front of the base sit two touch-screen buttons — one for pulse, one for a continuous blend — and even before you've made anything, the motor has a noticeably powerful sound to it that sets expectations high.

Smoothies: I put the Nutribullet Ultra through its paces with frozen berries, spinach, ice and oats, a combination that tests both power and blade efficiency against fibrous greens and frozen fruit. It handled the mix smoothly, with no unblended fragments of spinach or oat clinging to the sides, and the result was properly smooth rather than gritty, which frozen fruit and oats can easily produce in a weaker motor.

Grinding: I used the Nutribullet Ultra to grind oats and dried fruit, and it made short work of both, producing a fine, even consistency rather than the uneven, half-ground result you sometimes get from blenders not designed with grinding in mind. This is where the Ultra's power really earns its keep.

Hummus: bullet blenders struggle with lower moisture-content mixes, but I was happy with this making a good hummus. It isn't silky and velvety and certainly more of a chunky finish.

Blending Ice: This is the one area where the Nutribullet Ultra didn't excel, but that's true of bullet-style blenders generally, so it's less a mark against the Ultra specifically and more a reminder of where this format's limits sit. If crushed ice on its own is a priority, a jug blender will serve you better.

Cold Soup: I made a pea and spinach soup, which tests the blender's ability to purée vegetables to a genuinely silky consistency rather than leaving any fibrous texture behind. It managed this well, producing a smooth, restaurant-consistency purée without needing to pass it through a sieve afterwards.

Tofu Mousse: Blending tofu and cocoa powder together is a good test of how finely a blender can break down a dense, low-moisture ingredient, since tofu can easily turn grainy rather than silky if the blades aren't up to the job. The result here was completely smooth, with no lumps at all, which is an impressive outcome given how easily this combination can go wrong.

Cleaning the Nutribullet Ultra Blender

Clean-up is as straightforward as the rest of the experience. The bullets and lids are dishwasher-safe, so there's no need to hand-wash after every use, and the main body simply wipes clean with a damp cloth, keeping the motor housing away from any water in the process.

Should you buy the Nutribullet Ultra Blender?

If your blending needs go beyond the occasional smoothie, the Nutribullet Ultra is well worth the investment. It handles everything from frozen fruit to dense purées and grinding with genuine competence, and the portability of the bullet system means it fits into a fast-moving routine without adding extra steps or washing up. Where it falls short, crushed ice on its own, is a limitation shared by nearly every blender in this category, so it's not a meaningful mark against it specifically. For anyone who wants power and portability in one compact unit, this is one of the strongest personal blenders I've tested.

Have you seen the premium new range of Simba bed frames? The award-winning sleep tech brand has extended its furniture offerings with a stunning new range of handcrafted, made-to-order beds to support its best-selling mattresses.

Choosing a new bed to suit your requirements can often feel impossible, not to mention overwhelming. But the process is made a whole lot easier with a bespoke range that allows you to 'build' the bed exactly as you wish.

Simba's new range of beds offers simplified customisation to cater for every taste. With seven new upholstered designs, available in a choice of 22 fabric options and an extensive selection of on-trend new shades, plus three new solid oak bed frames, all with the option of non-storage bases, drawers and ottoman storage configurations, you can prioritise practicality without compromising on design.

So whether you want an elegant ottoman bed for maximum storage, a sophisticated upholstered bed in an irresistibly on-trend shade or a minimal wooden bed frame with handy hidden drawers – there's a premium Simba bed frame for you. And don't fear long wait times; despite being bespoke, these beds are handcrafted in the UK and delivered within 10 days.

New: Premium Upholstered Simba bed frames

As experts in mattresses, it feels only right to trust the Simba team to help design made-for-you bed frames, to make the dream of the perfect night's sleep a reality.

As someone who hadn't changed their bed frame in nearly 15 years due to indecision, I was elated about the high level of personalisation available with the new upholstered designs. Before now, either the style was perfect, but the upholstery shade didn't suit my bedroom decor, or there were no suitable storage options.

After finally deciding on a luxe upholstered design, choosing my new bed was made easier not only by the wide range of designs on offer, but also by the flexibility permitted by Simba's new made-to-order options. I was able to choose the fabric, colour and the base to suit my needs. Being able to tailor the design to suit my style ensured I now have a bed that I love, with no compromise.

I chose the new Saltaire upholstery in the new 'Mink' velvet. The deep button-tufted headboard exudes a hotel-inspired luxury that elevates my bedroom decor. I opted for the two-drawer base to offer handy storage that seamlessly integrates into the plush design.

The bed arrived in three complete pieces, which were easy to assemble by slotting the two bases together, using a clever interlocking mechanism attached at one end of each unit. The feet push and click into each corner with ease, four on each base.

Once the base is in position, you simply line up the headboard and affix it securely in place using the four screws provided. No tools required, just a little bit of elbow grease. It is a two-person job, but I helped with the construction, and I wouldn't consider myself particularly strong or handy. It was so simple.

Simba’s premium wooden bed frames: Crafted from solid American oak

“We’ve seen growing demand from customers for bedroom furniture that feels more considered, design-led and premium, while still offering the practicality and flexibility needed for everyday living," explains Josie Towells, head of buying at Simba.

"This new collection has been developed to reflect that shift, with a stronger focus on elevated detailing, richer textures and timeless colour palettes that work effortlessly within modern homes."

Every element has been carefully refined to create a more cohesive and luxurious experience," Josie concludes. "Handcrafted in Leeds and made to order, the collection combines high-quality craftsmanship with the convenience and customisation customers increasingly expect from premium furniture.”

I can confirm that the process, the delivery time, the build and the finished bed are all that of a premium brand experience. And right now, I'd recommend checking out the seasonal Simba sale to get even more value for your money. But either way, you will have a bed that is well worth the investment – trust me, I could not be happier with my choice.

A clear day might seem like a great time to get ahead on your outdoor cleaning to-do list, but there's one job you should avoid doing when the sun's out in full force.

Whilst window cleaning certainly isn't something on your daily cleaning habits list, it is a chore that makes all the difference when it's done regularly in your home. Keeping your windows clean can even help brighten up a dark room in your house, so when is the best time to tackle the job and why?

With the current sunny weather, similar to cleaning your car, you may be assuming that this is the best time to get your windows sparkling again. However, Queen of Clean, Lynsey Crombie, is here to tell you that couldn't be further from the truth.

It's not the first time Lynsey has blessed us with some window cleaning knowledge; recently, she shared her clever trick for making cleaning window tracks easier than ever. This time, though, she's debunked the myth about when the best time to clean your windows is.

"I thought today we'd bust some cleaning myths at home," starts Lynsey.

"Myth number three, you should always clean your glass on your windows on a sunny day. Well, that is completely wrong," she continues.

"You want to clean your windows on the dullest, most miserable day possible, but preferably when it's not raining like it is today," adds Lynsey.

Whether you're cleaning with white vinegar or have a specialised window spray, you may have noticed just how easy it is to leave those stubborn streaks or wipe marks on your glass.

"Reason being as soon as the product hits the glass, it's going to dry, it's going to cause those streaks, and that is caused by the sun. So stick to those dull days and a good lint-free window cleaning cloth," Lynsey explains.

Instead, take advantage of the nice weather to get your summer gardening jobs done, and leave the windows for a gloomy, overcast day. That way you won't be left buffing out marks.

Window tracks are one of the hidden spots in your home you should be cleaning before the hot weather arrives. As we naturally open up our windows more than ever during the summer, the last thing you want to see is heaps of grime covering your window tracks.

For decades, the KitchenAid Stand Mixer has been a baking status symbol, gracing the counters of real Royalty and The Great British Bake Off to name just two. So, when I heard that KitchenAid had redesigned its beloved stand mixer for the first time in almost 70 years, I'll admit I felt a little protective. Some classics don't need reinventing, do they?

As it turns out, this one did. And KitchenAid has more than earned the right to prove it. After years of testing some of the best stand mixers on the market, I've come to appreciate all of KitchenAid's appeal, from the reliable performance, reassuring weight and timeless design, down to the curve of the bowl and its very specific attachments. I couldn't imagine what a new design could possibly add without losing the KitchenAid's very essence, but the design team really has put the cherry on top.

That's why I'm pleased to see the KitchenAid Artisan Plus' silhouette remains intact. Rather than tampering with everything that made the original so enduring, KitchenAid has refined the experience of its stand mixers with thoughtful, useful updates that make the mixer feel more contemporary without losing its unmistakable character. The result is less a reinvention of the original Artisan and more a graceful way of growing up. KitchenAid still comes with all the charm that made it iconic, while making life in the kitchen that little bit easier.

KitchenAid Artisan Plus Stand Mixer review

• Colours: 11, including new Sun Dried Tomato, Wild Blueberry, Iron Ore Bronze, and Oat.
• Weight: 11.1 kgs
• Capacity: 4.7L
• Settings: 11 speed settings, including a half speed for folding.
• Material: Cast zinc body, enamel coating, stainless steel bowl and accessories.
• Dimensions: 36 x 24 x 37 cm
• Accessories: Wire whisk, dough hook, beater, and double Flex Edge beater
• Motor: 230 Watts
• Warranty: 5 years

Who would the KitchenAid Artisan Plus Stand Mixer suit?

• Detail-orientated bakers: the bowl light and speed setting navigation is subtle, but a treat for anyone who takes joy in the details
• Chefs who do lots of hand mixing and folding: stand mixers have historically been too aggressive here, but the half-speed setting is gentle enough to tick that box
• Traditional bakers making a style statement: the iconic design will always command admiration, and none more so than this

You'll appreciate the Artisan Plus if you appreciate the details that most people overlook. It's an appliance built on subtle upgrades that modernise the traditional KitchenAid design. The bowl light and the clarity of the speed dial aren't showy additions, but they make the day-to-day experience of using the mixer that much more satisfying for anyone paying attention.

The half-speed setting, also solves a problem that traditional KitchenAid stand mixers have long struggled with, which is the tendency to overwork delicate mixtures. If you're often folding by hand, this is the setting is a treat because it can fold in whipped mixtures and mix fruits in without too much bleeding. And then there's the design itself, which hasn't needed to change to stay relevant; it's the reason the Artisan Plus continues to sit on counters as a statement piece as much as a workhorse, appealing to bakers who see their kitchen equipment as an extension of their craft and their taste.

What's the difference between the KitchenAid Artisan Plus Stand Mixer and the Artisan??

Whether you go for the original Artisan or the Artisan Plus comes down to how closely you're paying attention to your own baking process. If you're an occasional or casual baker, the standard Artisan will do everything you need. It's not being outclassed here, it's simply not being tested by these upgrades in the first place. So, the Artisan, or indeed the Classic, is a savvy choice (we've done an Artisan vs Classic deep dive if you want to compare those two.)

However, if you bake often enough to have opinions about your equipment, the Plus starts to make its case in ways that add up. The bowl light matters most to anyone who's ever pulled a bowl out from under the mixer head to check on a mix rather than trusting what they can see in situ, or who tends to bake later in the day. The half-speed setting matters most to anyone who still finishes things by hand, or who's lost volume in a whipped mixture by folding too roughly. The speed dial matters to anyone who bakes anything finicky enough that a half-step in speed changes the result, macarons and choux being the obvious examples. And the flex edge beater, while not exclusive to the Plus, is reason enough on its own for a lot of bakers to upgrade, particularly if stiff doughs and batters are a regular feature of what you make. None of these differences will matter to someone who bakes a banana bread once a month. All of them will matter to someone who bakes for a living, or close to it.

Unboxing the KitchenAid Artisan Plus Stand Mixer

Unboxing the Artisan Plus will feel familiar if you've owned a KitchenAid before. There's still the signature, unmistakable tilt-head silhouette is still very much intact, now available in 12 colourways so there's little excuse not to find one that suits your kitchen.

Mine arrived well packed in polystyrene, and everything lifted out easily, including the four attachments: a wire whisk, dough hook, paddle, and the double flex edge beater, which comes with its own pair of silicone scrapers built in to catch batter round the sides as it mixes. The mixer itself is heavy, heavier to move than you might expect if you've not owned a KitchenAid. It's the reason that many people choose to keep theirs on the counter, rather than move it in and out of cupboards. Importantly, that weight is exactly what keeps it planted on the counter rather than rocking about mid-mix, so it's a trade worth making.

The little details stood out early on in the unboxing and set up too. The splash guard clips onto the bowl via silicone feet rather than sitting loose, the pouring funnel is sturdy enough to rest an egg on its edge while you crack it, and the stainless steel bowl handle feels properly weighted rather than an afterthought. There's a cord tidy too, which shouldn't feel like a luxury but somehow does.

The standout new feature, though, is the bowl light, which gives off a small practical glow. You'll also spot the half-speed setting, which is a nice bit of thoughtful engineering as well: turn the dial one way and you click between speeds as normal, turn it the other and it glides smoothly between them. I was relieved that the KitchenAid still has its iconic look and feel, just with a modern touch.

What is the KitchenAid Artisan Plus Stand Mixer like to use?

I started with my whipped cream test, which runs at the highest speed and is a brilliant stress test of raw power and motor efficiency. Both my dairy and vegan cream reached stiff, glossy peaks in under a minute, one of the fastest times I have on record, a full 40 seconds quicker than the standard Artisan.

The sliding speed scale came into its own here, too: rather than jumping between fixed increments, it lets you ease into aeration gradually, which suits whisking work far better than a stepped dial. There was minimal splatter throughout, and I didn't need the splash guard at any point (I did use it, but saw no spatter on the sides of the bowl, and pouring in was clean and controlled). All in all, it was a hit.

For the cake test, I tried both a classic sponge and a mix-in batter with courgette and blueberries, the latter is my attempt at making it healthy. The butter and sugar creamed to a pale, aerated consistency well within expectation, and the flour incorporated cleanly with no pockets of unmixed flour left at the base of the bowl, which is a common issue on mixers that don't scrape efficiently.

It is worth noting that I dropped to fold speed once the eggs and flour went in, which stopped the batter from overworking and losing the air already whipped into it. Overmixing at this stage is one of the most common causes of a dense, close-crumbed sponge and while I have no doubt that the KitchenAid has the power to overdo it, this mixed gently on setting 3. When I was adding in the courgette, I didn't need to drop the speed, but when it came to delicate blueberries, at the half speed, each berry stayed intact throughout, with no bleeding into the batter, which tells you the paddle action is gentle enough not to rupture fruit on contact. I used the flex-edge beater here, which is important for not crushing the fruit, largely thanks to the open shape and silicone edges.

The cookie test is where the flex edge beater really proves its worth. It kept the sides and base of the bowl consistently clean through every stage, creaming butter and sugar, incorporating eggs, then folding through flour and chocolate chips. It worked so well that I noticed that I didn't needing to stop and scrape down the sides because they were kept clean - and the same applies to my kneading function too.

Standard K-beaters tend to snag on chocolate chunks and drag them round rather than through the mixture, but this moved smoothly regardless of piece size. It's also worth flagging the textural phases cookie dough goes through as you mix: soft and light during creaming, then noticeably thicker and heavier once the flour's fully incorporated. I folded the chocolate through at half speed to avoid crushing the pieces, and the dough could go straight into the fridge to chill, without needing to shift fridge shelf height to accommodate it. Obviously this varies between fridge designs, but it's good to know that the bowl is a reasonable size for chilling and storing, if needed.

Bread is where a lot of serious bakers switch to a different style of stand mixer altogether, since the density and resistance of dough can destabilise a machine that drives from the head rather than the base. This is notable for how much torque it maintains under load, from a sticky, high-hydration brioche at the weekend through to a lower-moisture farmhouse loaf, there was no rocking, bouncing, or walking across the counter, and the gluten development was quick and properly elastic in both cases.

One design detail worth mentioning: the top of the dough hook is broad and flat, which is meant to stop the dough climbing up the shaft mid-knead. However, it's worth being mindful of with any add-ins like seeds or dried fruit, as they can sit on top of the hook rather than working through the dough if added through the splash guard.

What is the KitchenAid Artisan Plus Stand Mixer like to clean?

Clean-up is straightforward across all the attachments. They can be cleaned with a simple a wipe, using warm water and washing-up liquid. The flex edge beater needs slightly more care around the silicone scrapers, where residue can collect in the join between the blade and the paddle if you're not thorough, so it's worth going over that seam by hand rather than relying on a quick rinse.

Drying everything with a cloth rather than leaving it to air-dry stops water marks forming on the stainless steel, which otherwise show up more than you'd expect given how polished the finish is. The main body just needs a wipe-down with a damp cloth — nothing goes near the motor housing, and the tilt-head design means it's easy to reach around without disturbing anything underneath.

Should you buy the KitchenAid Artisan Plus Stand Mixer?

So, is the KitchenAid Artisan Plus worth buying? If you're a serious baker, someone who bakes often enough to have noticed the small frustrations of a standard stand mixer, rather than someone baking a occasional batch of cookies, then yes, unreservedly. You don't need to ditch your current KitchenAid in favour of the Plus, because lots of the upgrades are "nice to haves" rather than "need to haves".

That being said, the upgrades here aren't gimmicks; the half-speed setting genuinely solves a real problem for anyone who hand-finishes their bakes, the flex edge beater earns its place as a permanent fixture rather than a spare attachment, and the bowl light is the sort of feature you don't know you need until you've used it and can't go back. It held its own through everything from whipped cream to brioche without rocking, bouncing, or struggling, which is more than can be said for plenty of mixers.

Where it's harder to justify is if your baking is occasional or casual (the standard Artisan will do the job perfectly well) and you're unlikely to notice what you're missing. But for anyone who bakes as a hobby, or close to a professional standard, this pays for itself in daily use as well as sitting as a display piece.

How we test stand mixers

At woman&home, we have a rigorous process for how we test some mixers not in the least because I am a keen baker so I’ll take any excuse to make cakes bread and whipped cream and call it work. Every stand mixer that I review gets at least two weeks on my countertop. Initially, I’ll put it through three tests that every stand mixer has to go through. Make a cake with the beating attachment; I whip cream with the whisk; and I need bread with the dough hook. This gives me a good gauge of how good the stand mixer is on the basics. With that in mind, I’ll move on to more adventurous bakes and cakes to find out the strengths and weaknesses of the stand mixer. By the end of my test, I'll have a good idea of who this suits and where other stand mixes are better. I’ll compare different models to give you a good gauge of what this is like in terms of value and where it sits in the market.

Hydrangeas are undoubtedly one of the most beloved plants that homeowners grow in their gardens; however, they can soon begin to fade when the summer reaches its peak.

If you're sorting out your garden this weekend and have noticed that your once colourful hydrangeas have become brown and crispy, you may be tempted to get your garden shears out. It's natural to add pruning and cutting back to our summer gardening jobs list, but sometimes that can be the worst thing for your plants.

There are so many plants you should never prune in summer, and a gardening expert has revealed why hydrangeas belong on that list, and why making the mistake of pruning can have a detrimental effect on your plant.

Even when you've been watering your hydrangeas as often as you should, they will turn brown over time during the summer months. This is part of their natural cycle and not something to panic about. Just don't be quick to act and pull out your secateurs.

"If your hydrangeas have finished flowering, don't be tempted to prune them just yet. Those faded flower heads might not look the best, but they actually help protect the buds underneath from frost in the winter," says Mili Ward-Beazley, Creative Garden Consultant and content creator at @good.garden.club on Instagram.

"Instead, leave the flower heads in place over autumn and winter. They'll also add interest and beautiful structure to your garden over the colder months," she explains.

They'll coexist with your plants for autumn colour nicely and add a little dimension to your space without needing to plant or care for another addition to your garden.

After you've protected your plants from frost and winter draws to a close, that's when you can pull out your essential gardening tools and get to pruning your hydrangeas.

"When spring arrives, and you can see new growth emerging, simply snip off the old flower heads back to the first pair of healthy buds. A little patience now means a much better display of blooms next summer," continues Mili.

Ensure you're pruning hydrangeas correctly for the best results, and then you'll have your favourite flowers back in action in no time.

Want more hydrangeas in your garden next year? Learning how to take hydrangea cuttings is a cost-effective way of doubling their beauty and filling your space with even more of the fluffy florals.

Watering houseplants can be challenging enough when they all need different amounts and at different times. But there's also the matter of what type of water you give your plants and how it plays an important role in their health.

If you've mastered how often to water houseplants, you know that they can be both demanding and dramatic when you get it wrong. Even when you know how much water to give them and when, they can still have negative reactions to watering, turning yellow or even dying completely.

That's why the type of water you use is also an important part of caring for indoor plants and helping them thrive. Experts at Happy Happy Houseplant (@happyhappyhouseplant on Instagram) have shared expert guidance on the different water types and what they mean for plant health.

Whether you've noticed your peace lily suddenly dying or your monstera's leaves turning yellow, you may be suspecting the water you're using is the culprit.

"So you did a Google search, and now you're worried tap water is bad for your houseplants. Like, are all these people actually buying special water for their plants?" say the Happy Happy Houseplant experts.

"The 'special water' you're thinking of is called distilled water, and while it's great for houseplants, it's not necessary (your bank account just sighed in relief)."

If you want to avoid common houseplant mistakes, this watering guidance will be a big help.

"But there is something you'll want to avoid, and that's softened water. To soften water, salts are added. The issue is that frequent watering with salty water will dehydrate your houseplant, so what do you do if your only option is softened water?" they explain.

If you're into rainwater harvesting, this can be a great way to source natural, untreated water in areas that only supply softened water.

"Option one is to use an outdoor spigot during the warm weather months; option two is to use a Brita filter or the water from your refrigerator instead. Just keep in mind you'll want the water to be room temp before watering. And the third option is using distilled water on your most dramatic plants only," concludes the Happy Happy Houseplant experts.

When caring for your houseplants during the heatwaves, this watering advice is crucial to keeping them properly hydrated and undamaged.

Worried about keeping your houseplants alive whilst you go on holiday this summer? There are many ways you can help keep them happy and hydrated without you needing to be there.

Like most of the UK right now, I have a fan in almost every room of the house in a desperate attempt to stay cool. While temperatures have dropped (slightly) during the day, the heat captured inside is still making the bedrooms and sleeping almost unbearable.

While the best cooling fans and cooling sheets offer some very welcome relief, I recently came across this Silentnight cooling gel pad, which is a game-changer in the heat. Or if, like me, you are in the throws of perimenopause/night sweats.

It took a moment on first use to understand how to use it, thinking I needed to do something or 'activate' it in some way. But you simply place the pad on your bed and lay down - it's that easy.

This genius product is immediately cool to the touch, so laying on it in a warm room is, well, fantastic. It's like lying on a cool wet towel, without the wetness or discomfort - it's my find of the summer.

How to use it

The best thing about this product is how simple it is to use. Just take it out of the case, lay it on the bed and lie down - that's it. You can pop it under the bed sheet if you don't want to lay directly on it. I have been using above my sheet and can vouch for how comfortable it is. It's padded so nice and soft, and the material is in no way sticky or scratchy.

If you move a lot in your sleep, you might want to place it under your sheet to avoid it wrinkling and rucking during the night. I have tried this, but felt a noticeable difference in how cooling it is (or isn't) with a layer (even a thin one) between my skin and the pad.

You can also lay it across you if your legs or feet are particularly warm. It can be placed in the fridge to cool down further - something I have found particularly enjoyable on very warm nights.

The pad is the length of roughly two thirds of your body (depending on your height, of course). It reaches to my upper thigh, and I'd be lying if I said being able to feel the cooling all down my legs and on my feet wouldn't make it all the better. The pad is not machine washable, but the material is easy to wipe down with a wet cloth every day and it dries really quickly.

More bed cooling

How long does the cooling effect last?

This cooling pad offers instant relief, which I have experienced lasts up to 20 minutes and has been a game-changer to help me fall asleep easily in the heat. As my body cools down, the less effective it becomes, and I have woken to no sense of cooling at all.

As the point of it is to absorb body heat, this was no surprise. And I think the length of cooling will be really dependent on the user. Just last week one reviewer online wrote: 'Got this during the heatwave, was perfect! Can genuinely feel it cooling, and even after being on it for hours it is still cool to the touch.'

Pauline, 54, also said: 'I have been using this mat for a week now and it does work extremely well as a cooling mat. I have used it underneath the sheet but also used it on top of my body. It does cool me down and feels really good it has some weight to it but is not uncomfortable.

'I did notice after a few hours it wasn't as cooling as at start of use so I will try cooling in fridge before use when the weather is hotter. It is a good size but could be a little longer I suffer from night flushes and this does help – I'm really pleased with the result and would recommend. It also comes with a storage bag so can be used away from home or stored away when not in use.'

My main use for this pad was to help alleviate the discomfort of feeling unbelievably hot when going to bed initially, and it does that brilliantly. If you want something that will keep you cool all night, you'll might need to look elsewhere. But if you want some immediate cooling relief, in a way that a fan can't offer, this really delivers (at a very affordable price).

Orchids are known for being a little challenging to keep happy, so it's not uncommon to find the plant struggling or starting to wither. But does your orchid have a second chance even when it looks like it's gone for good?

Learning how to care for indoor orchids is not an easy feat; they can be quite sensitive to external factors like sun or humidity, and they're a little different to other houseplants. So if you've been wondering why your orchid's leaves have been turning yellow or questioning your capabilities as a plant parent, chances are you're not alone.

The good news is that even when your orchid looks like it's on its last legs, there's hope for it yet. And we spoke to floral experts to find out what you can do to give your plant a new lease of life.

 How to revive an orchid plant: expert tips

Even when you've mastered how often to water your orchid amongst its other care needs, it can suddenly take a turn, leaving you confused and panicked.

“If your orchid is having trouble blooming, there are several things you can try. First, check your orchid’s location; they love sunlight, so try positioning it in a brighter part of the home, such as near an east- or south-facing window, while avoiding any harsh midday sun," says Lucy Hook, plant and floral lead at Bloom & Wild.

“If that doesn’t do the trick, try repotting it. Orchid compost breaks down over time, reducing airflow around the roots, so fresh bark-based compost can often give the plant a much-needed boost," she adds.

You may have heard about the rice water hack for feeding orchids; this is best avoided as it can do more damage than good.

It might also be time to learn how to repot your orchid, but this depends on how the roots of your plant are looking.

“It's also worth checking the roots before assuming the plant is dying. Healthy orchid roots are usually firm and green or silvery, while brown, soft roots should be carefully trimmed away with sterilised scissors before repotting," continues Lucy.

And whilst there are a few things you should never do when caring for an orchid, Lucy points out that overwatering is a particularly common issue.

"One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to revive an orchid is watering it more frequently. In many cases, overwatering is what caused the problem in the first place. Allow the potting mix to dry slightly between waterings and always make sure excess water can drain away," she continues.

How to know if an orchid is completely dead?

Should you be looking after your orchid after it's bloomed, you may be thinking that means it's dead. However, that's not the case.

“When an orchid is between flowering periods, it's easy to mistake it for being dead, as the stem will fade to brown and dry out. The gap between their flowers blooming can last as long as months, as they focus on growing their roots and leaves instead," Lucy explains.

“An easy way to check if an orchid is just taking a break from flowering is to examine the roots and crown of the plant. If the crown (where the leaves sprout from) or roots have turned dark and mushy, it’s a sign that the orchid may be past the point of saving," she says.

It's these roots that keep orchids firmly on the list of the hardest houseplants to keep alive, as they're sensitive and open to elements.

Do orchids come back after they die?

As one of the best flowering houseplants, it's a sad sight to see your orchid dying, which is why we often hope for some resurrection.

"Orchids do not truly die between blooms; they rest. What most people interpret as a dying orchid is simply a plant that has finished its flowering cycle and entered dormancy," says Brent Pickrell, President of Westmount Florist.

"The leaves may look a little less vibrant, and the spike will dry out, but the plant is very much alive. With the right care, indirect light, a cool drop in temperature at night, and watering only when the bark is dry, orchids will reliably rebloom, often for many years. Most people give up on an orchid just as it is preparing to flower again," he adds.

What does baking soda do for orchids?

Whilst there are so many ways to clean with baking soda in your home, it can also be a pretty nifty way to help your orchid fight off fungal diseases.

“Baking soda, in very small doses, can be beneficial to the leaves of an orchid, as it can prevent mild fungal issues from taking place. This is only the case if it is heavily diluted with 1 litre of water before delicately applying it to the leaves of the plant," says Lucy.

“Baking soda can alter the pH on the leaf surface and, if mixed too strongly or used too often, may damage the plant and create more problems than it solves,” she explains. "Good airflow, careful watering and avoiding wet leaves overnight are often far more effective ways to prevent fungal issues in the first place than relying on home remedies."

There are actually a few ways you can use baking soda in your garden too; its anti-fungal properties can help more than just your orchids.

Learning how to take care of indoor plants can include a lot of reviving them and being able to spot what exactly is going wrong and causing them to wither or yellow.

The rumours are all true. Lidl's new Glass Air Fryer launches in stores from 2nd August, and at roughly £100 less than the immensely popular Ninja Crispi.

The main draw is, as the name suggests, the glass build. Rather than the usual opaque plastic or metal drawer, this one uses a heat-resistant glass container, so you can watch your food cook. It's a small change that makes a big difference, and this is one of the best air fryers to achieve such a premium feature at this price point.

The glass isn't just useful from a visibility perspective though. It's also a strong pick if you're after non toxic air fryers, because Lidl have used an ILAG-coated trivet inside to make sure this is a stress-free cooking process. With four pre-set programmes, a simple dial control and a temperature range of 60–200°C, it's a serious threat for some of Ninja's best air fryers. So, should you be excited? Maybe just a Lidl.

Lidl SilverCrest Glass Air Fryer launch

As with all Lidl middle aisle buys, this is exciting for its price point. Coming in around £100 less than the Ninja Crispi while offering a comparable glass-container design is a significant draw, and it puts a feature that's usually reserved for premium models within reach of a much wider range of budgets.

Add in the dial-operated temperature control for advanced and creative air fryer chefs, which adjustable from a gentle 60°C right up to 200°C, and you've got an air fryer that can handle everything that you might want to cook in an air fryer from delicate dehydrating to properly crisping roast potatoes, without needing to spend three figures more to get that flexibility. It also isn't one for beginners to shy away from, thanks to the useful menu of pre-sets, which take the guesswork out of recipes, so you don't make mistakes with your air fryer.

This is also the air fryer I'd point meal-preppers and batch cooks towards. Because the glass containers double as storage, you can cook a portion, pop the leak-proof lid on and go straight into the fridge, or clip it shut and take it with you, without needing to do any decanting into a separate Tupperware, or any extra washing up.

It's also brilliant if you're conscious of the chemicals that you cook with. Non-toxic matters to me and it's not just marketing spin here. The glass containers sidestep any concerns around plastic leaching at high heat, while the trivet's ILAG-coated non-stick surface is built for corrosion resistance rather than the flakier coatings you sometimes find on cheaper models. So if you've been put off air fryers by worries over what their non-stick drawer is made of, this is a worry free, affordable model. Although, I'd still recommend using silicone air fryer accessories to preserve the lining. That's more of advice for longevity than it is a concern over toxicity though.

Lidl SilverCrest Glass Air Fryer design

Working your way around the Lidl Glass Air Fryer is super simple, especially because the heat-resistant glass container gives you full visibility on how your food is cooking.

The temperature is controlled via a simple dial rather than a digital touchscreen, which does mean that you'll have a little less precision (most Ninja and Breville models will let you control the temperature down to 1 or 5°C). However, that doesn't make much difference for the average cook.

It's ultimately a deliberately no-fuss set-up. Beginners and hurried chefs can choose from four pre-set programmes (Air Fry, Roast, Re-Fry, Keep Warm) or adjust the temperature manually anywhere between 60°C and 200°C, giving you the range to dehydrate gently or crisp up food at full heat.

Sitting inside each glass container is a trivet with a non-stick coating from ILAG®, a system known for its corrosion resistance, which is what keeps food from sticking without relying on the older non-stick chemicals some cooks are trying to avoid. Both containers come with cool-touch handles, so you're not reaching for oven gloves every time you check on your food, and leak-proof lids that turn the cooking pot into a storage or travel container the moment you're done.

Potential drawbacks

Of course, there are a few quirks that come with cheaper models. The large container's 650g chip capacity is on the smaller side compared with some full-drawer air fryers designed for bigger households have up to 10L (the Philips is one of my favourite examples), so if you're regularly cooking for a family of four or more, you may find yourself doing batches, or needing a bigger model.

Glass is also inherently heavier than plastic, and while the cool-touch handles help, lifting a hot, full container in and out will feel different, and require a bit more care, than pulling out a lightweight basket. The dial control, while simple, means less precision than a digital display offers, so fine-tuning to the exact minute or degree isn't really on the table here.

And as with any glass cookware, there's the obvious caveat that it's more fragile than metal or plastic if dropped, which is worth bearing in mind if it's going to be moved around a kitchen often, or thrown in a bag for lunches on the go.

Similar models to the Lidl SilverCrest Glass Air Fryer

There aren't many things that would get me out of bed and queueing outside the supermarket, but Lidl's Glass Air Fryer has done it. Whilst the design doesn't reinvent the glass air fryer format, it does make it affordable. It's a fridge-friendly containers, non-toxic air fryer which knocks £100 off the price of the model that started the trend of glass air fryers. I'll be putting through its paces against the rest of the field very soon.

It's that time of year when we start heading off on the summer holidays we've been dreaming about all year. Just ensure that excitement doesn't mean you neglect carrying out a few crucial home checks before you go.

With so much to organise before you set off, it’s all too easy to forget to include more mundane maintenance tasks around the home on your pre-holiday checklist.

But like preparing your garden to keep it healthy while you're on holiday, there are certain essential steps experts recommend taking before you leave the house - to save money and avoid any unexpected problems on your return.

4 expert recommended household checks to do before a holiday

The thought of refreshing smelly bins and emptying dishwashers becomes a distant memory when you have a holiday looming. However, experts outline a few key tasks to tackle to ensure your home stays safe while you are away.

Whether you are going on holiday for a long weekend or a few weeks, these simple steps are worth undertaking to leave your house in 'sleep mode'.

1. Unplug unnecessary appliances

Between the best coffee machine and a top-of-the-range air fryer, your countertops might be quite full of kitchen appliances. These can be real power drainers as well as safety hazards.

Martin Garbutt, Head of Technical Governance at Ding, says, “People often forget how many appliances are left plugged in around the home. Unplugging unnecessary devices not only cuts energy waste, but also reduces the risk of electrical faults and fires while the property is empty.”

He also warns against leaving lithium-ion devices charging unattended for long periods, so make sure to check nothings left on charge, like your laptops and other electrical devices.

"However, some appliances should remain switched on, including your fridge-freezer and Wi-Fi router," starts Martin. "Your router uses very little electricity, and switching it off could disable smart security systems, cameras, or other connected devices while you’re away."

Once you're back, you might want to quickly check for any power cuts or issues. “Freeze a small container of water and place a coin on top. If the coin sinks beneath the ice by the time you return, it could indicate your freezer defrosted during a power cut," recommends Martin.

2. Turn off your water supply

Not only a crucial check, but a sustainable home hack to save you money, turning off your water supply is a sensible measure to help avoid leaks, burst pipes and inflated water bills.

“To close off your water supply, firmly turn the valve handle clockwise (to the right) until it is fully closed. Never force it. If it is seized or stiff, applying too much pressure could break the valve," starts Martin.

“Then you want to go to your nearest cold water tap (like your kitchen sink) and turn it on to let any remaining water in the pipes run out. This helps depressurise the system," he adds. “When you return from your travels and are ready to turn the water back on, turn the stopcock anti-clockwise (to the left) slowly.”

I was always guilty of never doing this, and I'm sure I'm not alone. But since learning from the experts, I now do it like clockwork to avoid any potential water leaks occurring while I'm away.

3. Don’t leave your heating running unnecessarily

Finding ways to save energy in your home will make all the difference when your utility bills come in. Which is why it's key that you ensure all heating is off in your home while you're away.

“If you have a smart thermostat or digital heating system, using ‘Holiday Mode’ is the easiest and most efficient option,” Martin explains. “Most systems allow users to set an away period and maintain the home at a low temperature, typically between 7 °C and 12 °C, while they’re away.

Even if you don't have a top-of-the-range boiler, it's as simple as adjusting the thermostat.

“For traditional heating systems, turning the thermostat down low or programming the heating to run briefly once a day can help prevent damage without wasting energy.”

4. Leave dishwasher and washing machine doors open

Cleaning a washing machine and cleaning a dishwasher are key parts of kitchen maintenance, because, as areas that are consistently filled with water, they are the most prone to mould and bacterial build-up. With this in mind, a holiday is the perfect time to prep them ready for a reset on your return.

Ian Palmer-Smith, appliance repair expert at Domestic & General, shares, “Mould thrives in places of high humidity and moisture, so leaving the door open for a while after each use will help keep any mould at bay and prevent you from coming home to any unpleasant smells or a pending washing machine repair," says Ian.

Another top tip: “It’s also a good idea to remove and clean your dishwasher’s filter to prepare it for its first use when you come back. Food particles left in the dishwasher while you are on holiday can solidify and block up the filter, meaning you might need a professional dishwasher repair if you forget to clean it before leaving.”

These small actions may seem inconsequential, but by taking these simple measures, you'll be saving energy and preventing any potential problems from occurring while you are away, taking some much-needed rest time.

Simply leaving devices on stand-by can increase your energy bills by hundreds, so knowing what to turn off and how before you go away will have you thanking yourself in the long run.

What weeds are ok to leave, and which can become problematic? That is the dilemma Sara Cox is currently facing as her garden is becoming a haven for 'pretty' weeds that she is in two minds about cutting back.

While many wildlife-friendly weeds are beneficial for gardens, some fall into the category of invasive plants you need to get rid of before they take over and cause damage to paving, brickwork or fences.

Not being a keen gardener herself, Sara Cox has taken to social media to ask her green-fingered followers for advice on which weeds to keep and which to remove. But one of the plants in question isn't actually a weed at all; it's one of the plants for pollinators – but that's the one branded a 'nightmare'.

On her Instagram @djsaracox, Sara writes: "Green-fingered folk, help me out here please. Look, there's all of this here in my bin area (showing a generous amount of sprouting weeds and plant stems).

I feel like maybe bees and butterflies might enjoy it for a bit, or do I just pull it all up? I don't really want to use loads of poison. And some of it's so pretty. Thoughts, please, on what to do? Are weeds just flowers that are unloved?"

While the responses are mixed, there is an overwhelming amount in favour of removing the buddleia plant.

Despite it being brilliant for attracting butterflies and bees, its aggressive nature and tendency to take over can prove very problematic. "If it has flowers, leave; except the buddleia; it's a nightmare!" exclaims one follower.

Others are in agreement, explaining, "Buddleia is sooooo good at attracting the bees and butterflies, but it is a proper hooligan, so get it gone."

"Get rid of the buddleia; they take over and will damage your patio," writes another.

So with that advice in mind, but with Sara citing that she wants to avoid 'poison ', we asked our resident gardener, Orpheus Alexander, how he would remove the weeds without using toxic chemicals.

"I'd pull out the tall weeds and then use a hooked patio weeder for the rest. For the weeds that regrow, mix 1 litre of strong white vinegar (5% acidity) with a tablespoon of washing up liquid and spray onto the new growth. Will weaken and kill the plants over time."

Using white vinegar in the garden is the ideal way to kill weeds without resorting to harsh chemicals – boiling water is another effective weed-killing hack.

With Sara expressing her fondness for the 'pretty flowers', many of her fans are encouraging her to keep some of the smaller varieties as part of the meadowscaping garden trend.

"Pull up all weeds there and plant a wild meadow seed area in your lawn," says one. While another writes: "A weed is only a plant in the wrong place. Move them. But don’t leave them."

"Keep the ones you like and get rid of the others by pouring boiling water on them- no weed killer needed."

Poignantly, one of Sara's followers suggests: "Leave it all for now - with everything dying from the heat and a hosepipe ban, the insects need all the help they can get."

Being mindful of wildlife is particularly important right now, as we experience record-breaking temperatures. There's lots of expert advice on how to help birds during the heatwaves. We're big fans of the makeshift bird bath trend we saw earlier this week – such a simple, cheap way to help wildlife when it's hot.

There's a difference between buying a hand blender and investing in one, and it took the Zwilling XTEND for us to actually feel that difference. As a team who cooks most of the day, we've been through our fair share of cordless blenders that promise power and deliver a whir. This one is the first that made us stop and think, this is genuinely a different category of tool.

It's not a cheap buy, and it doesn't try to hide that. This is one of the best hand blenders, built for people who want real, restaurant-grade blending power without being tethered to a socket. It's an investment you make once and expect to still be reaching for in ten years, not something you replace after a couple of soup seasons.

So we decided to put that price tag to the test properly, pushing it through the kind of demanding, high-volume blending that separates a genuinely powerful machine from one that just looks the part.

Zwilling XTEND Cordless Hand Blender review

• Specs

How we tested the Zwilling XTEND Cordless Hand Blender

Before we dive into the details, it's good to know a little more about the person who tested this blender. And if you want to find out more, here are all the details on how we test blenders.

Who would the Zwilling XTEND Cordless Hand Blender suit?

• The design-conscious cook : someone who wants their tools to look as good as they perform. Sarah put it plainly: "This is an ideal choice for anyone who appreciates quality engineering and aesthetic design."
• Anyone short on plug sockets: Sarah wasn't expecting to care, but found that a cordless blender changed how she used it in her day to day, particularly when a last-minute breakfast request meant she could carry the blender straight to the table.
• The minimalist who wants one job done properly: this isn't a multi-tool, and for the right buyer that's the appeal. Sarah was clear she preferred it that way: "For me this is a bit of a bonus - in my experiences the extras are usually a bit rubbish in comparison and end up being clutter in the cupboard."

Taken together, these three types of buyer share one thing in common: they're not looking for an all-in-one kitchen system, and they're prepared to pay for quality over quantity. If that's not you, there are cheaper, more heavily-featured blenders out there. If it is you, this is very much aimed in your direction.

Unboxing the Zwilling XTEND Cordless Hand Blender

When it comes to appliances, not just hand blenders, first impressions matter, and this one definitely plays it cool rather than flashy. Sarah, our tester, found the box itself understated to the point of being forgettable, noting that "packaging design is simple and perhaps a little uninspiring, but it is clear what you're getting and what you are not," pointing specifically to the fact the battery isn't included. It's a telling observation that will become a theme with the Zwilling XTEND: it delivers on its promises and is clear about what it can do. Nothing more, nothing less.

Setup, thankfully, asks nothing of you. Sarah admitted that "the hand blender itself is really easy to put together and to begin using - so much so that I have to differentiates the XTEND from her current blender, and many other hand blenders, which is that this one has a built-in unlock button that must be pressed before it will run. It's particularly helpful if you often have little helpers in the kitchen, as it keeps them safe from any accidents.

What is the Zwilling XTEND Cordless Hand Blender like to use?

The controls are simple once they're second nature, though there's a brief learning curve. You press the unlock button first, then one of the two speed settings, and Sarah noted that "it took a bit of remembering what order they were in without having to stare at it each time, otherwise this is also super simple." It's a sensible trade-off: a small deliberate step in exchange for genuine peace of mind around accidental starts.

Where it counts, the performance holds up. On frozen fruit, Sarah reported it "worked incredibly well" If you've ever tried to blend fruit that's frozen, you'll know it's like working through seedy, fibrous ice cubes and yet, in spite of this, Sarah was impressed with the "the consistent power and blending." Teamed with the sharp blades and lengthy battery life and the Zwilling made "light work of frozen fruit without any fuss." Sarah gives it her seal of approval for smoothies and homemade sorbets, which means this gets off to a brilliant start.

Soup is the next most challenging test. Except, this time, rather than ice, we're handing hot stuff. Sarah credits the Zwilling XTEND with making "our favourite soup velvety smooth with no bits, exactly how we want it." She added that it comes with noticeably less splash than her old blender. Cordless hand blenders aren't always capable of combining power with control as well as plug-ins, so this is a rare treat. Sarah even made a point of saying that in the past, "cordless products have been lacking a little in terms of power compared to corded ones," but this one closed that gap convincingly.

As for handling, it's comfortable rather than fussy: she found it "comfortable to hold and not particularly heavy," appreciating that the handle skips the rubbery coating that tends to degrade over time, and was pleasantly surprised that it ran quietly rather than with the whine she'd braced for.

Cleaning and maintenance of the Zwilling XTEND Cordless Hand Blender

There's very little to manage here beyond the basics. As Sarah summed it up, she couldn't "imagine it requiring much maintenance beyond keeping it clean and making sure that you charge the battery often enough to make sure that it is ready to go when you next lift it out of the cupboard." It's as simple as wiping, charging and storing the blender.

Should you buy the Zwilling XTEND Cordless Hand Blender

This is a considered purchase rather than an impulse one, and it should be treated that way. Sarah was honest about where she landed: "Given the price point I probably wouldn't have picked it out on a walk through John Lewis, but having tried it out I would definitely consider buying it as a gift for myself."

On paper, the price tag (plus the separately-sold battery) looks steep next to supermarket basics. In hand, it justifies itself: powerful, splash-free, comfortable to use, and built with a restraint that feels deliberate rather than stripped-back. If you want a multi-tool with a whisk and chopper thrown in, look elsewhere. If you want one job done exceptionally well, this earns its spot in the cupboard and, more importantly, gets pulled out of it.

With the hot weather, you might be more preoccupied with how often you're watering lavender and other fragrant favourites. However, garden experts suggest pruning your lavender at this time of year to keep the plant neat – while also boosting new growth.

The great news is, thanks to gardening author and expert Michael Griffiths, you don’t have to worry about letting any part of your plants go to waste, because the offcuts can be repurposed.

He recently shared his efficient and eco-friendly method for turning Lavender cuttings into free firelighters that will also give your fires a burst of fragrance.

As you go about pruning to give the likes of lavender or rosemary a second life, Michael shared what he likes to do with the cuttings to ensure zero waste and a stack of firelighters for the BBQ or chiminea.

Sharing his simple tips with his social media followers, he explained that you first gather your cuttings into small bundles. Next, tie them together with natural twine - you’ll want to get them really nice and tightly packed together.

Next, hang or lay them somewhere warm with good airflow. This is the most important step that cannot be overlooked. Your bunches must be properly dried before they go near a flame – a hint of dampness and you’ll get a ton of smoke.

As a top tip, Michael suggests that properly dried stems should snap, not bend.

Once they’re ready, tuck one under your kindling and light it: the dried oils catch beautifully, and it scents the whole evening – and voila, “the best-smelling fire you’ll ever start”.

This is such a clever and simple way to elevate your next garden party or outdoor event. You could even take it one step further by creating a theme. If you've transformed your garden into an outdoor cinema for the night, offer a selection of dishes or cocktails that match the lavender or rosemary-scented air you'll create with the fire.

While Michael shows how they can be used to light a fragrant and inviting fire, you can actually use these dried bunches in other ways.

Tie them together with lovely twine or ribbon, and you can present them to someone as a gift, for example. Or, if so inclined, you might be able to create smudging sticks to light and add some incense to a room.

Further proof that if you take care of your plants, they really are the gift that will keep on giving.

If you're a proud grower of dahlias, you may be a little concerned that they've not yet shown any sign of flowering. However, this garden expert says it's not quite time to start panicking just yet.

There's a reason learning to grow dahlias is such a popular choice for gardeners; they've got mesmerising petal patterns and introduce such bold colours to your garden. These beloved blooms are well worth the wait, but once it hits mid-summer, it's quite common to be a little worried when they're still not showing blousy flowers.

Whether you've grown your dahlias from seed or tubers, here's a bit of expert advice to help you ensure your dahlias continue thriving and provide those long-awaited flowers soon.

While completing your July gardening jobs, you may have noticed your dahlias have yet to flower. Don't feel discouraged just yet; there's plenty of time for them to bloom.

"So here we are in July, and if you planted your dahlias way back in the spring, and you're a bit concerned that nothing's happened yet, why aren't they flowering? Actually, now is when they start to really come into their own," says Tom, Head of Horticulture at Perchhill Farm, @sarahravensgarden on Instagram.

"I grow dahlias in pots because my gardening space is quite tiny and they're brilliant for that. So I've got quite a big pot here; it's about 40cm high by 40cm diameter. And this pot just needs one tuber to get this kind of result," he adds.

Dahlias make exceptional patio container plants, and if you don't want to dig them out, there are ways you can keep dahlias alive in pots over winter.

"This variety is 'Tom's Choice', which is obviously one of my favourites, and it's a brilliant performer for pots. It's naturally well branched, and the secret now is just to keep it well watered and fed about every ten days or so," recommends Tom.

It's important to know which plant foods work for which plants, so you can give them the appropriate nutrients for them to thrive through the seasons.

"And you'll find the blooms will continue now right up until the first frost. So when lots of things have already happened, your dahlias are just starting to give the best show of their life really," he adds.

"So from now, July through August, September, October and into November, you'll have a pot full of blooms," finishes Tom.

Then all you'll need to worry about is overwintering your dahlias once the frost does arrive.

As your dahlias begin to flower, you'll need to master how to prune them for more blooms. This will help extend their flowering period by encouraging them to produce more.

She’s the queen of interior design and style, so it’s worth paying attention when Kelly Hoppen CBE shares her expert opinion on things we should be avoiding.

From warning against making one common cushion mistake to her essential tips for getting a bedroom summer-ready, Kelly condenses her decades of experience into actionable, useful bits of advice to help style our homes.

And now she’s sharing the sort of thing that stands out for all the wrong reasons as soon as she enters a room. That’s right. You could be making a less-than-polished first impression without realising it. Are you committing one of her easily fixable design mistakes, including pushing all your furniture against the wall or sticking rigidly to symmetry?

Posting to her Instagram @kellyhoppen, Kelly starts by explaining, "A few things that I notice when I walk into rooms that I see instantly is furniture that's pushed up against a wall like a dentist's waiting room.

"Move your furniture in. It's okay to walk around chairs and sofas into a room. You don't have to have everything put to one wall."

If you’re not quite sure where to start with this yourself - since so many resort to thinking sofas against the wall is a space-saving tip, especially in smaller living room layouts - consider placing your sofa in the middle of the room and getting a sense for how it works.

Giving furniture breathing space can surprisingly open up even smaller rooms - and you can pull armchairs closer towards a central point to create a layout that feels connected and not cluttered.

To amp up the intentionality behind this (perhaps unconventional) layout, a large area rug will anchor items and create a more purposeful flow.

A more practical reason behind Kelly’s aversion to furniture pushed up against walls is that, in the winter, anything in front of a radiator might stop the flow of warm air. Follow the 30cm furniture rule instead.

Furniture wasn’t all of Kelly’s complaints, though. She argues against displaying photo frames at an angle. Instead, she advocates having them straight and overlapping each other.

Another? Sticking to symmetry when it comes to items on the mantel - like candlesticks. Kelly says, "Candlesticks, either side of a mantelpiece. No, together on one side."

This touches on an age-old debate in design between symmetry and asymmetry.

Symmetry has its place, but too much can give off the sense of a show home or obsessive planning. The occasional bit of asymmetrical styling can create focal points, play with layering and perception and foster a more creative, playful way of transforming a space.

The final tip worth taking note of? "Chairs, straight on, on a worktop in a kitchen. Sometimes better at an angle if you only have two. If you have three, put them in a straight line."

Consider Kelly Hoppen's list of dos and don'ts a masterclass in interior design in record speed. As Kelly herself says at the end of her video, "You’re welcome".

Dahlias are an incredibly rewarding addition to any garden; not only are they vibrant in colour, but their petal pattern is quite a sight to behold. This is why it's so saddening when they stop blooming towards the end of autumn.

If you know how to grow dahlias, you'll know that the journey from tuber to the first bloom is a long yet worthwhile one. And while there's lots of effort needed to keep them alive over winter, before you start bidding them farewell for the cold seasons, there's a way to prolong those mesmerising blooms just a touch longer.

As well as planting late summer flowers, finding ways to keep them around for longer is key. With that in mind, we've consulted with plant experts to find out how you can prune your dahlias to prolong blooming.

How to prune dahlias for more blooms: expert advice

Whether you've grown your dahlias from seed or from tubers, once they've begun blooming, caring for them is the same process. And that includes pruning.

"The most important pruning job for dahlias is deadheading (removing flowers as soon as they've finished rather than allowing them to produce seed)," says Dr Russell Sharp, Founder of Eutrema. |All you need is a clean, sharp pair of bypass secateurs or flower snips (make sure they're sharp because blunt tools can crush the stem)."

Once you've got your essential gardening tools at the ready, the method is similar to pruning roses to maximise blooms.

"Start by identifying a flower that's finished blooming, making sure you don't confuse it with a new bud. Once you've found the right stem, don't just snip the flower head off. Follow the stem down until you reach the first strong pair of leaves or a healthy side shoot, then make a clean cut just above that point," explains Dr Russell. "This encourages the plant to produce new flowering stems instead of wasting energy on seed production."

"Repeat this every few days throughout the flowering season because dahlias produce flowers continuously, and the more regularly you deadhead them, the more energy the plant puts into producing fresh blooms. While you're pruning, remove any damaged, broken or diseased stems as well, as this improves airflow through the plant and helps keep it healthy for the rest of the season," he adds.

Adding this to your regular summer gardening to-do list will really pay off and keep your dahlias looking their best for longer.

How do you cut dahlias so they keep blooming?

Whilst there are plenty of plants you should never prune in summer, dahlias will definitely benefit from it, but only if you do it properly.

"Check your plants every few days and remove blooms as soon as they start to fade, and make sure you can tell the difference between a spent flower and a developing bud," says Dr Russell.

"A faded flower has a pointed, slightly elongated shape, while a new bud is round and firm. Many gardeners accidentally remove unopened buds, which reduces the number of future flowers," he points out.

"Regular deadheading tells the plant to keep producing blooms because it hasn't completed its natural cycle of setting seed, and the more regularly you remove old flowers, the longer the plant will continue flowering through late summer and into autumn," continues Dr Russell.

What month do you cut back dahlias?

Although it's recommended to prune your dahlias during summer, the intense cutting back doesn't need to be done until autumn or winter. And don't make an autumn garden mistake by cutting them back too early.

"It's best after the first hard frost, so usually in October or November, depending on where you live. Frost turns the foliage black and soft, which is the signal that the growing season has finished. At that point, cut the stems back to around 10-15 centimetres above ground level," begins Dr Russell.

"If you're lifting the tubers to store them over winter, leave a short section of stem attached as it makes the tubers easier to handle. Don't be tempted to cut dahlias back heavily in late summer while they're still actively flowering because you'll remove healthy growth that is still producing energy for both flowers and next year's tubers," he adds.

To avoid this summer gardening mistake, just stick to pruning and deadheading, then you can save that huge cut back when the frost naturally ends the season.

If you don't know how to overwinter dahlias, it's a good idea to learn, as this will ensure you can enjoy annual blooms from the flowers as well as stop them from dying in the ground over autumn and winter.

As someone who tests air purifiers for a living, I know a thing or two about air quality. But I've never been more shocked than in the few weeks I've spent living with the new Shark BreatheClear Air Purifier. Simultaneously horrifying and pleasing, it cleaned up all the insidious, hidden pollutants in my air in minutes and taught me how to keep my home healthier.

The original Shark NeverChange Air Purifier set a high bar in the world of best air purifiers. It has one of the friendliest interfaces and most approachable set of features out of the many (many, many) models I've tested over the years. But the Shark BreatheClear with NeverChange6 takes things up a whole new level.

It comes with filters that last up to 6 years without a single change, exceeds HEPA standards, and offers real-time feedback on air quality. I accidentally tanked my air quality rating to 0 (the lowest) and watched the BreatheClear restore it to a refreshing breeze in under 5 minutes. Is it an air quality hero? That might be an understatement.

Shark BreatheClear with NeverChange6 Air Purifier review

Who would the Shark BreatheClear with NeverChange6 Air Purifier suit?

• Large or high-traffic rooms: Coverage of up to 70m² means it isn't a stretch for bigger, busier spaces, and its sensors check air quality 3,600 times an hour to keep pace with high footfall.
• Super-sensitive people: Exceeding HEPA filter standards with multiple stages of filtration, this is built for anyone with allergies, asthma, or a low tolerance for household pollutants.
• Long-term investors: With filters that last up to 6 years and a saving of up to £220 on replacements, this is one for anyone who'd rather pay once and forget about it.

Whether you're battling dust in a big open-plan living room, dealing with allergies that flare at the smallest provocation, or just tired of forking out for filter replacements every few months, the BreatheClear has an answer. It's flexible enough to handle demanding spaces without breaking a sweat, thorough enough for the most sensitive noses, and cost-effective enough to make the upfront price feel like an investment rather than an expense

Unboxing the Shark BreatheClear with NeverChange6 Air Purifier

Shark is the brand to beat when it comes to packaging. Sustainable, efficient, and self-explanatory, the Shark BreatheClear with NeverChange6 Air Purifier is a joy to unbox and I say that as someone who opens products for a living. Every element of the packaging can be dismantled and put into the recycling, except for the stickers, which sit helpfully on the air purifier itself to guide you through setup. It's rare for a box to keep packaging to a minimal and even rarer for all of that to be sustainably disposed of, so the Shark scores 5/5 from the get-go.

An instruction manual is included, and it does contain handy tips and tricks for getting the most out of your model, including where to put your air purifier, but you won't need it for a quick start. The only extra step involves the HEPA filter, which arrives wrapped in plastic to keep it fresh. To remove this, you'll need to take off the base of the Shark. If you want full visibility on how everything goes back together, it's also worth removing the debris defence washable filter at this stage, though sliding it back into place afterwards is a simple process either way.

Once the plastic is off, a sticker on the front will remind you not to skip this step, the Shark is ready to go. And here's how it went.

What is the Shark BreatheClear with NeverChange6 Air Purifier like to use?

As with everything SharkNinja, this air purifier is easy to use. On top of the unit sits a control panel that lets you power the Shark BreatheClear with NeverChange6 on and off, access settings, check your air quality metrics, and scroll through the menu. All of these functions visible from the front of the machine. The response time for the touch screen is instant and the buttons are pressure-sensitive, so a light touch is all it takes to activate any function.

There's real variation in how air purifiers surface their metrics. Most brands push this to an app, which suits the tech-minded but can feel fiddly and unnecessary day to day. A built-in screen with real-time feedback and onboard controls suits my testing style far better and having it front-facing means I can read the room's air quality index (AQI) from any angle, rather than hovering over the unit for an update.

At baseline, my room's air quality reads 96/100 on the Shark's index. I don't want to brag, but I earn that score: four air-purifying plants, a natural air purifier, and a steady cross-breeze are already doing their part. So a 96 was a pleasing starting point and within 4 minutes, the Shark had brought me to a flawless 100. That's an impressive baseline recovery speed before we even get into the stress tests.

But day to day, ahead of the more intensive trials, I loved living with this. The futuristic build doesn't exactly disappear into the background, but it's quiet, efficient, and excellent at keeping the air moving. The motion and light sensors are standout features: the display dims as the sun sets or the room lights go off, and the unit senses movement and ramps up purification in response. It read my day-to-day activity well, and I felt reassured it was actively working rather than just idling. Now, onto the stress tests.

The first (and most horrifying) is my candle test. I love candles; they're in every room of my home, lit for every occasion. I always choose natural waxes and wicks to protect my air quality, and when I blow one out, I typically open a window and run my Dyson Air Purifier to clear the smoke. It complains, but it gets there.

With the Shark running in the background, I watched my air quality plummet to 1/100 as the candle smoked. It wasn't the flame itself that did the damage. While lit, the reading held around 40/100. It was the plume of smoke after blowing it out that caused the score to plummet. I was initially alarmed by how sharp the drop was, but then impressed: within 4 minutes the Shark had already recovered to 80/100, and by 5 minutes 17 seconds, the reading was back to a clean 100. I could still detect a faint trace of fragrance and smoke in the room, but noticeably lighter, and the Shark, by all appearances, was rather pleased with itself.

Next: sprays and aerosols. Alongside candles, I'm heavy on fragrance, and I know from experience that a makeup routine with setting spray sends a fine mist of powders, particles, and volatile compounds into the air. The Shark clocked it too, dropping to 61/100 as I sprayed, brushed, and blended beside it. Recovery was near-instant though and within the minute, it had climbed back to a solid 87/100. As with the candle test, I could still smell the fragrance lingering, but at a fraction of the intensity.

My final test: burnt food, one of the most common real-world triggers for poor indoor air quality. A single piece of burnt toast dropped the reading to 58/1oo a steeper fall than I expected, even knowing the numbers going in. What impressed me more was the recovery: within 2 minutes, the air quality had climbed back to 92/100. That was one piece of toast in one room, but at that recovery speed, I'd trust it to handle a bigger kitchen mishap too.

I've also run it overnight in the bedroom with the windows shut, and the results held up: quiet enough to sleep through, and consistently strong at maintaining a high air quality reading through the night.

Cleaning and maintaining the Shark BreatheClear with NeverChange6 Air Purifier

Air purifiers are generally low maintenance, and the Shark BreatheClear is no exception. The main element that demands any attention at all is the filter, and this is where Shark's design team deserves credit. The Debris Defence system is a fine mesh pre-filter that catches larger particles (pollen, pet hair, dust) before they ever reach the main HEPA filter, protecting its performance and extending its lifespan. It's washable, so a quick rinse whenever it looks visibly clogged is all it needs to keep working at full capacity; just make sure it's fully dry before sliding it back into place.

As for the main filter itself, it's this Debris Defence layer doing the heavy lifting that allows Shark to estimate up to 6 years of use without a filter change. As a newly released product, I haven't had the runway to sense-check that claim myself yet, but watch this space.

Beyond the filter, upkeep is minimal: a soft, dry cloth to wipe down the exterior and display screen is really all you need to keep it looking as good as it performs. If you want a deeper dive into best practice for keeping any air purifier running at its best, we've got a full guide here.

How does the Shark BreatheClear with NeverChange6 Air Purifier compare?

The Shark BreatheClear with NeverChange6 builds on the original NeverChange formula rather than reinventing it, but the upgrades are meaningful. The filter guarantee has stretched from 5 years to 6, pushing the potential saving on replacement filters even further. Sensing has had a real overhaul too: where the original NeverChange relied on Clean Sense IQ to track particulate levels, the BreatheClear scans the air 3,600 times an hour and automatically adjusts power in response to particles, movement, and VOCs, a faster, more proactive approach to purification. Motion and light detection are new additions as well, dimming the display in low light and boosting purification the moment activity is detected, which the original model didn't offer.

One thing that has been dropped: Odor Neutralizer Technology, a feature on the original NeverChange that released a fresh scent to mask household odours. If that's a feature you relied on, it's worth noting it isn't carried over.

If you already own a NeverChange and it's doing its job, this isn't an urgent swap. The core promise of long-life, HEPA-exceeding filtration is present in both. But anyone weighing up the two fresh is better off with the BreatheClear: the faster, more responsive sensing and motion-aware purification make it noticeably better suited to busy, high-traffic homes, and the extra year of filter life sweetens the long-term running costs further still. The exception is anyone who specifically valued the Odor Neutralizer scent-masking, for them, the original NeverChange may still hold appeal until (or unless) Shark reintroduces that feature in a future model.

Should you buy the Shark BreatheClear with NeverChange6 Air Purifier?

There are some big, bold claims that come with this air purifier: 6 years without a filter change, 99.98% particle capture, 3,600 air scans an hour. And I think it actually lives up to them. Across every test, my air quality was restored quickly and kept exceptionally high, which proves those scans are doing real work: the Shark anticipates drops and counters them, delivering some of the quickest, most thorough cleaning I've seen to date. Not everyone needs this level of purification, but if you're air quality conscious, this is a breath of fresh air.

How we test air purifiers

At woman&home we have a rigorous series of tests that each air purifier has to go through to secure itself a spot amongst the best models on offer on our site. We test it on smoke, perfumes, and food smells, as well as assessing how it looks, what it's like to use, and how it compares to other models on the market.

If you want to read more, you can see our page on how we test air purifiers.

With temperatures set to soar across the country again this week, spare a little thought for our animal friends - especially the birds who need extra help during a heatwave.

Birds bring plenty of benefits to a garden. Not only is their birdsong a tranquil and welcome sound, perfect for a relaxing afternoon enjoying the slower pace of life, but attracting more birds is a proven tip for dealing with pests, helping get rid of slugs, snails, aphids, and other insects that can damage your plants.

Fortunately, installing a bird bath to give them a place to cool off and stay hydrated in the heatwave doesn’t need to cost time or money. We've found a clever hack that allows you to set up a makeshift bath using just two repurposed items: a plant pot and a saucer.

Home and lifestyle creator Hanna Bertram shared the 'easiest and quickest' garden project to give yourself as many bird baths as you want. “All you need is an upturned pot and saucer and you’ve got the sweetest bird bath in minutes”, she writes.

Flipping a plant pot upside down and placing a saucer on top (or any low, flat dish that fits) creates the easiest bird bath we’ve ever seen, but it’s absolutely perfect for upcycling any unused pots, saucers or dishes.

What’s even better, if previous heatwaves have killed your lawn this summer or you’ve found you’ve lost a few patches of flowers, this clever trick is actually great to hide any signs of that. Cover up burnt grass as you hold off on watering or empty corners with a simple feature that can bring a plethora of wildlife and birds to your outdoor oasis.

Expert bird bath advice: where to place it and what to be aware of

Per the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), the only thing to keep in mind when creating your upcycled bird bath is choosing the right materials. They explain, "The surface of the bath must be rough so birds can grip it with their claws and not slip – avoid shiny, slippery containers.

"It should also be large enough to hold sufficient water to withstand a vigorous bathing session by a flock of starlings."

Moreover, if you want to attract plenty of birds with this trick, where you place it will be important. The RSPB explain, "Birds will need to have clear visibility as they bathe, nearby bushes or trees to provide cover if alarmed, and perches to use when preening.

"Ensure cats cannot use the cover to attack bathing birds. This can be done by placing a thick layer of clippings from thorny vegetation, such as rose or pyrocantha, beneath the bushes."

With the hot temperatures staying quite consistent and with the ease and simplicity of this bird bath trick, you could simply try moving it around different spots of your garden and seeing which yields the best results.

There are many ways to elevate this very easy tip, too. For example, make it look like a luxurious outdoor feature (and not just a couple of upturned pots) by painting them a unique or complementary colour.

Whatever theme you’ve got going in your garden, you can upcycle the pots to add to this, from soft pinks and blushes to go alongside a cottage garden full of roses to something more distinct.

Another way of taking this a step further is playing with layers. Adding different-sized pots near one another could make this look less random or out of place, and instead create an intentional bit of outdoor staging. The lower bird baths might also prove beneficial to other wildlife, like squirrels.

Wrapping some fairy lights or solar-powered lights around the base could also give you subtle but enchanting light features when it gets darker.

Whether it’s creating simple garden features like this bird bath, turning it into the ultimate outdoor cinema or adding personality to your plants with Sara Davies’s “super easy” trick, it’s easier than you might think to create the garden of your dreams that feels true to your whims and style.

With temperatures set to surpass 30 degrees again this week, watering your garden will probably be the last thing you want to be outside doing. To keep your plants hydrated and you out of the sun, here's a clever automatic watering set-up.

It's all well and good knowing how to water your garden plants properly, but when intense weather arrives, it can make it nearly impossible to keep plants hydrated and happy. With another heatwave on the way, now is the time to prepare your garden with some helpful watering set-ups.

Even though you don't necessarily have to water your garden plants every day in a heatwave, finding ways to keep them hydrated during the droughts is key. Garden design expert and influencer Ish has shared his secret to ensuring his plants are watered, even when he can't get into the garden to do it himself.

Sharing his watering setup on his Instagram @gardening.with.ish, Ish explains how he's been keeping some of his flower beds alive and hydrated despite being too busy to water them by hand.

"I have two flower borders in my garden. One that's absolutely booming full of life and looks fantastic, and this one, a little less so," Ish starts.

"So, what is actually the difference between the two of them? It's actually down to how I'm watering them. This one here is being done manually, and the one over there that's doing fantastic has an automatic irrigation system," he continues.

"And it's nothing difficult whatsoever. In fact, I'm actually setting one up on this one to overcompensate now, and all it is is just this single little bit of piping, and you can see that now and then it's just got little bits here which drip out water," points out Ish.

This is also a great way to keep your garden healthy while on holiday; you'll just need to ensure the irrigation holes are reaching your plants correctly.

"So you do a zigzag amongst the plants to make sure it's right near them, and over time it soaks that soil and keeps the plants nice and happy. So it's really quite simple," Ish explains.

"You can attach this to a hose as well if you don't have a timer; just turn it on and bobs your uncle, you're ready to go," he adds.

"I'm hopefully going to be reviving this bed by starting an irrigation system. We're really busy people these days; it's not something that we can get around to doing, and if you've got a big garden as I have, there's a lot to water," finishes Ish.

And if you're worried about how to water your garden during a hosepipe ban, then you can use rainwater you've harvested in a water butt for your irrigation system.

If you've got patio container plants that need a little more attention, then you can also use the IKEA tray hack Ish recommends. It's great for bottom watering and keeping plants hydrated for a few days without you needing to do anything by hand.

If your home is anything like mine, you will have been inundated with flies, big and small, this summer. And with the heatwave forcing me to keep windows and doors open, the problem is worse than ever.

It's no secret that trying to get rid of flies in your home is a never-ending issue, and one that becomes particularly difficult the second summer starts. Knowing this, I've been making sure my bins smell good and keeping up with my daily cleaning habits to help make them feel as unwelcome as possible. However, despite this, they still find my home all too welcoming, it seems.

So with over a month of heatwave weather, and my reluctance to admit defeat, I was hopeful when I saw several reels on Instagram praising this all-natural coffee-burning technique that is said to help not just flies but mosquitoes too.

Whether you're tired of flies taking over your home or need a way to get rid of mosquitoes in your garden, you'll know how difficult it can be to find an effective solution.

Not only do I want to keep those pesky fruit flies and bluebottles out of my kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, but also away from my outdoor space too. And since you can't put a screen so easily on a balcony, I took to the internet to find a hack.

The thought behind the trick is that burning new or used coffee grounds emits a constant smoke and strong smell that will deter flies. Some users recommend adding essential oils to supercharge the hack as well as making the burning smell more pleasant for yourself.

As someone who has many a beloved online cleaning hack, I was optimistic about this method. I filled a small ceramic bowl with heaps of leftover used coffee grounds; I think it's far too expensive and wasteful to use fresh grounds.

Taking it outside, I used a long gas lighter to start burning the grounds, waiting for them to begin smoking. I tried this for quite a while and found that the grounds didn't continue smoking independently, nor did they actually ignite. Which was both confusing and frustrating.

Now I may not have dried my grounds out long enough; some users recommend putting them in the oven or leaving them for over two days. But in the end it was clear this was a method that was a lot more hassle than it was worth. Did I really want to sit there holding down a lighter to coffee grounds all night, or would I rather light my trusted citronella candles?

Again, this could've been user error, but I followed the methods suggested to no success. Whilst I wouldn't say it's not worth a try, I would suggest perhaps not getting your hopes up. And certainly don't throw away the bug spray just yet.

Should you be particularly struggling with fruit flies this season, there are many harmless ways you can deter them from your home for good.

I'm always asked about steam cleaners. Are they worth the hype? Do you really not need chemicals? And are the cheaper models any good, or are you better off saving for a premium name? Having tested these machines almost non-stop for a year, I've found that when they work, they really do work: a scalding blast of water vapour lifts grease, grime and bacteria like magic. However, plenty of models are heavy, limited to a single function, or carry a price tag that's hard to justify for something that lives in a cupboard most of the year.

The Beldray 15-in-1 Steam Cleaner is a little different. At under £50, it's one of the most affordable steam cleaners we've tested, yet it comes with a generous bundle of accessories that turn it from a simple floor cleaner into a window cleaner, grout scrubber and handheld tool.

"For the price, I genuinely wasn't expecting this much kit in the box," says our tester Liz, who put the Beldray through its paces over several weeks. She looked into the long accessory list as well as the performance, testing to find out whether a budget steam cleaner could really compete with pricier, more elaborate models, or whether the savings come at the cost of steam pressure, build quality or ease of use.

Beldray 15-in-1 Steam Cleaner review

• RRP: £47.99
• Dimensions: 26.5 x 15 x 26.6 cm
• Weight: 2 kg
• Power: 1,350 watts
• Cord length: 5m
• Water tank capacity: 550ml
• Accessories/attachments: floor mop, handheld, garment steamer
• Warranty: 1 year

How we test steam cleaners

Before we get into the details of this Beldray 15-in-1 Steam Cleaner review, here's some backstory behind the person who tested this steam cleaner. She's part of our Tester Network, where readers, like you, review products that we think you'll love. If you want to read more about how we test steam cleaners in our home, we also have a page which does a deep dive on the details.

Who would the Beldray 15-in-1 Steam Cleaner suit?

• First time users who want versatility: with 15 different attachments for various jobs and a low price point, it's an affordable way to test whether this suits you
• Homes with hard floors: especially those with children or pets bringing dirt indoors.
• People who want to tackle awkward cleaning jobs: from grubby grout to windows and upholstery, without buying multiple appliances.

If you've been curious about steam cleaning but can't justify spending well over £100, the Beldray 15-in-1 Steam Cleaner is probably the model you have in your basket. It packs impressive versatility into a surprisingly affordable package, converting from a traditional steam mop into a handheld cleaner, with attachments for everything from windows and mirrors to upholstery and grout. As a result, the Beldray promises a lot of functionality for under £50, making it a sensible choice for anyone who wants one appliance that can tackle a whole house clean.

Our tester, Liz, found that versatility paid off in everyday life. "If you have hard floors, a steam mop is an essential cleaning tool for quickly and effortlessly cleaning and sanitising your floors," she says. "This is especially useful if you have kids and pets leaving muddy footprints." She also loved how the handheld attachments transformed some of the most tedious cleaning jobs: "Being able to easily clean grouting, such as on well-worn floors or in grubby bathrooms or kitchens, is also a godsend, saving you from endless scrubbing." It's this combination of practicality, value and useful accessories that makes the Beldray feel like a good budget buy.

Unboxing the Beldray 15-in-1 Steam Cleaner

Given the Beldray's low price point, we weren't expecting a luxury unboxing experience, but I did want the setup to be straightforward. After all, a steam cleaner should make life easier from the moment it arrives. While the generous collection of attachments immediately hints at its versatility, there are a few frustrations before you can get cleaning.

Liz's first impressions were mixed. "Unfortunately, the box fell apart when I was taking it out of the delivery box it had arrived in. The glue had failed at the side," she says, adding that this was disappointing because many people will want to store the cleaner and its accessories in the original packaging.

Thankfully, assembling the cleaner itself proved much simpler. "The steam cleaner was fairly intuitive to set up," she explains. Her biggest frustration came when fitting the microfibre pad to the mop head. "If you have ever tried to fit a tight fitted sheet onto a mattress, you will know my pain. It pinged across the room more than once." Once she'd realised the protective carpet glider needed removing, the process became clearer, although she still found fitting the cover fiddly and easy to catch her fingers on. Fortunately, these are all one-off setup niggles rather than problems that affect everyday cleaning.

What is the Beldray 15-in-1 Steam Cleaner like to use?

The Beldray 15-in-1 is great on a fundamental level. It's lightweight enough to carry from room to room and the generous five-metre cord gives you plenty of reach before you need to swap sockets. However, its multi-functional design means it's not quite as refined as dedicated steam mops we've tested. The body feels slightly top-heavy and, while most of the attachments click reassuringly into place, we found they don't always stay there. Liz experienced several occasions where sections untwisted or even popped off under the pressure of the steam, which interrupted cleaning more than we'd have liked.

In use, however, the Beldray really won us over. It heats up in around 20 seconds (if not a little quicker) and produces an impressively generous amount of steam for such an affordable model. "The mop pumps out a lot of steam, which is quite satisfying and is especially useful if you have tough areas to clean," says Liz. We were also pleasantly surprised by how well it maintained its cleaning power when converted into the handheld unit with the longer hose attachments, although the steam does tend to arrive in short bursts rather than a constant flow. It's a little noisier than some premium models, but that's largely because you can hear the powerful steam output working hard.

On Liz's well-used cream stone kitchen floor, it quickly lifted everyday dirt and made light work of a weeks-old blob of sticky jam. She noted that it was "also surprising how powerful it is given the long distance from cleaner to mop head the steam must travel when the longer hose attachments are on."

The grout tool was also effective, restoring discoloured floor grout to its original cream colour, showcasing versatility across the attachments. As Liz pointed out, "tackling grout first is definitely the way to go, as the tool blasts out an impressive amount of hidden dirt."

So, if you're going to be using yours for floor cleaning and grout-refreshing, the Beldray is well worth considering, then the extra attachments act as useful bonuses rather than must-have features.

It is worth noting, however, that there are a few other compromises that come with its budget price. Whilst we appreciate the secure fit of the washable cleaning pad, it's much more fiddly than the Velcro alternatives used by many rival steam mops. Liz found that "other steam mops I have owned have had Velcro pads. This means they are quick and easy to remove with one hand mid-way through cleaning if you want to attach a new pad or rinse out the existing one." She also noted that, although the Beldray's cover "may have stayed in place better than other steam mops I've owned, it was fiddly to get on and off."

We were less convinced by some of the specialist attachments: the under-rim toilet cleaner couldn't shift stubborn limescale without extra scrubbing, and while the garment steamer worked well, Liz admitted she would still reach for her iron, as a more traditional and powerful appliance to use on any fabric.

Cleaning the Beldray 15-in-1 Steam Cleaner

One of the advantages of a steam cleaner is that there's very little maintenance once you've finished cleaning, and the Beldray is no exception. We always look for appliances that are easy to keep in good condition, because the less faff involved, the more likely you are to use them regularly. Thankfully, emptying and cleaning the Beldray takes just a few minutes.

Liz found that there was very little to do after each cleaning session. "I simply tipped out the remaining water from the main unit and ran the attachments under the tap to rinse them," she says, whilst the reusable microfibre cover can be popped straight into the washing machine. As with most white cleaning cloths, though, don't expect it to stay pristine forever. Liz also noticed that the elastic began to pull away from the towelling after she'd struggled to fit the cover during setup, although she believes this was caused by her initial attempts rather than normal use.

As with any steam cleaner, ongoing maintenance is just as important as day-to-day cleaning. If you live in a hard water area, like Liz, it's worth running a steam cleaner-compatible descaling solution through the machine around once a month to prevent limescale from affecting its performance. Stay on top of that, and there's very little else to think about, making the Beldray a refreshingly low-maintenance appliance to own.

Should you buy the Beldray 15-in-1 Steam Cleaner?

The Beldray 15-in-1 Steam Cleaner is an ambitious budget appliance that packs an impressive number of attachments into a compact, affordable package. For occasional deep-cleaning jobs, particularly restoring grubby grout, tackling stubborn stains and reaching awkward corners, it delivers results that belie its price tag. It's also compact enough to tuck away in a cupboard without taking up too much valuable storage space.

That said, we think most people will spend far more time cleaning floors than refreshing grout, and it's here that the Beldray doesn't quite match the polish of the best steam mops we've tested. While it cleans effectively, the awkward handling, fiddly design and concerns over durability mean it isn't the effortless cleaning companion we'd hoped for. If your priority is versatility on a tight budget and you don't mind a few compromises, there's still value to be found here. However, if you want a steam cleaner you'll reach for every week, we'd recommend investing a little more in a model that's smoother, sturdier and more enjoyable to use.

Whilst we may have had a little respite from the extreme temperatures this past week, the weather forecast is showing another heatwave imminent. So what better time to prepare yourself and your garden with some much-needed shade?

Finding garden shade ideas that work for your space isn't always the easiest task, and finding ones that don't blow your budget is even more difficult. Unless you've artfully shadescaped your garden, you'll probably have been avoiding being outside during the constant hot weather we've been having.

However, this IKEA hack will not only transform your garden on a budget, but it'll also provide you with enough shade to be able to get outside and actually enjoy your space this summer.

Whether you want to make your garden look more expensive or need more ways to keep cool in your garden this summer, garden design expert and influencer Ish (@gardening.with.ish on Instagram) has just the solution for you.

"I'm going to show you how to create your own luxurious shade screening using something as simple as a cheap IKEA blind," starts Ish.

"It's really easy to do and simple to install as well. So let me explain it: first of all, all I've done is just put the two clips on the top of my pergola. It doesn't have to be on your pergola; it can be on the side of your house, or it can be on a canopy- completely up to you. It's just four screws," he continues.

Whilst there are a few other things you need to do to prep your garden for a heatwave, this hack is so simple it'll take you under an hour to finish.

"You clip it into one side over there, one side over there and all of a sudden, you've got yourself your very own luxurious screening. But how do you stop it flapping all over in the wind?" Ish asks.

"Each one of these kits comes with its own little hook, and all I've done is I've just put one screw at the lowest point of the deck, and I've just attached it. That's it, and as a result of the spring up there and this at the bottom, it's kept nice and tight, and it doesn't move in the wind," he explains.

You can purchase the blinds in various sizes depending on the space you're covering and the overall look you want to achieve. Ish opted for smaller blinds, but more of them, so it's a chicer look, but also so there are gaps for people to move through.

And if you're worried about weatherproofing, the blinds have a one-click release, so great for winter storage. Or even if sudden summer showers are a worry, you can use waterproof tent spray and give the blinds a coating.

If you're trying to keep costs down in the garden, these shades cost as little as £22, so will easily add up to less than £100 to cover your pergola. Which is much cheaper than buying custom shades, plus Ish points out that the blinds double up as a projector screen in the evenings too.

Perfect if you're wanting to style your garden for a watch party!

Taking these sorts of precautions will ensure you don't need to help your garden recover from a heatwave when it's over. It's also a great idea to keep some of your patio container plants under this shade if they're particularly susceptible to high temperatures or scorching.

Now is the time that putting a little extra effort into your tomatoes can really pay off when it comes to harvesting. And if you're growing cordon tomatoes, gardening icon Monty Don has a tip for you.

From how to stop tomato plants from growing too tall to knowing how often you should water your tomato plants, for relatively low-maintenance fruit plants there's quite a lot to know about them. However, once you know the basic there's only a couple of expert tips to keep in mind to get more fruit from them.

If you're growing cordon tomatoes, especially, which are a type of tomato plant that grows vertically on a single main stem, then Monty Don has some new knowledge to share on how to achieve a better harvest.

Whilst you may already know how to prune your tomato plants to get more fruit from them, there's another way to ensure a plentiful harvest for your cordon tomatoes.

Sharing his gardening wisdom on the BBC's Gardeners' World, Monty shows us this simple yet effective task to tick off this season for every week until the end of summer.

"If you grow cordon tomatoes, indoors or out, it's important to keep on pinching out the side-shoots. This is a growth that happens at 45 degrees between the main stem and the leaves," explains Monty.

"If you do this, you focus the plant's energy into developing fruit rather than extra growth. Keep checking plants regularly throughout the season as new shoots quickly appear," he adds.

If you're completing your July gardening jobs this month, make sure to keep checking on your cordon tomato plants for these 45-degree shoots. The quicker you can pinch them out, the less energy is wasted on your plants.

And if your tomato flowers aren't being pollinated and turning into fruit, we recommend trying this viral electric toothbrush hack that will pollinate the plant for you.

Or you can encourage more bees and butterflies to come enjoy your garden with plants for pollinators; that way, they can do the hard work for you, and you get a thriving plant, heavy with fruit.

If you're vegetable gardening for beginners this year, keeping tips and tricks in your back pocket like this can make the whole process much easier and even more successful come harvest time.

As the hot weather continues, there are a few spots around the home that need a little extra attention when it comes to keeping them clean. Drains and plug holes are top of the list.

When the temperatures rise during summer, this list of household items you should clean more regularly gets a little longer. As our homes get hotter, smells get more stubborn, and plugholes are a real hotspot for grime build-up, which emits pretty nasty odours when left uncleaned.

Although cleaning plugholes isn't a necessary daily cleaning habit, thankfully, it is a rather dreaded regular task that usually means strong chemicals and scrubbing.

However, Queen of Clean, Lynsey Crombie, has the perfect, quick, simple and chemical-free solution.

Along with making sure your bins smell good in summer, keeping on top of smelly drains is a top priority when temperatures are consistently high.

Not only is it good for simple hygiene reasons, but it will help you stop having to get rid of tiny black flies in your home, which are attracted to damp, smelly spots.

Sharing her solution on Instagram at @lynsey_queenofclean, Lynsey shows that tackling this task can take as little as 10 seconds.

"Most of the time I reach for bicarbonate of soda, but there’s another quick way to help keep your plug holes fresh…Give them a blast of steam!" says Lynsey.

"The hot steam can help loosen grime and freshen up the inside of the pipe, making it a great little maintenance trick between deep cleans," she adds.

It's well worth investing in one of the best steam cleaners for your home; not only are they fantastic for a chemical-free clean on your plugs and drains, but they're also great for removing limescale from bathroom fixtures.

Whilst this 10-second clean is great for a quick, efficient drain refresh, if you are struggling with particularly stubborn odours, then you may have a blockage or food build-up.

This is where cleaning with baking soda can help, as it breaks down grime whilst also deodorising any lingering smells.

There's a reason experts urge homeowners to clear drains before a heatwave, but it's also key to stay on top of this cleaning as hot weather continues. Again, no one wants to have to keep getting rid of flies all summer and treating nasty smells in the kitchen or bathroom.

Plant growth in the garden is usually something we celebrate; however, when it comes to stubborn weeds and invasive plants, their growth is seriously unwelcome. And bindweed is no exception.

Figuring out how to get rid of weeds in your garden is a pretty universal experience, and one most homeowners absolutely dread doing each season. The task is only made worse when the stubborn plants refuse to stop popping up and not even the best essential gardening tool can remove them in time.

One of these rather unrelenting weeds is bindweed, and whilst it's not too bad to look at, it does take over plots rather quickly. Which is why when we saw garden design expert and influencer Ish had shared his method for removing the weed, we just had to share.

Whether you're participating in the rewilding trend or simply prefer using less chemicals in your garden, finding natural ways to remove weeds is the most beneficial for your plants.

It's also the exact method that Ish recommends for bindweed.

"Bindweed has become this notorious problem in my garden for the last few years, and despite all the tips and tricks that I've been testing and trying, every year it still comes back just as vigorous. But it's being reduced even more every year, and do you know how I'm doing it?" asks Ish.

"It's not any chemicals, not any special bag treatments that we tried in the past, it's good old fashioned digging up and weakening it," he continues.

That's right, no more waiting until winter hoping the frost will kill your weeds, unfortunately a little elbow grease is required for the best results.

"The thing is with bindweed, if you keep pulling it from the ground, you're slowly weakening it. It's not getting the sunlight it needs and the nutrition as a result, it will start to die down and also the other thing you can do is starve it of light even more by planting really dense foliage plants," Ish adds.

"So, for example, this salvia here and the pensman behind me create a nice big filler in the herbaceous border. And as a result, the light isn't getting to the bottom and even though there is still some bindweed that has to be tackled, it's a lot less than it was the last few years," Ish explains.

Similar to companion planting, calling on Mother Nature to help you eradicate a pest, whether it's a weed or an insect, is gardening magic at its finest.

"Another thing to look out for is bindweed when it's flowering because that's actually when it's at its most vulnerable. It's put all the energy right into this flower; it's not really focusing on the growth. So when you really pull that up, you actually stress it out massively, which just slows it down a little more," he continues.

"So, the real trick to getting rid of bindweed is starving it of light and constantly getting on top of it. It feels laborious, and you may have to do it once a week, but it'll be worth it in the end," Ish finishes.

No more need for worrying about when to spray the weed killer or accidentally drenching your favourite late summer flowers in chemicals. Just some gardening gloves and a little effort are all you need.

Knowing what the most common invasive plants look like can save you a real headache when it comes to removing them. Acting fast will stop them from spreading further and mean your favourite flower beds aren't invaded by weeds.

Whilst it can certainly be more work, growing plants from seed has several benefits and is such a rewarding task. So if you're looking to add some dahlia blooms to your plot, why not start from scratch?

If you know how to grow dahlias, you've probably come across the tuber method, which is the more traditional, straightforward way to grow the colourful flowers. However, if you're looking to cut costs in the garden or want to try something new, growing the popular plant from seed is a great idea and much easier than you may think.

To ensure your seeds thrive from sowing to their very last summer blooms, we spoke to gardening experts for their comprehensive guide on growing dahlias from seed.

How can you grow dahlias from seed?

As one of the best cutting garden flowers, dahlias are a really popular choice for homeowners to grow in their gardens. They come in all colours and have a mesmerising petal pattern, which makes them a wonderful addition.

However, it's not often people grow them from seeds, despite the process being surprisingly straightforward.

1. Planting

Whether you've deadheaded your dahlias and collected seeds or bought them from your local garden centre, starting from seed is an easy yet rewarding process.

"Dahlia seeds can be sown in early to mid-spring. Fill a pot or seed tray with moist compost, and gently firm this down. Push the dahlia seeds into the compost, and then cover the plant container with a clear plastic bag or propagator lid. As they are tender, the growing plants should be kept indoors until outside temperatures are above 5°C," says Richard Barker, horticulture expert and Commercial Director at LBS Horticulture.

2. Caring for seedlings

Although it's usually recommended for dahlias to be planted in February, they can be sown later as long as they're kept protected until establishment.

"The seeds should germinate within a few weeks, and once they have grown 'true' leaves, they can be transplanted into individual pots," explains Richard.

"Transplant the seedlings into 10cm pots, and water in well. Around mid-May, plants can be hardened off by leaving them outside during the day and then bringing them in at night. Once all risk of frost has passed, the dahlias can be planted out in their final locations," he continues.

3. Post-planting out maintenance

Whether you're having dahlias as a patio container plant or planting them out into a raised bed, their maintenance doesn't end when they reach full growth.

"Dahlias can be thirsty plants, so containers will need regular watering through the growing season, and plants in the ground will need additional watering in hot, dry weather. They can grow better when given additional feeding, but this will differ depending on planting location," points out Richard.

"For dahlias in the ground, mulching with organic matter is usually sufficient. For container plants, you can provide a liquid fertiliser rich in potassium once every two weeks from July to September. Some dahlia varieties can be top-heavy when they are in full flower, so they may need to be staked with bamboo canes," he continues.

Are dahlias difficult to grow from seed?

If you've always grown your dahlias from tubers and learnt how to overwinter them, you may be apprehensive about starting them from a seed.

"Although it is more popular for dahlias to be grown from tubers, as this enables you to know the colour and the shape the blooms will be and the tubers have an already established, energy-stored root system which should result in bigger plants and earlier blooms in the first year than those grown from seed," explains Lucie Bradley, garden expert at Easy Garden Irrigation.

"If you want to grow lots of dahlias and be cost-conscious, then growing them from seeds is relatively easy, and you can expect a germination rate of between 50 and 80% when you buy seeds from a reputable supplier and sow them within 12 months," she continues.

And if you enjoy collecting seeds from your garden to grow, Lucie recommends collecting from your dahlia plants around autumn. But be warned, you won't necessarily grow the exact same-looking flower as dahlias don't grow true to type.

FAQs

Can you just scatter dahlia seeds?

Should you be looking to transform your garden on a budget and quickly, you might be hoping a simple scattering of seeds will do the trick. However, it's sadly not as easy as that.

"Although you can scatter dahlia seeds, this is very rarely successful, and it may result in patchy gaps in garden borders. They are also susceptible to frost, so it is best to grow them indoors for the best results," says Richard.

"If you do want to plant them outside directly in the ground, you will need to wait until the risk of frost has completely passed and the soil is warm," he adds.

Protecting your plants from frost is particularly crucial when they're first growing, as they're incredibly vulnerable and it won't take much to stress the plant.

Do dahlias flower first year from seed?

If you're looking for some later summer flowers to perk up your garden into autumn, dahlias are a great choice.

"When you sow your dahlia seeds in late winter to early spring (February through to April), you can expect them to produce vibrant, colourful blooms from mid-summer until the first frosts of autumn in their first year," says Lucie.

"Although the plant themselves might be smaller and more compact than if you had started from a tuber, you still get glorious displays and at the same time what you planted as a seeds will have turned into a small cluster of miniature, underground tubers which can be dug up and carefully stored until the following spring when you can replant it, knowing what the blooms will be when they appear and you will get a bigger plant in the second year than the first," she says.

Then, if you want to start your new tubers earlier to avoid premature blooming, you can use a clever sandwich bag trick that will keep them protected whilst helping to start their growth cycle.

If you have chosen to plant dahlias in a pot, you might be wondering if you can keep them in there over winter. Luckily, there is a way, but it takes a lot of extra effort to keep them from freezing and rotting.

As a master perfumer, I'll be honest: most natural cleaning products smell like a compromise. You trade the chemical tang of a "regular" spray for something worthier but blander: a vague herbal note, an apologetic hint of citrus, the smell of good intentions. Then I met a peach that ruined all that. Not a real peach - a scent so precisely sun-ripened, so convincingly orchard-warm, that it made me, a master perfumer who is professionally hard to impress, fall head over heels. And this one didn't ask me to compromise on anything else, either. It's all-natural, made with real essential oils, and packaged in reusable amber glass bottles.

The new Bower Collective Peach Cleaning Collection brings fragrance to the kitchen, holistically. The range itself is small and considered - a Hand Wash, a Washing-Up Liquid and an All Purpose Spray - and it's built around a peach perfume that's braver than it looks. It doesn't shout "germ-free" the way citrus or pine does; it's the essence of summer, sun-warmed fruit, al fresco breakfasts on holiday. Everything comes housed in refillable amber glass, made to be topped up rather than binned.

And the cherry (or should I say peach?) on top is that there's a nice story behind the collection, too. The whole peach theme is a nod to Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach, with Quentin Blake illustrations and all, done with real affection and creativity. But you don't need to know any of that for the scent to do its job. Thirty seconds at the sink can smell like a sun-warmed orchard instead of a hospital corridor, if someone bothers to make it so. And here is a collection of luxury cleaning products finally have.

Bower Collective Peach Cleaning Collection

I love that peach is the hero of this Bower Collective Cleaning Collection, because it breaks from the normal lemon, citrus, or pine trend that's served to us on supermarket shelves. Unlike many other fruity fragrances, this fragrance is realistic far more considered than you'd expect from a bottle that's going to live by the sink. At first smell, you'll note peach and apricot sitting up top, doing the obvious, appetising work, but there's lemon threaded through to stop it tipping into sweet, artificial territory. Underneath, rose and lily of the valley soften the fruit into something more grown-up, and by the time you reach the base (cedarwood, something green and woody) you're a long way from the "fruity" cleaning products of my childhood, which usually smelled of little beyond sugar and bleach.

It's a proper top-heart-base build, and what makes it more impressive still is that none of it is smoke and mirrors: every note comes from real essential oils, which are far fussier and less forgiving to work with than the synthetic aromachemicals most fragrances lean on. That's usually the trade-off with natural ranges - the scent goes thin or safe so the ingredients list can stay clean. Here, both hold, which is exactly what I'd expect from a scent that wants to be taken seriously, not just tolerated for the ninety seconds it takes to do the washing-up.

In a world of plastic, I am delighted that even the packaging refuses to compromise. Each comes in Bower's refillable amber glass, with a microfibre cloth and tea towel thrown into the starter kit that will have you cleaning like a professional. Then, when you need a top up, one of the pouches can be delivered through the letterbox and neatly poured into your bottle - no compromise, no waste, no ugly bottle graveyard under the sink.

Aside from the fragrance charm, which I have a lot to say about, I love the nostalgic charm of the Roald Dahl connection, which is clearly personal rather than a box-ticking exercise. Bower's co-founder Nick Torday traces his own love of Dahl's stories back to childhood, recalling that his passion for the stories "goes back as far as his visit to my parents' bookshop" when he was a baby, and calling the partnership "a genuine delight" to bring to life.

Alice O'Brien, who handles commercial partnerships for the Roald Dahl Story Company, makes a similar point from the other side, explaining that the range "looks after the home as thoughtfully as James and his wonderful bug friends care for their extraordinary peach," a nice echo of the book itself, given the story is essentially about looking after something fragile, precious and natural.

I'm all for trying the natural ways to clean. Citric acid works wonders around the home and cleaning with vinegar is also really impressive, but when you can get the same results with the scent of sun-ripened peaches, it's really not a debate over which anyone would choose.

And, with all three cleaning products boasting the same scent, you get a cohesive fragrance when you're cleaning. Your hands will smell the same when you come from the sink, rather than a blend of coconut hand wash, lemon surface spray, and a mysterious washing up liquid. It's refreshing, fruity, and a new method to live by. If you're curious, the full Kitchen Starter Kit (hand wash, washing-up liquid, spray, bottles and all) is available at Bower Collective right now.

Fig trees are incredibly popular amongst gardeners for many reasons, bearing delicious fruit and providing a beautiful canopy of luscious green leaves for summer shade, to name a few. However, many are unaware that the sap of this seemingly innocent edible plant is a skin irritant that can cause burns.

After finding out the hard way, garden influencer Phil, better known as @theguysatgreenacre on Instagram, shared a post earlier this month to warn others to prune their fig trees with caution this season – because early summer is an ideal time to prune.

"Not a lot of people know this, but the sap from a fig tree can be highly toxic," he says. "Hopefully what I'm about to tell you will save you from the same pain I went through."

When fig trees are cut, they produce a creamy sap – it's this that causes the problem.

"Did you know the milky white sap from fig trees can cause painful skin irritation and even blistering if it gets on your skin and is then exposed to sunlight?" he asks in his video (above), in which you can clearly see the burns he sustained while cutting back his beloved fig tree.

After researching the effects, he explains: "It’s called phytophotodermatitis, or a phototoxic reaction." While the prospect of burns is a little scary, Phil is sharing this video more as a warning to take extra care when pruning your fig tree. It's not about avoiding the job altogether; it's about taking precautions to keep your skin safe from the sap.

As the RHS website advises, "when pruning figs, bear in mind that the sap is an irritant, so wear gloves, and start pruning from the base and work upwards, to avoid any drips."

Phil also offers the following tips to stay safe:

Tips for dealing with fig tree sap safely

• "Wear gloves and long sleeves when pruning or handling your fig tree.
• "If sap gets on your skin, wash it off immediately with soap and plenty of cold water."
• "Keep the affected area out of direct sunlight for at least 24–48 hours if possible."
• "If your skin becomes sore, itchy or inflamed, a pharmacist may recommend a hydrocortisone cream to help calm the reaction. If you develop severe blistering or the reaction is widespread, seek medical advice."

I only discovered this last year while cutting back branches on my neighbour's tree, when a tree surgeon told me that one of his team had suffered burns after prolonged exposure to the sap when removing a fig tree.

Luckily, I only had a small amount of sticky sap on my finger, which didn't cause a burn, but it was almost impossible to wipe off. It didn't burn, but it was uncomfortable and itchy. No amount of soap or washing-up liquid was proving successful in removing it.

In the end, the only thing that eradicated all trace of the residue for me was surgical spirit, which only goes to highlight the strength of the substance.

Who knew such a delicious and popular fruit could be so hazardous? Hopefully, now that the word is out, with the post having been shared over 8 thousand times already, others can avoid the same fate as poor Phil: "Trust me, it’s not something you want to experience."

I didn't set out to replace my whole cookware collection. In fact, I'm pretty proud of my extensive, expensive stainless steel pans. However, in my home, cupboard space is limited and I am always cooking, so it suits me to have a "favourite pan" that I use for almost every meal, only dusting off the others when I have the spare time and space in the dishwasher.

Up until recently, my go-to was a simple Le Creuset milk pan that I couldn't bear to part with after testing the best induction pans two years ago. But the promises of Lakeland's new 10-in-1 Only Pan Pro were simply too compelling to ignore.

With a whopping 25-year guarantee, a naturally non-stick ceramic coating and a robust tri-ply stainless steel build, it gets off to a great start. Then you see it simmering curries, boiling pasta, searing vegetables and even baking in the oven, and you realise this isn't just another pan, it's a rethink of what one-pan cooking can be. Le Creuset, eat your heart out.

Lakeland Only Pan Pro: why it's our experts' perfect pan

As a foodie and keen cook, I try not to take work home with me. However, every so often I test a pan that's too good to leave behind. I call it "intensive, long-term testing", but really, I just want to keep cooking with it after work. The Lakeland Only Pan Pro is only the second pan that's ever happened with; the first was a Le Creuset.

That's how I know this pan really reinvents one-pan cooking. For years, cast iron casserole dishes (or Dutch ovens) have been the benchmark for versatility. I still love them, but they're undeniably heavy, awkward to wash and not something I reach for on an ordinary Tuesday evening. The Lakeland Pan delivers much of the same versatility in a pan that's lighter, dishwasher-safe and far easier to live with day to day.

Instead of asking you to adapt your cooking around one heavy pot, it adapts to the way modern kitchens work. Whether I'm throwing together a quick weeknight casserole or curry, steaming vegetables, boiling pasta or finishing a bake in the oven, I won't find myself reaching for any other pan. There are plenty of clever details that I really love, but here are three of my favourites:

• A naturally non-stick ceramic coating: many non-stick pans rely on chemical coatings, but Lakeland uses a naturally non-stick ceramic surface that's PFAS-free. It's also impressively durable, so I haven't needed to worry about using metal utensils or cooking at higher temperatures.
• True versatility: the "10-in-1" label isn't just marketing. With the included steamer basket and turner, this pan can roast, bake, steam, simmer, boil, sauté, stir-fry, braise, pan-fry and grill. Crucially, it works on every hob, including induction, before moving straight into the oven, which means fewer pans to wash and less clutter on the hob.
• A 25-year guarantee: this timeframe inspires confidence that I'd normally associate with heritage cookware brands. It's rare to see that level of backing on a pan designed to become your everyday workhorse, and it reinforces the feeling that this is an investment piece rather than something you'll be replacing in a couple of years.

Who would the Lakeland Only Pan Pro suit?

• Busy cooks who want versatility: most home cooks prioritise convenience and variety in their pans. You want yours to
• Homes short on cupboard space: this pan doesn't compromise on what you can create and will cover the functions of almost a full pan set, leaving space in your cupboard for other luxuries
• Non-toxic, natural kitchens that want to stay chemical free: another place you don't have to compromise is with the build quality. This is robust and made with premium stainless steel and aluminium, but the non-stick is ceramic, sitting firmly in the non-toxic camp
• Chefs seeking a lighter, low maintenance alternative to cast iron: this shares many functions of cast iron and can be moved in and out of the oven and various hob types, but with the added bonus of a lightweight, scratch-resistant design

The reason we're shouting so loudly about Lakeland Only Pan Pro is because it's a secret we don't want to gatekeep. Designed for busy lives and small spaces, is a really simple solution for cooking dinner after work, trying to avoid a sink full of washing up, and for homes that simply don't have the space (or desire) for a cupboard full of specialist pans.

I particularly love the idea of this for anyone who has downsized their kitchen, moved into a smaller home, or is trying to be more intentional about what they own. Good cookware should earn its place, and a pan that can replace several others is a smart way to simplify and save space in your kitchen without compromising on what you can create.

The addition of the stainless-steel steamer basket, domed lid and silicone turner means you can get straight into using all ten functions without having to buy extra accessories. It's a small detail, but one that makes this a properly complete cooking system rather than just another pan.

What is the Lakeland 10-in-1 Tri-Ply Only Pan Pro made of?

One thing that immediately sets the Only Pan Pro apart is its tri-ply stainless-steel construction. As someone who tests cookware regularly, including stainless steel pans, this is the kind of detail I look for because it makes a genuine difference to how a pan performs. The aluminium core sandwiched between stainless steel helps distribute heat evenly, which means fewer hot spots and more consistent cooking.

This is where the pan is a step up from many affordable multi-purpose pans. It isn't trying to do lots of jobs and coming up short by compromising somewhere, it has the build quality and accessories to do them well across the board. The PFAS-free ceramic non-stick coating also makes it more approachable for everyday cooking and sits it firmly in the non-toxic kitchen essentials category, especially when you want easy food release and a quicker clean-up afterwards.

Whether you're making a quick stir fry, simmering a curry, steaming vegetables or finishing a dish in the oven, having one pan that can adapt means fewer decisions, fewer dishes and more enjoyment in cooking. At £84.99, it also sits in that sweet spot where it feels like a proper investment, without reaching the prices of some premium cookware brands. For anyone who loves cooking but doesn't love clutter, this Lakeland Only Pan Pro is a pan that understands the assignment.

Who doesn't love a good before-and-after room transformation? Especially one where a simple furniture solution elevates the space to the point where it looks almost unrecognisable – like this living room makeover, for example.

Where a standalone TV unit once stood, feeling overloaded and cluttered, an elegant, built-in piece of furniture now resides, instantly elevating the space to feel more considered and organised.

While the bespoke media unit is highly practical, it is also incredibly chic, making the room feel as if an interior designer has played a key role in furnishing the space. It certainly makes a strong case for investing in built-in solutions to maximise storage in any room where space is premium.

“When it comes to creating a beautiful, organised home, finding furniture that fits your exact space and lifestyle can be a challenge," says Tonie Pepperstreet, senior designer at Bespoke Carpentry London, who talks us through the project and its inspiration.

"For Rebecca, our client, the solution lay in a clever, custom-built media wall designed to blend seamlessly into her living room while elegantly housing a 55-inch television."

After all, the TV is one item that most households couldn't live without, but they are a rather unattractive addition to any living room. Therefore, incorporating it into a furniture framework that provides shelving for curating and displaying other items and accessories makes it feel less intrusive.

Before & After: media wall living room transformation

Engineered from premium, durable MDF, the lower cabinets feature a Shaker-style door design that will prove timeless. The floor-to-ceiling cabinetry was built to maximise impact. "Built to a total height of 244 cm, the unit spans from floor to ceiling to deliver a true, high-end built-in look," Tonie recalls.

"The entire 220 cm wide frame sits perfectly flush against the left recessed wall, anchoring the room’s layout."

To capitalise on storage opportunities, the unit features cabinetry below the TV to cleverly hide away all the unsightly cables and extras. "Extra-deep lower cabinets provide a massive footprint to easily conceal bulky media consoles, router hardware, and deeper storage," Tonie explains.

"Pushing the top shelving back to a 28 cm depth ensures books, frames, and decorative objects sit forward, remaining visible and easy to reach."

Let's also talk about how the striking choice of the deep teal colour makes the media unit feel more expensive. Matching it to the wall behind also allows the piece to blend in more seamlessly, a great way to use paint to make a room look bigger.

"At Bespoke Carpentry London, our clients can choose any paint colour for their build, provided it uses a durable Satinwood or Eggshell finish," Tonie explains. "Rebecca opted to use leftover paint from her room renovation to match her walls exactly."

"The unit was beautifully hand-painted in "The Drink" by COAT Paints, a rich, deep marine teal that allows the cabinetry to dramatically recede into the wall, making the 55-inch screen blend seamlessly into the background when turned off."

"Achieving a high-end finish that fits precisely into your home means building on-site – no matter how wonky your walls, ceilings, or floors might be," says Tonie. "The carpentry construction and hand-painting took place in Rebecca’s home over five days."

The total project cost was £3,979.80. And while that feels like a high budget, it's an investment for the long-term use and potential for the space. A piece of bespoke carpentry will prove timeless and is often the only real solution to solve storage issues in rooms where the walls are wonky, or the space is awkward.

As the hot weather continues and hosepipe bans come into place, it's getting harder and harder to keep our plants happy and hydrated. Luckily, all is not lost, and if you're off on your holidays, this watering trick will prove particularly helpful.

Knowing how to water your garden plants properly is a key element to caring for any outdoor space; however, when the weather is hot and dry, it can feel like no matter what you do, your plot suffers. And although your plants don't need to be watered every day during a heatwave, it is hard to keep on top of watering your pots enough to keep them alive.

With that in mind, we were thankful to find this genius trick from garden design expert and influencer Ish at @gardening.with.ish on Instagram. And the best part? It only costs £2.50.

Figuring out how to look after your garden whilst you're on holiday can be a real challenge, especially when temperatures are consistently high. Finding ways for your plants to look after themselves is well worth it.

"If your potted plants are struggling to beat the heat, then you may need to find a clever way to keep them watered, but a little bit more low-maintenance," starts Ish.

"Well, I have a solution for you, and it involves a £2.50 shoe tray from IKEA, known as the BAGGMUKK. Now, I used this last year, and it was an absolute saviour, and all I do is just put my plants on this tray. It's great as well if you're away for a few days and you can't keep them watered, cos let's face it, potted plants are drying out so quickly at the moment," he continues.

As much as we love patio container plants, they do tend to dry out quicker than other plants in the garden, so giving them this extra attention is needed.

Using Ish's potted plant IKEA watering hack

"Then all I do is just fill it up with water at the top. Now there are a few benefits from this. First of all, it'll slowly water your plants from underneath by soaking it up in the soil, which means it's not going to dry out," explains Ish.

This trick is also ideal if you're worried about keeping your houseplants alive whilst you're on holiday too.

"But another little hint that you may not know is that if you water your plants from underneath and not directly on top, it does directly reduce the amount of weed growth as well. So a little bit of a double bonus here," he adds.

"It means that now these will stay hydrated for a few days, as opposed to once every few days I'm worried about them drying out and I can leave them, let them grow," Ish finishes.

Now, when you're completing your July gardening jobs and planting out your potted plants, they'll be in great shape instead of dried or withered up.

A great way to keep your garden watered without much effort from yourself is through rainscaping. That way, your space is designed to water itself and also collect rainwater for when hosepipe bans come in.

When it comes to kitchen gadgets, the most useful ones are often the ones that you hardly notice, because they sit so seamlessly into your routine. A hand blender might not be the most exciting purchase, but a good one can be like having a sous chef to make silky soups and homemade sauces whilst also handling quick chopping and mashing from one handle.

Not all hand blenders are made equal, so finding the best hand blender is about more than just looking at the power; it needs to be comfortable to use, versatile enough to tackle different jobs and reliable enough to reach for time and time again. The Morphy Richards Hand Blender aims to tick all three boxes, combining a stainless steel blending attachment with a chopping bowl, potato masher and balloon whisk to create an all-in-one appliance designed to replace several single-purpose tools.

We wanted to put paper claims to the proper test in our kitchens, so asked Sarah, a passionate home cook and baker who spends hours experimenting in the kitchen, to put it through its paces. As someone who has tested plenty of gadgets over the years (and knows exactly when something deserves permanent cupboard space) Sarah was impressed by its versatility, although she found some attachments more successful than others.

How we test hand blenders

Unboxing the Morphy Richards Hand Blender Set

The Morphy Richards Hand Blender makes a good first impression straight out of the box. Each attachment is individually wrapped and clearly labelled, making it easy to identify the different components before you start cooking. The setup process is simple too, with a straightforward instruction manual that gets you up and running quickly, which exactly what you want from an appliance designed around convenience.

Sarah was particularly impressed by the solid feel of the main attachments. "The hand blender and chopping bowl felt sturdy straight away," she says. The whisk attachment, however, didn't inspire quite the same confidence, feeling noticeably lighter and less robust in comparison. This is something worth bearing in mind if you're planning to use the appliance regularly for baking, where a more powerful and durable whisk can make a difference.

One of the biggest positives for Sarah was the lightweight design. Having spent years cooking and testing kitchen gadgets, she knows that comfort matters just as much as performance, especially when you're holding an appliance for longer periods. "The appliance feels pleasantly light to use, which was a bonus for me as I have arthritis in my thumbs and wrists," she explains.

For anyone who struggles with heavier kitchen appliances, this is a real advantage. The Morphy Richards Hand Blender is definitely designed for everyday use, with a comfortable grip and manageable weight that makes blending, chopping and mashing feel far less of a chore. It may not have the most premium feel across every attachment, but the thoughtful design means it should suit cooks who want a practical, easy-to-handle appliance rather than another bulky gadget taking up space in the kitchen.

What's the Morphy Richards Hand Blender Set like to use?

The Morphy Richards Hand Blender is at its best when tackling everyday cooking jobs. The stainless steel hand blender delivers smooth results, whether you're blending soups, sauces or vegetables, while the chopping bowl takes the hard work out of prep. The potato masher is another welcome addition, which isn't a guarantee with all hand blender sets. It made light work of fluffy mash without the elbow grease. Sarah found that it's only the balloon whisk that feels less convincing, lacking the power and stability needed for more demanding baking tasks.

The hand blender quickly became Sarah's favourite attachment. "It was the star of the show," she says. "It transformed my frozen home-grown tomatoes into a beautifully velvety sauce that honestly looked and tasted restaurant-quality." She's used it for pasta and pizzas alike and thinks even an Italian would give it a thumbs up.

The chopping bowl also proved itself in day-to-day cooking. Sarah, who cooks from scratch most days, noted that when making salsa, she "really appreciated how quickly and efficiently the chopping bowl tackled onions, garlic and chilli," she says. "It feels like a labour-saving gadget." The potato masher is equally successful, producing smooth, creamy mash in seconds. "The potato masher worked brilliantly," Sarah says. "Proper comfort-food mash with hardly any effort at all."

The only attachment that didn't quite live up to the others was the balloon whisk. While Sarah found it whipped cream effectively, it struggled with the demands of making meringue. "The balloon whisk was unfortunately the weak point for me," she says. "I actually ended up decorating both myself and the kitchen with egg whites after letting go of the beaker for a split second." She added that it "worked beautifully for cream", but felt she needed something "sturdier and more powerful" for whisking egg whites. It's perfectly capable, but keen bakers who regularly make meringues, macarons or large batches of cake batter will probably still want a dedicated electric hand mixer.

Who would the Morphy Richards Hand Blender Set suit?

• Students and first-time renters: one appliance covers blending, mashing and whisking, without taking up valuable cupboard space.
• Small households: ideal if you're cooking for one or two people and don't need a collection of specialist gadgets.
• Minimalists: the interchangeable attachments mean you can replace several single-purpose appliances with one compact tool.
• Budget-conscious cooks: buying one versatile appliance is often better value than investing in separate gadgets.

The Morphy Richards Hand Blender is best suited to cooks who value versatility over specialist performance. If your kitchen cupboards are already overflowing, or you're furnishing a first home, it will help to streamline your collection without leaving you feeling short-changed. Rather than reaching for three different gadgets, you can blend soups, mash potatoes and whisk cream with the same motor unit.

That's exactly what stood out to our tester, Sarah. "I absolutely loved the multi-purpose nature of the appliance," she says. "For someone living alone, in a smaller home, or simply trying not to overcrowd the kitchen with gadgets, this makes a lot of sense." Given that Sarah spends much of her time cooking from scratch and has tested plenty of kitchen gadgets over the years, it's a recommendation I'd take seriously. If an appliance earns a permanent place in her cupboards, it's probably earned one in yours too.

Who might want something different?

Sarah feels keen bakers or those regularly making meringues may still prefer a standalone mixer with a more substantial whisk attachment. She also pointed out that buyers prioritising sleek aesthetics over practicality may not fall in love with the design.

“This is very much a practical, hardworking kitchen tool rather than a stylish showpiece for the worktop,” she said. “But personally, I care much more about functionality than appearances.”

Is the Morphy Richards Hand Blender Set good value?

The Morphy Richards Hand Blender's biggest selling point is its versatility. Sarah notes that this is "a brilliant budget buy," she says. "When you consider that it blends, chops and mashes this well, it really does cover a lot of kitchen jobs in one appliance." Given how much time Sarah spends cooking from scratch, it's a strong endorsement that she sees this as a gadget worth making space for.

That said, this isn't an appliance designed to replace every kitchen gadget. Keen bakers who regularly make meringues, macarons or large batches of whisked recipes may still prefer a dedicated mixer with a more powerful attachment. The design is also focused firmly on practicality rather than aesthetics. "This is very much a practical, hardworking kitchen tool rather than a stylish showpiece for the worktop," Sarah says. "But personally, I care much more about functionality than appearances."

Should you buy the Morphy Richards Hand Blender Set?

The Morphy Richards Hand Blender isn't without its limitations, but Sarah found it to be a useful and capable appliance for everyday cooking. Its strongest attachments, particularly the hand blender, chopping bowl and masher, make it a versatile addition to the kitchen, while the weaker whisk attachment feels like a small compromise rather than a dealbreaker.

For anyone looking for one appliance that can handle a range of everyday tasks without taking up too much space, this is a smart choice. It may not replace a dedicated mixer for keen bakers, but its combination of practicality, performance and affordability makes it a reliable kitchen helper. As Sarah concludes: "It’s not perfect, but when several of the attachments perform this well, it absolutely deserves serious consideration as an everyday kitchen helper."

Of the over 200 coffee machines that I've tested in this job, there's one that I've never quite got over: the De'Longhi Rivelia. It brews exceptional coffee, looks like it belongs in a Milanese kitchen and has become the benchmark by which every other bean-to-cup machine must be measured. However, in my small flat, where every inch of worktop is precious, the Rivelia is simply too big to earn a permanent place, no matter how much I adore it.

With that in mind, you can imagine what my caffeinated heart did when I heard De'Longhi was launching the Rivelia Start. Smaller, more affordable, and designed with compact kitchens in mind, it keeps everything I love about the original: beautiful Italian styling, the clever Bean Switch system for swapping between different beans, barista-worthy hot and cold drinks, and even cold brew in under five minutes.

Whilst I haven't managed to get my coffee cup under the Rivelia Start, my experience with the devastatingly chic collection De'Longhi models gives me a huge amount of hope that this will be one of the best coffee machines of all time, especially if it brews with the same beauty and barista-skills as its bigger sibling, this is finally be the bean-to-cup coffee machine I've been waiting for.

De'Longhi Rivelia Start

The original De'Longhi Rivelia is one of the most impressive bean-to-cup machines I've tested, so the question I had when I heard about the Rivelia Start wasn't whether De'Longhi could make a great coffee machine, it was whether they could make one that fitted more easily into everyday homes.

From the first look, it seems like the brand has focused on keeping the style, whilst slimming it down. The Rivelia Start has all the sleek Italian styling that made the original such a standout on the worktop, but with a more compact design that's better suited to smaller kitchens.

The feature I was most excited to see return: Bean Switch

One of my favourite things about the original Rivelia was the Bean Switch system. Unlike many bean-to-cup machines, which require you to empty out the hopper if you want to change coffee, the interchangeable bean hoppers let you switch between different beans with minimal fuss.

As someone who loves exploring different roasts (but also needs a decaf option later in the day), this is a feature that I look for in every coffee machine that I test, but rarely find. Recently, Ninja featured it on their first bean-to-cup machine and it has been a hit.

The feature I wouldn't give up ever: Cold Brew

If you've ever heard me speak about coffee, you'll know how evangelical I am about cold brew. This is a method of making coffee that uses pressure at a lower temperature, which gives a much smoother and sweeter flavour than hotter, classic brewing styles. This means you won't get acid reflux and you can cut back on the sweetener in your coffee.

More machines are integrating this popular function, but De'Longhi make it better than Sage, Ninja, and the other giants. According to the site, the Rivelia Start uses De'Longhi's technology to create a smooth cold brew in under five minutes.

So, next time you want to make an iced coffee, this has you covered nicely.

The features that make this stand out: versatility and maintenance

The modern, sleek aesthetic is one of the Rivelia Start's biggest selling points. De'Longhi has always understood that a coffee machine is no longer something to hide away in a corner of the kitchen, and the Rivelia Start feels designed to be displayed. With its curved silhouette and carefully considered colourways, it looks just as much like a piece of Italian kitchen design as it does a home barista.

But the beauty isn't just skin deep. One of the things I have always appreciated about De'Longhi's machines is how much thought goes into making them easy to live with. The Rivelia Start takes care of much of the everyday maintenance itself, with automatic rinsing, flushing and cleaning cycles that happen behind the scenes. It heats up quickly, keeps you updated on what it needs, and guides you through the more involved cleaning tasks when they do arise.

As Joe Hunter, Head of Marketing at De’Longhi UK, explains: “With Rivelia Start, we are welcoming a new generation of design-conscious coffee lovers into the automatic bean-to-cup world. By combining a versatile hot and cold menu and our Bean Switch System, we’ve made one-touch bean-to-cup coffee effortlessly simple.”

How is it different to the De'Longhi Rivelia?

The Rivelia Start isn't a complete reinvention of De'Longhi's much-loved bean-to-cup machine; instead, it takes the features that made the original such a standout and makes them more accessible. Both machines offer the same 1.4-litre water capacity, automatic brewing and the clever Bean Switch system, allowing coffee lovers to move between different beans without emptying the hopper.

The biggest change is the footprint. The original Rivelia measures 24.5cm wide and 43cm deep, making it relatively compact compared to many bean-to-cup machines, but the Rivelia Start has been designed for even more space-conscious kitchens. It also comes with a slightly lower price point, making De'Longhi's premium coffee experience easier to bring home.

The original Rivelia does have a higher stated pump pressure at 19 bar compared to the Rivelia Start's 15 bar, but this is only one part of espresso extraction. The quality of the grinder, temperature control and brewing technology all play a role in the final cup.

It looks like my search for a coffee machine that won't take over my kitchen counter may finally be over. The Rivelia Start feels like a delicious dream come true: the style, versatility and coffee quality I loved from the original, now with a smaller footprint and the added treat of cold coffee on demand. All that's left is to put it through my full testing process - preferably with a fresh espresso in hand.

While we are starting to see many celebrities turn to a life of gardening and growing their own veggies, Pamela Anderson's plot might just be the most impressive and whimsical one we've seen yet, with one surprising feature dominating the space. Raised beds.

Whether you're vegetable gardening as a beginner or looking to transform your garden on a budget, a great way to elevate your space and make room for edible plants is raised beds. If you're limited by small garden ideas, then you might have accepted that raised beds aren't possible, but they're actually great space savers and allow you to plant more varieties in one space.

If you're not quite sold, take a look at Pamela Anderson's abundant garden, with a surprising amount of raised beds all overflowing with flowers, herbs and vegetables.

Raised beds aren't just an aesthetic cottage garden idea; they're extremely practical too, even if you don't think you've got the space in your garden. And after spotting Pamela's collection, we're ready to start adding them to our plots.

We were already majorly inspired by the model's take on the farmhouse trend last year when she shared her converted barn and all its charming traditional interiors. But that, simply, didn't prepare us for just how impressive her vegetable garden is.

Through her garden, there are raised beds as far as the eye can see, but what's really caught our eye is the variety of the plants being grown. From squashes to tomatoes, lavender to sunflowers, the beds are overflowing and even connected with steel arches.

These arches and maypole supports dotted around her garden are fantastic ways to support your plants as they grow. Especially if you've got heavy crops like courgettes, squashes, tomatoes and fruit trees.

The great thing about raised beds is that you can build them up too, almost like a mound in the centre, which allows for even more plants and growth. They're also ideal if you're looking to start succession planting, as they can be made deep enough to accommodate numerous seeds and bulbs.

As you can see in Pamela's garden, onions can easily grow alongside flowers and other veggies. Again, this is a great opportunity for some companion planting, which helps keep pests away whilst also encouraging more growth from your plants.

So even if you don't have the space that Pamela has, you can make raised beds work for your garden and customise them completely from start to finish.

Growing your own vegetables is a fantastic sustainable gardening idea and can be a huge help to your local environment as it invites pollinators and encourages native plant growth.

Everyone knows the feeling of planning a glorious daytime picnic or looking forward to a quiet glass of wine outdoors in the evening only for it to be ruined by irritating wasps, flies and other pests.

Fortunately, there is a clever trick for keeping wasps away that TV personality and interior designer Ian Thompson swears by after having picked it up in Portofino and noticing that there wasn’t a single fly or mosquito around when dining al fresco.

The trick is as simple as lighting a small fire out of newspaper or anything that would work and adding ground coffee beans to the flames. The coffee-scented smoke acts as a deterrent to the critters, and you have the added benefit of coffee-scented incense.

No more insects: shop the essentials

Posting to his social media on Instagram @ianthompsoninteriors, where he often shares top tips and tricks, Ian explained, “Get a bowl, light some newspaper and then put ground coffee that you've used and you've got cold and look at the smoke”.

Ian explains that you can utilise coffee grounds you’ve already used, or you could keep a bag of cheaper coffee around just for this.

He continued, “Now you're not going to believe this. The smoke, not only does it smell delicious, it chases every fly, every wasp. It works. There are no mosquitoes, there are no flies, there are no wasps."

Adding: “It smells delicious and that's just the hint that'll get you through the summer this year.”

After Ian shared his top tip, a flurry of social media followers took to his comments section to agree that it had worked for them in the past, or noted that it is a well-known, reliable trick from the likes of Greece and other warm-climate locations.

One user wrote, “I save my used coffee grounds and do this in smaller pots. Add a little alcohol or citronella oil to it and voila.”

Another added, “I learned this years ago in Greece where they actually just made a tiny pyramid of ground coffee and lit it up. It has through the years been the only thing that works against [wasp emoji]”.

So, it would seem that it’s a trick worth trying out – and thanks to its simplicity and affordability, you’ll no doubt want to make the most of the good weather.

Whether you decide to plan a garden party or have friends around to use your latest picnic accessories and outdoor furniture, you can rest assured that the only guests buzzing around will be the ones invited.

Never leave anything burning unattended.

With the extreme weather we've been experiencing this past month, it's no surprise our lawns are finally admitting defeat and crisping up. But if your grass is burnt, brown and crunchy, don't start watering it just yet.

Although the warm weather is usually very welcome during summer, sometimes too much of a good thing can really take its toll on your lawn. And even when you've been watering your lawn at the right time of day, record-high temperatures along with hosepipe bans make dying grass an inevitability.

But before you run for your hosepipe or drain your harvested rainwater, gardening icon Monty Don says to stop and hold off on watering.

Sharing his garden on Instagram @themontydon, Monty shows us his patch of grass named 'the cricket pitch'. And whilst usually Monty's garden is undeniably thriving, like the rest of us, it's recently fallen victim to the heatwave temperatures.

Which goes to prove, even when you avoid all the lawncare mistakes in the book, sometimes the weather is one step ahead, and there's nothing to be done about it.

And that is exactly what Monty recommends doing: nothing. He says, "If, like the cricket pitch, your grass is burnt entirely brown with not a blade of green grass, don't worry. And don't waste water on it! I assure you it will recover full greenness very quickly once we get some rain."

You might find this a little hard to swallow, letting your grass burn up and dry out, but it's truly the best thing for it. Even when it looks like the heatwave has killed your lawn, there's still hope for it.

Don't panic and start watering your lawn more often than you should; that will only waste your water reserves and start a watering routine you won't be able to keep up during a hosepipe ban.

Instead, trust that the grass is in fact protected by its own layer of withered blades on top. This crispy layer acts as a sort of protected insulation for the roots below, which will come back to life at the first sign of rain.

As you can see from Monty's most recent update of The Cricket Pitch, aptly named after him and his son, who played the sport on it years ago, the lawn is still burnt but only until that much-needed rainy reprieve arrives.

Want to build up your water reserves for future heatwaves? Experts recommend rainscaping your garden so it's built to harvest rainwater without needing much effort from you. That way, you're prepared for hosepipe bans and further scorching temperatures.

Buying new furniture for your home can be daunting, especially when it comes to higher-priced items like sofas. It can be difficult to picture what the pieces will look like in your room and whether they'll fit.

And with so many common mistakes to make when buying a sofa, being properly prepared and 100% sure of the piece you're buying is key. It's all well and good spotting something you love in this year's sofa trends, but will the size, fit and design actually work in your room alongside your other pieces?

To make the whole process easier and stress-free, interior design expert Kelly Hoppen CBE has shared her genius trick for measuring your space and ensuring your proportions are perfectly right. As one of the things she's asked about most frequently, Kelly is very aware of this common problem.

Kelly Hoppen's furniture placement trick

Whether you're constrained by a small living room layout or have an abundance of space that you're unsure what to do with, getting the right sofa isn't as easy as it first seems.

"Questions I'm asked every day, hundreds of times on my Instagram, 'How do I put my sofas in a room?' The answer to your question is, I can't answer that question if I'm not in your room," starts Kelly.

"But one great way, an easy tip to do it, is to get some masking tape. If you don't know how to draw it, do it to scale and lay them out in your room and walk in and see which is the best way to lay your sofas out, your coffee table, and an armchair," she continues.

Avoiding living room design mistakes will ensure your space looks its best and also functions properly for you and your family. Pre-planning the layout with this masking tape trick allows you to try out different options, too.

"Because you will be able to physically see the mass that it will take up. Try it, easy, inexpensive, and you'll get an instant answer," Kelly adds.

If you're trying to make your small living room look bigger, play around with sofa shapes and find what works best for your room.

Want some more of Kelly's professional tips? She shared her top interior dos and don'ts with us, and some of them might surprise you.

The Origin Hybrid has become one of the brand's best-selling mattresses, promising premium comfort, impressive cooling technology and a luxury hotel feel without the premium price tag. With a plush pillow top, 3,000 individually pocketed springs and specialist foam layers designed to regulate temperature, it's perfect for anyone who needs help sleeping in the heat, without blowing the budget.

With so many brands competing for a place among the best cooling mattresses, it's easy to become sceptical of lofty sleep claims. Origin says its Hybrid combines IceCool ThermoFoam, SnowTencel fabric and BambooAir technology to keep sleepers comfortable throughout the night, while offering enough support for couples with different sleeping styles and body weights. We wanted to find out whether it delivers on both fronts.

Our tester, Holly, has been sleeping on the Origin Hybrid with her husband for almost a year. As she approached her late forties, finding a mattress that could help with night-time overheating became a priority. "I've always been a bit of a sweaty sleeper," she says, "but add in fluctuating hormones, drunk teenagers waking me at 3am and a rather large, fluffy cocker spaniel sleeping on my feet and I'm reaching temperatures hotter than the sun." Could the Origin Hybrid be the answer? "With materials named IceCool ThermoFoam, SnowTencel and BambooAir, I felt like I was edging closer to sleep that resembled floating on a cloud in a gentle breeze instead of a bed of molten lava." Here's how it performed after months of testing.

Origin Hybrid Mattress review

• RRP: From £379
• Warranty: 15 years
• Sizes: Single, Small Double, Double, King, Superking
• Filling: Cooling hybrid
• Comfort: medium-firm
• Hypoallergenic: yes
• Thickness: 26 cm
• Trial Period: 200 nights

Who would the Origin Hybrid Mattress suit?

• Hot sleepers - the open structure and specialised gel layer offer as much temperature regulation as a hybrid mattress can
• Front and back sleepers - thanks to the even layer of responsive springs and foam that contour to the body
• People with back or joint pain - the foam offers impressive pressure relief and tailored support
• Price conscious shoppers: this offers excellent value for money

Naturally, as a hybrid mattress, this suits sleepers who need a balance of foam pressure-relief and spring-like support. Often, this means that sleepers who suffer with back or joint pain get the most out of a hybrid mattress, but that doesn't mean that pain-free sleepers won't suit the Origin Hybrid.

As one of the brand's best-sellers, it's clear this suits plenty of people. With infusions of bamboo and wool, as well as springs, the heating effects of foam are minimised, meaning you're less likely to get the overheating feeling that comes with foam. In fact, our tester, Holly commented on the "refreshed" feeling of her skin in the morning.

Origin Hybrid Mattress Composition

• 100% SnowTencel removable top cover: The zip-off cover is made from a soft, breathable fabric that's designed to wick moisture away from the body. Unlike many mattresses, you can remove and machine wash the cover, making it easier to keep your sleep surface fresh.
• SnowTencel fibre: Sitting beneath the cover is another breathable layer that helps air circulate through the mattress while adding a plush, cushioned feel when you first lie down.
• FibreOrigin layer: This fibre layer acts as a transition between the comfort foams and support core. It helps distribute weight more evenly across the mattress, improving pressure relief while maintaining airflow.
• HexaGrid layer: This is a hexagonal comfort layer that flexes independently under different parts of your body. It compresses more deeply around heavier areas, such as your shoulders and hips, while remaining supportive elsewhere to encourage healthy spinal alignment.
• IceCool Foam: This pressure-relieving foam is infused with cooling technology to reduce heat retention, helping to draw warmth away from your body throughout the night. It also contours around pressure points without creating the enveloping feeling that some traditional memory foams can.
• Bamboo-infused wool: Bamboo fibres are naturally breathable and moisture-wicking, while the wool adds softness and helps regulate temperature in both warm and cool conditions. Together, this layer is designed to create a drier, more comfortable sleeping environment.
• ErgoCoil steel springs: At the heart of the mattress are more than 3,000 individually wrapped ErgoCoil steel springs. These respond independently to movement, helping to minimise motion transfer between partners while providing targeted support around the hips, shoulders and lower back.
• D-2 Edge Support: High-density foam runs around the perimeter of the mattress to reinforce the edges. This helps prevent the sides from collapsing when you sit or sleep near them, increasing the usable sleeping surface and making it easier to get in and out of bed.

Like many shoppers, I pay close attention to the materials that go into a mattress, and Origin has made some thoughtful choices here. The cover incorporates TENCEL™ fibres, which are derived from sustainably sourced wood pulp and prized for their naturally breathable, moisture-wicking properties. Alongside this, the brand uses bamboo-derived fibres to encourage airflow through the sleep surface and help create a fresher sleeping environment.

It's encouraging to see Origin investing in more responsibly sourced materials, although sustainability isn't the brand's primary selling point. If you're specifically looking for a mattress with stronger environmental credentials or carbon-neutral initiatives, there are brands that go further in this area. However, for shoppers who prioritise comfort and performance first, the Origin Hybrid's material choices are a welcome bonus rather than simply a marketing talking point.

Unboxing the Origin Hybrid Mattress

Mattresses aren't deliveries that can come out of the blue: they're all big and bulky, even if you've invested in a bed in a box option. Holly was really pleased with Origin's communication and delivery, which meant she could prepare well in advance of it arriving. The delivery drivers were helpful and friendly too, which is an experience many people have commented on when reviewing Origin's mattresses.

Holly noted that the large, long carboard box was easy to remove and the mattress came out of all its wrapping easily. Some hybrid mattresses need some time to rest and breathe, but the Origin Hybrid "bounced into shape right away" according to Holly. She noted right away that this feels like "a quality mattress that will go the distance." Whilst first impressions aren't everything, they are important.

What is the Origin Hybrid Mattress like to sleep on?

When we're testing mattresses, we're looking at a few factors:

• How comfortable is it to sleep in different positions?
• How comfortable is it throughout the night?
• Is the edge-to-edge support good?
• What is the motion transfer like if you share a bed?
• Is it cooling and breathable?

Holly has now been sleeping on the Origin Hybrid Mattress with her partner for almost a year, giving us an excellent long-term picture of how it performs beyond those all-important first impressions. Like many of the best hybrid mattresses I've tested, it strikes a careful balance between pressure relief and support, pairing foam comfort layers with individually wrapped springs that respond independently to movement across the bed.

During her first few weeks, Holly found the perimeter slightly softer than she expected, particularly when sitting on the edge of the mattress. However, once lying down in her usual back and side-sleeping position, those concerns disappeared. "There's a lovely balance of firmness and cosiness," she told me. "It's responsive, supportive and moulds to your body." That combination is exactly what I'd expect from a well-designed hybrid. The foam contours around pressure points at the shoulders and hips, while the pocket springs provide underlying support that helps keep your spine in a neutral position rather than allowing you to sink too deeply.

One of the biggest advantages of a quality hybrid mattress is its ability to isolate movement, and Holly found this was one of the Origin's standout strengths. Despite sharing the bed every night, she noticed very little disturbance when her partner got up or changed position. "It absorbed the shift in weight comfortably and without complaint," she said. While no mattress can eliminate motion transfer entirely, the combination of responsive foam and individually pocketed springs does an excellent job of preventing movement from travelling across the sleep surface, making it a particularly good choice for couples.

Temperature regulation is another area we pay close attention to during mattress testing. Cooling technology can't eliminate night sweats altogether, but the right materials can help dissipate heat and moisture more effectively than traditional memory foam. Holly noticed a tangible difference after switching to the Origin Hybrid, telling me she had "definitely noticed a reduction in night sweats. Not completely, but enough to stop washing sopping wet sheets every single day." More importantly, she said she woke up feeling noticeably fresher in the mornings, and she's since recommended the mattress to several friends who also struggle with overheating at night.

Should you buy the Origin Hybrid Mattress?

Putting the question of whether the Origin Hybrid Mattress is good value to Holly, gets an emphatic and resounding positive response. She loves the "luxurious, airy sleep experience" that this offers, which is only made more satisfying my the friendly price tag. If you're a hot sleeper who's looking to get as much help to stay cool at night, this will go a long way towards helping you - and it will do so on a budget too.

How we test mattresses

If you're keen to know more of what goes on behind the scenes, it helps to know a little bit more about the person who tested it, Holly Johnson. She's part of our Tester Network where readers, like you, test products for us. She's been sleeping on the Origin Hybrid for nearly a year and is generally fit and healthy. however, with peri-menopause symptoms tipping her from a hot sleeper into an unbearably hot sleeper, she needed to change her mattress for a more breathable cooling option.

Holly also sleeps on her side and likes a a medium-firm mattress to support her, whilst still cushion her shoulder and joints so that she doesn't get crushed overnight. We matched this mattress to her and sent her our criteria for how we test mattresses, to make sure we could give you a holistic idea of what the mattress is like to sleep on.

It's a common thought that adding plants to your garden can only be a good thing, but some secretly do more harm than good. Some species are so damaging to your space that they can reduce the value of your home.

Whilst you might be well aware of the common invasive plants that can ruin your garden, some other popular species under the radar can be just as damaging. And whilst they won't particularly take over your garden like knotweed would, these plants can be such an issue that they decrease your home's value.

If you want to upgrade your garden to boost your home's value, then you'll want to stay well clear of these particular plants.

3 plant species that can devalue your home

When it comes to blocking your neighbour's view on a budget, there's nothing quite as effective as planting a row of hedges in your garden.

However many evergreen varieties, like the ones listed below, can become a major issue for your home and its surrounding land. To avoid devaluing your home, here are the top three species to keep well clear of.

Shop hedge maintenance

1. Cherry Laurel

As one of the best plants for privacy, cherry laurel is a very popular choice for homeowners. It's incredibly fast-growing and dense, making it an ideal choice to surround your garden with.

“Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is a vigorous, large, spreading evergreen bush, with glossy leaves up to 15cm in length," says Karl McArdle, co-founder of The Property Buying Company.

"If not pruned, it can form dense walls of foliage, and if trimmed poorly, it can suffer from powdery mildew, which can be unsightly and put buyers off. If left to grow large, it can dry out the ground, causing subsidence. A history of subsidence can reduce your home’s value by up to 25%," he adds.

2. Arrow Bamboo

Whilst you might've been debating growing bamboo in your garden for privacy, most types of bamboo are considered extremely invasive.

“Arrow bamboo (Pseudosasa japonica) is a tough, spreading evergreen bamboo, reaching up to 6 metres in height. In warm, moist conditions, this can cause the creeping rootstock to produce new shoots away from the original plant, causing it to spread further than desired," explains Karl.

"Arrow bamboo spreading near neighbours’ fencing or near drains could reduce your property value by 5 to 15%," he continues.

Trying to get rid of bamboo roots can be a real nightmare, too, so it's definitely something to properly think about before you plant.

3. Leyland cypress

Another fast-growing shrub, the Leyland cypress, is popular for its height; however, this is the same reason it can be a real issue for your home and its future inhabitants.

“Leyland cypress (Cuprocyparis leylandii) is a large, very fast-growing evergreen tree. If unchecked, they can reach heights of up to 30 metres tall, which means they have the potential to become a nuisance and will therefore require regular trimming to keep under control," states Karl.

"If Leyland cypress smothers and outcompetes other plants in your garden, this could reduce your property value by up to 15%," he warns.

If you've already taken measures to add a little privacy to your home, with a pergola, for example, then adding plants perfect for pergolas can give you that extra layer to keep nosy neighbours away.

If you've never come across Ninja's Luxe Café coffee machines before, you're in for a treat. While the brand might be better known for air fryers and blenders, it's spent more than a decade refining its coffee range, taking on established names like Sage and De'Longhi with capable espresso machines that don't intimidate beginners.

The Luxe Café Mini Plus is its smallest semi-automatic espresso machine yet, shrinking the footprint of the classic models by around 30% without sacrificing the integrated grinder, automatic steam wand or hands-on brewing experience that made the original Luxe Café such a success. It's designed for people who want café-quality coffee without surrendering half their worktop.

Having tested a whole range of coffee machines, from Sage's premium espresso machines to fully automatic bean-to-cup models, I was curious to see whether Ninja could genuinely deliver the same performance in a smaller package. After several weeks of brewing everything from straight espresso to iced lattes, I think this might be one of the smartest compact coffee machines currently available.

Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus Espresso Machine review

• RRP: £499.99
• Weight: 8.8 kgs
• Dimensions: 26 x 31 x 35 cm (LWH)
• Cord length: 87.88cm
• Wattage: 1650 watts
• Grind sizes: 60
• Coffee settings: espresso, filter, steaming
• Included: portafilter, single and double baskets, funnel, assisted tamper, milk jug
• Warranty: 2 years
  

Who would the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus Espresso Machine suit?

• Cold and hot coffee drinkers: this has a menu that spans both styles
• Smaller kitchens needing to save space: the compact design comes without compromise
• Coffee connoisseurs who like to feel like a barista: you can tweak and grind coffee like you would see in your local café
• Anyone looking for an alternative to the Sage Bambino: this is still compact and comes with a grinder integrated

The Luxe Café Mini Plus strikes a clever balance between convenience and control, so it'll appeal to a broad range of coffee aficionados.

If your coffee order changes with the weather, you'll appreciate that it handles both hot and iced drinks equally well. Espresso, americanos, filter coffee and iced coffees all sit on the same intuitive menu, while the automatic steam wand can produce everything from silky latte milk to cold foam.

It's also one of the best options I've tested for smaller kitchens. Integrated grinders are normally reserved for much larger machines, but Ninja has somehow squeezed one into a footprint that's compact, without making the machine feel cramped to use.

Finally, I'd recommend it to aspiring home baristas. It still asks you to grind, dose, tamp and lock in the portafilter yourself, so you learn proper espresso technique, but the machine quietly manages the trickier variables (grind recommendations, extraction and milk texturing) so it's difficult to make a truly bad coffee.

Unboxing the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus Espresso Machine

Ninja continues to set the standard for packaging. Everything arrives securely protected with recyclable cardboard and moulded paper pulp rather than excessive plastic, and despite travelling through several couriers, every component arrived in immaculate condition.

Inside the box you'll find everything needed to get brewing immediately: the portafilter, single and double baskets, assisted tamper, dosing funnel, milk jug and cleaning accessories. The portafilter immediately stands out to me: I think it's a great way to gauge the quality of a coffee machine. And Ninja's doesn't disappoint. It has a reassuring weight that feels much closer to commercial equipment than you'd expect at this price point.

I also appreciate the amount of guidance Ninja builds into the setup. Protective stickers identify every component, there's a water hardness test strip for calibrating the machine correctly from day one, and several accessories tuck neatly into onboard storage, keeping the worktop surprisingly uncluttered.

What is the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus Espresso Machine like to use?

One thing Ninja consistently gets right is deciding where automation improves the coffee-making experience. Rather than removing you from the process altogether, the Luxe Café Mini Plus automates the variables that usually trip beginners up, while leaving the satisfying parts firmly in your hands.

You still grind fresh beans, distribute the coffee, tamp the puck and lock the portafilter into place just like you would on a traditional espresso machine. The difference is that Ninja recommends the ideal grind size and handles extraction with impressive consistency, dramatically reducing the chances of under-extracted sour shots or bitter over-extraction.

As someone who enjoys making coffee manually, I think this is exactly the right balance. You still feel like the barista, but without the steep learning curve.

The first drink I always make is a double espresso because it reveals almost everything about a machine's brewing performance. Good espresso should have a thick, hazelnut-coloured crema, balanced acidity and enough body to carry the flavour notes through every sip.

Using Lavazza beans that I know well, the Luxe Café Mini Plus produced an impressive, punchy shot. Extraction was even across the puck, with no obvious signs of channeling, and the resulting espresso showcased the beans' chocolate and roasted hazelnut notes beautifully. The crema was dense and long-lasting, suggesting excellent pressure and thorough extraction of the coffee oils.

I made 10 shots, back to back, and the machine kept consistent flavours, extraction, and quantity. For a machine aimed at home users, it's remarkably consistent.

One of the easiest ways to ruin good espresso is by adding boiling water. Excessive temperatures flatten the sweeter tasting notes and exaggerate bitterness, leaving an americano that tastes harsh rather than balanced.

Thankfully, Ninja gets their temperature regulation right. The water integrates gently with the espresso, preserving its sweetness while producing a lighter-bodied cup that's noticeably smoother than many bean-to-cup machines I've tested. The only minor criticism is that the water can splash slightly against the rear panel during dispensing, although it's easy enough to wipe clean afterwards.

Automatic steam wands often produce foam that's either too airy or too thin, but Ninja has clearly refined its system. During testing, it produced glossy microfoam with a paint-like consistency that's remarkably close to what you'd expect from a trained barista.

I tested whole milk alongside oat and soy alternatives across every texture setting, and each produced stable foam with excellent definition. Latte mode creates silky milk that's ideal for simple latte art, while cappuccino mode introduces just enough extra air without becoming dry or bubbly. The cold foam was also really delicious, creating dense, velvety foam that transformed iced lattes.

For experienced users, the wand can also be switched into manual mode by pulling it forwards, giving you complete control over milk texturing.

As an enthusiastic iced coffee drinker, I tried all of the cooler recipes, which are designed to be brewed over ice. If you did this with hot coffee, it would taste bitter and acidic, so this slight tweak can really help to keep all the delicious flavours from your beans, but for your iced drinks. The iced espresso surprised me the most, because it can be the most exposing colder coffee to make: iced lattes are sweetened by milk and iced filter coffee is mellow already. The iced espressos were surprisingly delicate. I could still taste the familiar flavours of hot coffee that's cooled (which is a little more acidic than cold brew), but these were much more mellow than you would get from any coffee shop, meaning it gets my wholehearted seal of approval.

Filter coffee might seem like an unusual choice for a UK market. It's popular in America and has been getting more attention across the pond recently, but for Ninja to dedicate space on their machine for classic, rich, and iced filter coffee must mean that it's exceptionally good. As someone who has drunk litres of filter coffee when I used to test machines for an American brand, I'm seriously impressed with the different options.

Classic filter coffee gets the mellow, simple flavours of this brewing style spot on. The rich filter coffee, is a more intense flavour that you can absolutely differentiate between: it's the dark chocolate to the milk chocolate of the classic brew. Finally, and very seasonally, the iced brew is a beautiful drink for warmer weather. It's delicate and light, perfect with a dash of coconut milk. All in all, the quality of the filter function could be enough to convert you.

Cleaning and maintaining the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus Espresso Machine

Cleaning the Ninja is low-maintenance. After each milk drink, the steam wand automatically purges itself, removing residual milk before it has a chance to bake onto the nozzle and clog up the pipes. It's a small touch, but one that dramatically reduces the daily upkeep that often puts people off espresso machines.

Ninja also includes thoughtful maintenance extras, including a water hardness testing strip, descaler and dedicated cleaning brushes. The drip tray and water tank all slide out easily for rinsing, and I was pleasantly surprised that the brushed stainless steel panels resisted fingerprints far better than many competitors.

How does the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus Espresso Machine compare?

The closest rival isn't actually another brand, it's Ninja's own Luxe Café range. The larger Luxe Café offers additional drink presets, more onboard storage and cold brew functionality, making it a better choice for households where coffee is a daily essential. However, unless you'll use those extra features, the Mini Plus delivers almost the same brewing experience in a significantly smaller footprint.

Its biggest external rival is Sage's Bambino Plus. While Sage remains one of my favourite espresso machines, the Bambino Plus requires a separate grinder, which ultimately occupies more counter space than Ninja's integrated solution. It also focuses almost exclusively on espresso, whereas Ninja broadens its appeal with filter coffee, iced drinks and far greater automation.

Should you buy the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus Espresso Machine?

After testing dozens of coffee machines over the past few years, I've found that compact models almost always ask you to compromise. They usually lose the grinder, simplify the milk system or strip back drink options to save space.

The Luxe Café Mini Plus manages to avoid almost all of those sacrifices. It delivers faultless filter coffee, excellent espresso, produces some of the best automatic milk texturing I've tested, and still gives you enough manual involvement to make brewing feel rewarding rather than robotic.

Its biggest limitation is the maximum 235ml drink size, which may disappoint anyone who prefers oversized mugs of coffee. I'd also miss the cold brew function from Ninja's larger Luxe Café models.

Otherwise, this is an impressively well-rounded machine. If you want café-quality coffee but don't have room for a full-sized setup, I think the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus is one of the strongest compact espresso machines you can currently buy.

How we test coffee machines

At woman&home, we have a standardised process for how we test coffee machines. As a former barista, I set the standard high with the flavours, consistency, and speed that I expect from a coffee machine. I always make sure to research a model before writing about it, to see what the brand says about it and what the special features are. Then, I pay close attention to these, as well as the basics, to see how well the coffee machine stands up to market leading models. I also look at how it compares, what it's like to clean, and anything else that you should know before you make a purchase. By the end of the review, you should know everything you need to know. However, if you want a deeper dive, you can visit our dedicated page for how we test coffee machines.

Patios are a great addition to any garden; they're a low-maintenance space perfect for outdoor dining and for home to pots. However, when you're lacking space, they can quickly look rather busy and compact.

Whilst there are ways to make your small patio feel bigger with exterior lighting, if you enjoy using the space throughout the day, you may need other ways to open it up. It's all too easy for patios to become cluttered with patio container plants, and this can make a limited space look even smaller.

If this sounds familiar to you, then garden legend Alan Titchmarsh has a genius small garden tip to help make your patio appear and feel bigger than it actually is. All with one garden design change.

Whether you use your patio as an outdoor living room area or grow your favourite veggies in pots on it, sometimes it can look cramped.

Especially when you're already starting with a small space to work with, which is why Alan suggests trying this one trick before you've even laid your paving stones.

"The size of the pavers you choose should depend on the overall size of the patio or terrace. If it's very small, don't be tempted to use lots of small ones, which will make it look bitty," Alan starts.

"A common mistake is using lots of small pavers in a compact space, which creates a busy look and can make the area seem even smaller," he adds.

It's easy to avoid this common mistake that makes your garden feel smaller, but it does require choosing the right slabs before you build your patio. This might seem like a big job, but it'll make a world of difference in your garden.

"A few larger paving stones in a smaller area will give it the impression of more space than is actually there. It works the other way around, lots of little ones tend to make something look small," Alan explains.

"Several smaller number of larger ones tend to expand it. Matching the paver size to the space will help create a balanced, elegant design that feels both practical and visually spacious," he finishes.

Tricks like these that help make your small garden look bigger are so important to ensure you're making the most of the space you have and utilising every square inch of it.

If you want some more magic Alan guidance on patios, he also shared his tips for brightening up an otherwise dull, dingy patio.

Anyone who has spent time cooking on pizza ovens will know that making the dough is only half the challenge. The real skill comes once your pizza is in the oven, where a few seconds can be the difference between perfectly puffed-up crust and one that's burnt on one side and raw on the other.

Anyone who has bought a pizza oven for their garden will tell you that turning your pizza in the oven takes skill and practice. If you go too early, you'll tear a hole through the base. Leave it too late and one edge will blacken before the rest has cooked. Even an uneven turn can leave you with a pizza that's charred on one side and pale on the other. It's a technique that gets easier with practice, but it still catches plenty of home cooks out and not perfecting it is one of the most common mistakes people make with their pizza ovens.

The good news is that Ooni has the answer. The pizza oven specialist has unveiled a new rotating stone that automatically turns your pizza as it cooks, promising evenly baked crusts without the need to keep reaching into the oven with a peel.

Ooni Rotating Stone Launch

The idea behind Ooni's new accessory is super simple and straightforward. Place your rotating stone inside theoven, slide the pizza onto the stone, and the surface rotates automatically as it cooks. Because the stone is made from the same cordierite material used across Ooni's pizza ovens, it retains heat exceptionally well, helping to deliver an evenly cooked base without creating noticeable hot or cold spots.

What makes the rotating stone different from similar accessories is its design. Rather than relying on a central pivot, Ooni has moved the rotating mechanism to the perimeter of the stone. According to the brand, this "perimeter-balanced stability" eliminates the wobbling and stalling that can happen with centre-mounted turntables. This means that your pizza stone will stay just as stable roasting a whole chicken or with a heavy cast iron pan as it is will for cooking pizza.

"The rotating stone showcases our commitment to meaningful innovation," said Kristian Tapaninaho, Founder of Ooni. "Being a trailblazing company means more than improving a product; it means redefining the experience. We identified a market crowded with products that fall short on reliability and engineered a solution that is as elegant as it is durable. The Koda 2 Rotating Stone Range makes cooking simpler, more intuitive and more enjoyable."

One feature that caught my attention is the built-in LIDAR sensor. Rather than reaching inside the oven to press a button, you can start or stop the stone with a simple wave of your hand or pizza peel. It's a small touch, but one that should help keep floury hands away from controls while you're cooking.

You can also choose between continuous rotation for hands-free cooking or a 90-degree turn setting if you'd rather keep more control over how your pizza cooks.

Pizza Oven Accessories That Make Life Easier

It's not just a rotating stone that makes life easy, there are plenty of other accessories that I think are essentially to getting the perfect pizza:

Having tested a wide range of pizza ovens over the years, and coming from a family that runs a pizza business, I know that learning when to turn a pizza is one of the biggest hurdles for beginners.

While experienced pizza makers probably won't mind doing it by hand, this feels like an accessory that could flatten the learning curve. It's worth noting that these stones are only compatible with Ooni ovens, as they are made to fit, but they promise to make homemade pizza nights much more relaxed, especially for anyone buying their first outdoor oven.

Keeping your garden happy when record-high temperatures hit during summer can be a real challenge. And lawns in particular can be sensitive to extreme weather, so when they seemingly die on you, it's hard not to panic.

Even when you know all the essential lawn care tips for summer, a heatwave can easily come along and undo all your hard work. Knowing how often to water your lawn in summer can help to prevent it becoming a crispy wasteland; however, when hosepipe bans and heatwaves occur, that watering routine can go out the window.

If your lawn has completely dried out and turned brown, you might be thinking it's all over, but garden expert Ish, @gardening.with.ish on Instagram, says there's hope yet.

You can do everything to avoid lawn care mistakes this summer, but with hot, dry weather and a hosepipe ban in place, your lawn will inevitably suffer.

"If your lawn is looking a lot like mine, which can only be described as a post-apocalyptic desert scene, then you may be thinking, well, this brown carpet mess is now the end of my lawn for this year," starts Ish.

"But I'm here to tell you that's the complete opposite. What's actually going on here is quite cool. So, the grass has died completely on top; it's gone brown, it's gone crisp. That's no use to anyone, but underneath is where the action is happening, because the roots actually go dormant," he adds.

"They let this die over to create a nice kind of netting over the top to protect it from any more drought, and then it does nothing until it's got more moisture from the soil," Ish points out.

In the same way you protect plants from frost while they lay dormant in winter, the grass does this for itself during dry seasons.

Although there are ways to water your garden during a hosepipe ban, for your lawn, it's best to wait until the bans are lifted or the inevitable rain arrives.

"So, in the next few days, when I start to get heavy rains or the hose pipe bans lifted again, I can start to rehydrate my lawn and sure enough, some of this will brush away with the rake, and in its place, new grass will grow from those roots," Ish says.

"It just goes to show that actually it's not the end of the world. You can leave your lawn like this, and whilst it's slightly unsightly, actually, it's perfectly fine and perfectly healthy. And remember, when it does get to the point to be able to water it, do it in the mornings or evenings, when it's nice and cool," he recommends.

And that same advice goes for the best time to water your garden plants, too, during summer; that way you're not having to help them recover from sunburn.

Not only can you prepare your garden for a heatwave, but you can also mulch before the hot weather brings on a hosepipe ban. That way, your garden is less likely to suffer, and you'll have less fixing up to do when the sun leaves.

It seems now more than ever that people are getting into their gardens and growing their own produce, whether that's in a balcony garden or a veggie patch. And the celebs are getting stuck in too, with Minnie Driver being our latest spot.

If you've been wondering whether to start a vegetable garden this year, this is all the inspiration you need. Good Will Hunting star Minnie Driver has shared her bustling garden filled with a never-ending supply of tomatoes and a 'cucumber jungle', as she calls it.

The star has taken to her Instagram @driverminnie to give fans a tour around her generous countryside garden, filled with late-summer flowers and faithful feathered friends.

"Do you know how nice it is to shell peas in the morning with a cup of tea? I think I'm a trad wife! I just want to show you something, I mean, first of all, this, and these," says Minnie, showing off her vibrant red dahlias.

And she's not the first celeb we've seen take on gardening at this impressive level; just last year, Pamela Anderson welcomed us into her farmhouse garden, complete with outdoor kitchen and raised beds.

"But my favourite things are these. Obviously, we've eaten quite a lot of tomatoes this weekend, and maybe only second to how many cucumbers we've eaten. Look, it's a jungle of cucumbers, oh my god, I'm in heaven, they're banging on my head as I walk through the cucumber jungle," she continues.

It's rather impressive how Minnie has supported her plants as they've grown in her greenhouse, with the cucumbers towering high and hanging overhead. It's a great way to make the most of the space you have by utilising vertical growth.

Although it's clear Minnie has outdoor space to spare, what with the large walk-in greenhouse and rolling fields, most of the food she grows can be grown in containers.

And it's not just the produce she's growing; Minnie also has several chickens, including Henrietta, whom she seems rather fond of. As well as some staggeringly tall sunflowers, which make her a gardening professional in our eyes.

If you yourself are growing tomatoes but haven't had nearly as much luck with big harvests like Minnie this year, then you might have to take some extra steps to get more fruit out of your plants.