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.

Now is the time to pruning wisteria to cut back any unruly stems. A tactical summer chop ensures the plant's energy is redirected back into long, leafy growth and encourages it to produce flowers, while keeping the plant looking tidy too.

While browsing my social media feed, I stumbled across an ingenious sustainable gardening idea of repurposing the cut branches for homemade decorations.

Garden influencer Sophie Valentine, best known as @lookinsidemygarden on Instagram, explains: "I'm getting ready for Christmas with my wisteria. I save all the whips and make them into wreath bases. It's so easy to do, and it means that there is no waste in the garden."

Sophie shares helpful beginner tutorial videos with her 374k followers to encourage others to get more from their gardens. In her recent post, she shared her brilliant tip for reducing garden waste while tidying up your Wisteria and getting ahead for Christmas. But in the spirit of celebrating all the seasons, we will be making autumn wreaths first.

Advising fans on how to reuse the off-cuts, Sophie says: "Using a glove, pull off all the leaves from your shoots, so you have a perfect fresh stem to work with."

"Then curl your stem into a circle shape and start to create the shape of your wreath base. I add to it as I prune so you can build up how thick it gets."

"Wisteria looks dramatic, but pruning it is actually very straightforward once you know the trick," says Orpheus Alexander, w&h's resident garden expert.

"In summer, cut this year's long, whippy shoots back to about five or six leaves. It might feel like you're cutting a lot off, but don't be afraid to be firm. A well-pruned wisteria will reward you with far more flowers."

Homemade wreaths are easier to make than most people think, but it all starts with a good base. The beauty of making one with intertwined branches means a strong foundation to support the foliage as you build your wreath.

While this idea is dedicated to Christmas, you can make a wreath for all seasons; this tip can be used all year round depending on what you are cutting back when.

The plants you prune in March may provide stems for a spring wreath, and the plants you prune in September could be enough to fashion an autumn wreath.

As someone who makes a homemade wreath every year, I am especially excited about this tip because the base is always the part that I have to buy – the rest is freshly cut from the garden. But not now. I'm going to start collecting unwanted stems to make a twig base, so my seasonal wreath is entirely foraged from now on.

Sophie's followers were also quick to praise the idea. One wrote: "Great idea! I could make so many doing this! Thanks for the idea." While another says, "That’s genius! Thank you for yet another great tip."

So will you be giving your garden waste a new lease of life by making your own wreath base?

Dame Helen Mirren’s Hollywood home has appeared on the market for approx. £8.9M ($12M), and it’s allowed us a sneak peek inside to admire her timeless taste.

When it comes to a clean, curated aesthetic, it can be surprisingly hard to strike the right balance between minimalist and character. Fortunately, Helen’s gorgeous compound offers a look at honouring the bones of a historic home with a timeless look without giving the feeling of an unloved, unlived show home.

Set across 6.5 private acres in the prestigious Hollywood Hills, one of the first things to note is how Dame Helen has kept the home feeling open and inviting, not closed off or secluded. It's a home 'filled with decades of history, character, and soul' that tells its own beautiful story.

A look inside Dame Helen Mirren's Hollywood home

The backdrop of neutral off-white walls and wooden surfaces is beautifully accented by a colour palette of rich greens, deep browns, and brooding black, which adds depth without overpowering the home's original Hollywood Hills character.

For that added touch of glamour, the house is styled with deep silk rugs that help to soften the expansive rooms, making them feel both luxurious yet suitably homely and lived in.

The goal in the mansion's expansive rooms was to keep a pared-back look with intentional design pieces, not a space filled to the brim.

There’s also plenty of delightful nooks and crannies, with all corners of the grand space being used intentionally, without feeling overcrowded. Warm, low lounge chairs are pushed near built-in shelves, offering areas of respite to curl up and relax.

While oak walls offer a touch of elegance and a luxe feel, the clever use of layered lighting keeps rooms inviting, rather than shadowy and off-putting.

It's easy to imagine how the combination of lamps, wall lighting and natural daylight from the windows can help adjust the atmosphere and ambience depending on the time of day and the occasion.

Enjoy an airy, light morning with daylight pouring in through the window, then sink into the plush chair and fur rug in the evening, with the warm, amber glow reflecting off the gold and copper trimmings of the bar.

Inspired by Helen's interiors

In staging the home, Vesta designer Ryan Worthington had a clear vision. Per their social media, "His vision was to embrace the home’s rich history while creating a sense of renewed elegance through a refined palette of deep greens, warm browns, and sophisticated blacks - tones that enhanced the architecture and timeless character already present.

When a home already carries so much character, the design is about listening to its story – and thoughtfully adding the next chapter."

The abundance of trees allows both privacy from prying eyes and the opportunity to keep the layout open, with huge windows, open terraces and open-plan rooms. The natural daylight pours in, meeting an uncluttered and airy selection of oversized furniture.

When designing the outdoor living area, the staging company introduced pieces from its iron outdoor furniture collection, creating a seamless transition between interior and exterior living areas.

This idea of bringing the outside in is a huge trend and is impeccably carried off with this sophisticated look.

The compound, now owned by acting royalty in the form of Dame Helen and her husband, Taylor Hackford, has always been connected to Hollywood’s glamorous history. It was first built in 1911 for silent film star Dustin Farnum.

Since that time, only a handful of people have been lucky enough to call it home, including film producer Mark Hellinger and actress-producer Gail Patrick. Helen purchased the property in the 1980s and spent decades carefully restoring it, preserving its roots while adapting it to be an entirely liveable and luxurious home.

Blimey, it's hot. A phrase I'm sure all of us have uttered over the past couple of months. And with few of our homes offering the instant relief of air conditioning, the obvious solution is some sort of electric fan. But which one?

In my case, not the cheap 'lightbulb' fans that have been the menace of my TikTok feeds Whilst inexpensive handheld fans have their place, at home, you'll need something a bit more resilient. Something like the Dimplex DuoCool Smart Cordless 2-in-1 Fan.

It's certainly packed with features – it can convert from a tabletop to a freestanding in a few clicks; has a battery life of up to 45 hours; promises to be whisper quiet and can even be controlled by Alexa. But while the Dimplex DuoCool makes a good case for being one of the best cooling fans around, would it actually, ahem, blow us away?

Dimplex DuoCool Smart Cordless 2-in-1 Fan review

• RRP: £179.99
• Dimensions: H91.7cm x Dia36cm
• Weight: 4.9kg
• Power: 30W
• Speeds: 5 fan speeds plus Turbo
• Features: 60°/120°/180° oscillation; child lock; sleep timer; remote; cordless
• Warranty: 3-year guarantee

Unboxing the Dimplex DuoCool Smart Cordless 2-in-1 Fan

Given it's a floor-standing design, the Dimplex DuoCool arrived in a surprisingly small square box, just as you'd pick it up in store. As you can see, Dimplex are keen to highlight that three-year warranty and the fact the fan works with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

Open up the box and everything is efficiently packaged, with cardboard dividers (yay!) and plastic bags (boo!) protecting the fan's surfaces. As regular readers of my reviews will know, I like my tech to be packaged in as eco-friendly a way as possible, so this was probably a 5/10, given the bags and lamination on the box. Plastics aside, this makes a good first impression.

The instructions are neatly rested on top, so it's very easy to get into the set-up of the fan straightaway. The main 'head' is very sleek and smooth in matt charcoal and black, and the carry handle sculpted into the back makes it very easy to lift out and carry.

I was momentarily confused as to where the short legs (for the fan in tabletop mode) were, but they were rather cleverly stowed in the fan base. As someone who couldn't tell you where half the attachments for her vacuum cleaner are, I thought this was a little bit genius, as it makes them far less likely to be lost.

Once you've located the parts, and with the instructions to hand, assembly was quick and straightforward. I started using the fan on its stand, which you attach by lowering the fan head down into the stand and clicking it in place.

To remove it, simply press the release button on the top of the base and pull. It's very easy and didn't ever seem to stick or jam. To remove the short legs from the stand (these come it two parts), push them inward and they'll spring out. Then you'll need to line up the two semicircles to click them into the fan. Again, it's super simple, and it doesn't take too much strength to remove them.

To control the fan, there are four options – on-fan buttons, a standalone remote, the GlenDimplex Connect app and voice controls through Amazon Alexa or Google Home. Of course, we tried all four during the course of the testing.

Who would the Dimplex DuoCool Smart Cordless 2-in-1 Fan suit?

As the Dimplex is a two-in-one wireless fan, I'd say it's a good buy for someone looking for a versatile model that they plan to move from room to room, or even into the garden. So if you live in a milder climate that suffers the occasional heatwave, or if you have aircon in your main bedroom but want a fan you can use in other areas of the house to stay cool, it's a wise option.

Also, because it's wireless, you can take it out to the garden, or perhaps even on a camping trip. As tents have a tendency to get super-hot inside, I can see the DuoCool offering a lot of relief on warm days. And you could even charge it in the car via the USB-C cable and a relevant 5V adaptor.

Finally, there's a strong case for buying the fan if you have mobility or dexterity issues. it is surprisingly lightweight given its size, but even better, you can control it via your voice, so there's no fiddling around with pesky buttons or leaving that comfy chair.

At this point, it's a good time to reveal that. had a little help in testing this fan. After using it myself for a couple of weeks, I handed it over to my sister-in-law Claire, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis.

Claire, like many diagnosed with MS, finds it more difficult to regulate her body temperature and suffers from heat sensitivity, which can exacerbate symptoms like fatigue. So she was eager to test the fan through the heatwave.

Another thing to know about Claire is that she (unlike me, who has been known to sleep through fire alarms and an actual earthquake) can be woken by the sound of a pin dropping. So the quieter the fan, the better for her. And as we'll see, the DuoCool really delivers on that front for keeping your bedroom cool.

What is the Dimplex DuoCool Smart Cordless 2-in-1 Fan like to use?

Let's start with the out-of-the-box experience. Once I'd attach the fan to the stand, I first tried controlling it with three buttons on the fan head – one each for the timer, power level/on/off and angle of oscillation. A gentle tap will scroll through the options. In general, I found these easy to use and not so sensitive that you'd miss your chosen setting by scrolling too fast.

The timer button is one that you'll need to get your head around, as there are actually 6 different onboard options – from 1 hour to 7 hours. As you cycle through, combinations of the LED indicators will light up, for example 1hr + 2hr for a three-hour timer, or 2hr + 4hr for a six hour timer.

The oscillation options are simpler as there just three, each with their own LED indicator: 60°, 120°, or 180°.

There are six power levels in total (1 to 5 plus a Turbo options) and one of the first things that struck me is how quiet the fan is in modes 1 and 2. Claire was able to sleep soundly through the night with the fan on these settings, while I was undisturbed up to level 3.

I took dB readings for each of the settings for reference in a quiet bedroom with no road or other noises to disturb the results:

As you can see there is a big jump in noise output from settings 3 to 4, which correlates with an increase in wind speed. By day, we typically used the fan in modes 3 or 5. Only on the very hottest days (36 degrees C), did we put the the fan into turbo mode, but as it's quite noisy, we found mode 5 to be a better compromise.

Using the remote and the app

The Dimplex DuoCool comes with a battery-powered remote, which works well enough. it is, however, quite diddy, which means that if you're prone to losing things, you might be better off sticking with the app.

The remote does pretty much what the onboard buttons do – cycle through speeds, oscillation and timer settings, turn the fan on and off completely, and set the child lock. But obviously it's very useful if you don't want to move from your chair or bed!

The app, on the other hand, unlocks a few more smart features – and as it's free, it's well worth downloading. Called GlenDimplex Connect, it's available for iOS and Android.

As you can see from the above screen grabs, the app allows you to do everything you can with the remote, and more.

You can schedule the fan to come on and off at more specific times, turn the fan's onboard LED displays off, see the fan's precise remaining battery power and set it up to work with any Amazon Alexa or Google Home device on your home WiFi network.

You can even give the fan a nickname (we chose Jeff). We could then, via Alexa, ask Jeff to change its speed and oscillation settings, set timers and activate the child lock without lifting a finger.

There is just one downside to the app, and that's that you can only pair one smartphone to the fan at any one time. But using a smart assistant like Alexa opens control up to the whole household, so it's hardly a dealbreaker.

Battery life

Next, a quick word on battery life. On its website, Dimplex states the fully charged fan has 'up to 45 hours battery life' that 'covers several days of standard use on one charge'.

In reality on a hot summer's day with the fan in continuous use on settings ranging from 5 at some parts of the day to 1 overnight, it lasted just over 24 hours on a full charge.

I think the 45 hour charge time might be accurate if the fan were used for a few hours at a time with breaks, and on a low setting of 1-2 only. Or perhaps on level 1 continuously but with no oscillation.

Dimplex also states the battery can take up to six hours to charge. We observed that it seemed to charge more quickly, taking around four hours.

Cleaning the Dimplex DuoCool Smart Cordless 2-in-1 Fan

As long-term fan owners know, getting dust out of those caged fan blades can be pretty tricky – and not doing so will result in a nasty burning smell when you switch the fan on after a long break.

So one feature both myself and the in-laws appreciated was the fan's protective cover, which pulls tight around the head of the fan with a drawstring. It might not get much use in the middle of summer, but it'll come into its own when the fan is packed away for winter, helping keep the dust at bay.

Dimplex recommends clean the fan every six months or as needed to prevent any malfunctions, and suggests unplugging it and activating the child lock mode to prevent any accidental power-on.

To clean the air vents and front grille, Dimplex says to use a vacuum cleaner, and then wipe the other surfaces with a cloth moistened slightly with water and a little mild detergent like washing-up liquid.

As we've only been testing the fan for a couple of months and it's been in use pretty much every day, we've not really had to deal with any internal dust build-up as yet, though I would say the black finish does mean that attract dust and I've had to give it a few wipe downs. I tend to use a damp microfibre cloth, occasionally with a squirt of Purdy & Figg essential oil cleaner.

Should you buy the Dimplex DuoCool Smart Cordless 2-in-1 Fan?

In my opinion, you'd be silly not to buy the Dimplex DuoCool. This is hands down the best standard fan I've tested, thanks to its whisper-quiet operation, powerful and even airflow and impressive 24-hours-plus battery life.

With an RRP of £179.99, it's competitively priced, especially considering the three-year warranty. Another standout feature is its portability. Thanks to the rechargeable battery and carry handle, it's easy to move from room to room, or even take outside,without hunting for a plug socket. But where the DuoCool really excels is in the bedroom. It's quiet enough to sleep with on settings one or two, and the built-in timer means it can switch itself off once you've drifted off.

My sister-in-law Claire has become so attached to it that she describes herself as "the number-one fan of the fan". So if you struggle to regulate your body temperature, experience hot flushes during the menopause or simply dread sticky summer nights, the DuoCool is an investment that's well worth making.

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or new to the hobby, you've probably come across mulch and heard of all the benefits it offers. However, there is an art to the timing of mulching, and getting it right delivers more results.

Mulching is a fantastic way of protecting your plants from all different types of weather, and it can also be a great way of transforming your garden on a budget. Because of its versatility, it can be difficult to know exactly when it is best to add it to your garden and time it right so your plants are actually reaping the benefits.

So whether you're looking to prepare your garden for an upcoming heatwave or need to protect your plants from frost, here's when the experts recommend adding mulch to your plot.

When should you mulch in the garden? Expert advice

In the same way that there's a best time to water your garden, you'll get the most benefits from mulching your plants when it's done at the right time of year.

"Mulching's most effective when the soil's already moist and warm enough for plants to grow well," explains Dr Russell Sharp, Founder of Eutrema. "The main purpose of mulch is to conserve moisture, suppress weeds and gradually improve the soil as organic materials break down, so applying mulch after watering or after a period of rain helps trap that moisture in the ground and reduce the need for frequent watering during warm weather."

"Mulch also protects the soil from extreme temperature changes, which is particularly useful during hot, dry spells. Around trees, shrubs, roses and perennial borders, a layer of organic mulch can make a noticeable difference to plant health over the course of the growing season," he adds.

Mulching is also an important step to take if your area is under a hosepipe ban, as the organic layer will retain soil moisture, meaning less watering is needed.

When should you not use mulch?

As with many garden tasks, take deadheading your plants, for example; there are times when it's not suitable and could be more of a waste of your time than anything else.

"You should not mulch just before extreme weather is expected. Very wet or windy conditions can wash or blow away the fresh mulch, as it is usually a lightweight material," says Richard Barker, horticulture expert and Commercial Director at LBS Horticulture.

"You should also avoid mulching too early in spring, usually before the soil has had time to warm up. This is because the mulch will act as an insulator, and placing it too early can trap cold moisture in the soil and prevent it from warming," he explains.

So we certainly wouldn't recommend adding mulch to your March garden jobs next year, but as always, work with the ever-changing weather.

What month is best to mulch in the UK?

Whilst mulching can be beneficial for various reasons throughout the year, in different seasons, there is a key time when it's best to start mulching your garden.

"April is usually the best month to mulch," says Dr Russell. "By then, the soil has usually started to warm up after winter, but it still holds plenty of natural moisture. Applying mulch at this point helps lock that moisture into the soil before the hotter weather arrives and weeds become more established."

So while you're sowing your flower seeds in April, you can also mulch your plot as you go.

"Autumn can also be a good time to mulch, particularly around trees, shrubs and perennial plants, as it helps protect the soil over winter while organic materials gradually break down. Rather than focusing on an exact date, it's better to look at the condition of the soil. If it's moist, workable, and the risk of prolonged frost has passed, it's usually a suitable time to mulch," he continues.

What is the downside of mulch?

You can, of course, make a spring gardening mistake when mulching and the mulch itself does come with some downsides. Luckily, knowing them beforehand means you can prepare for and prevent as much as possible.

• Root rot: "A layer of mulch that is too thick will trap moisture in the soil, potentially suffocating plant roots, causing root rot and promoting fungal growth," says Richard.
• Pests: Unfortunately, mulch layers can become the ideal dark, damp hiding spot for garden pests like slugs and snails, so you'll need to put in some more anti-pest measures after mulching.
• Nitrogen depletion: Richard says, "If you use uncomposted mulch, such as sawdust or uncomposted wood chips, it can take nitrogen from the soil as it breaks down."
• Risk of stem rot: The way you mulch is important too, Richard explains, "If mulch is placed too close to the stem of a plant, this traps moisture against the stem and makes it vulnerable to diseases."

So whether you want to keep your garden healthy while you're on holiday or need to change how you water your garden during a hosepipe ban, now you know when and when not to mulch.

Summer is a great time to get out in the garden and sort through your shed and other outdoor storage. However, when throwing away old chemicals like weed killers and pest deterrents, there are a few things to keep in mind.

When sorting out your garden, it's all too easy to get carried away and start throwing items into the bin. And while decluttering your shed is an important task to stay on top of, if you have lots of leftover weedkiller, pesticides or cleaners, you'll need to take a little caution when disposing of them.

Similar to the heaps of things you can't simply throw in your garden waste bin, several chemicals can't be binned with your regular waste. To keep you, your plants and the environment safe, experts outline what to avoid binning when clearing out this summer.

6 mistakes to avoid when disposing of garden chemicals

Although chemical products are not the most sustainable garden idea, they do help with getting rid of weeds in your grass and keeping certain pests away. But to avoid doing more damage to you and your garden, here's what not to do when throwing them away.

1. Throwing weedkiller in the bin

It's no secret that chemicals are one of the best ways to get rid of weeds in your garden, but if you've got some leftover and want to dispose of it, it's not as simple as throwing it into your regular bin.

"Weedkillers and pesticides contain harmful chemicals that, if thrown into a general household waste bin, can pose risks to human health or the environment if they are not disposed of correctly," explains Mark Hall, general waste expert at Bins.co.uk.

"If a bottle leaks inside a wheelie bin, refuse vehicle or waste facility, it can contaminate other materials and create an avoidable handling risk for collection crews. Even if there is only a small amount left in the container, households should avoid dumping it in general waste," he continues.

"Instead, check the correct local disposal route. They can do this by checking whether their council offers a hazardous waste disposal service for items such as chemicals," Mark adds.

2. Pouring chemicals down drains or onto soil

Although having a homemade compost heap is great for dumping your kitchen scraps onto, it's not a spot to throw anything away. And neither are your garden drains.

"Pouring leftover weedkiller, pesticide or patio cleaner down a sink, toilet, outside drain or onto bare soil may seem like a quick way to get rid of a small amount, but it can simply move the problem elsewhere," states Mark.

"Water Treatment Systems in the UK aren’t designed to filter out toxins in chemicals like these. The toxins will enter the environment, pollute public water and harm aquatic life," he continues.

That's why there are several things you shouldn't pour down your drains inside either.

3. Keeping chemicals in unlabelled bottles

Whether you're decluttering your garage or a small trunk storage, it's crucial to label any chemical products and ensure they're not leaking.

"Old garden chemicals are often found in garages and sheds long after the original label has faded, peeled away or been thrown out," Mark starts. "This is where the risk increases, because no one can be fully sure what the product is, how old it is, what it should be used for, or how it should be disposed of."

"Keeping chemicals and pesticides in their original packaging is important because it has been assessed for pesticide storage. The label gives the correct instructions for safe use, storage and disposal," he continues.

"If a product is unlabelled, leaking, or stored in the wrong container, households should avoid opening it, mixing it with anything else, or pouring it down the drain. It should be kept away from children and pets until the local council or hazardous waste service can advise on the safest next step," Mark warns.

4. Mixing contaminated containers in recycling

Even when you've safely emptied the bottles of chemicals, or perhaps used them up completing your summer gardening tasks, the bottles themselves can't be thrown away into general recycling.

"Empty garden chemical bottles should not automatically be placed into general recycling, especially if there is still residue inside or the label gives specific disposal instructions," says Mark.

"Even small amounts of leftover chemicals can contaminate other recyclable materials. This is particularly easy to overlook during a bigger garden clear-out, when plant pots, compost bags, broken tools and old bottles may all be put into the same pile," he points out.

"It’s always important to check each bottle's disposal instructions before disposing of it. If the container is not fully empty, or if there is any doubt about whether it can be recycled, it should be kept separate until the correct disposal advice has been checked," Mark explains.

5. Not keeping chemicals somewhere safe

Aside from the usual garden jobs to do before guests arrive, if you have any of these old chemicals around your garden waiting to be disposed of, it's important to put them out of reach.

"When clearing out a garden and/or the garden shed, garden chemicals can be left out, especially if bottles are moved onto patios, driveways or lawns," Mark explains. "This creates a risk for others, especially if bottles are leaking or labels are missing."

"Any unwanted chemicals should be kept sealed, upright and out of reach until they can be disposed of correctly, and not left in direct sunlight where containers may weaken or expand and potentially burst, causing injury to anyone coming into contact with them," he adds.

Finding a safe place for them is key and can help avoid any possible injuries.

6. Assuming all recycling centres accept garden chemicals

When recycling products like chemicals, it's always best to check your local council and recycling centres' rules. Even if you're taking your old products to the dump, you'll need to make sure they'll accept them.

"Not every household waste recycling centre will accept garden chemicals in the same way," Mark highlights. "Some councils may accept small amounts of household hazardous waste at specific sites, while others may require a booking, a permit or a separate collection."

"Taking garden chemicals to the wrong place can lead to wasted journeys and may increase the temptation to dispose of them incorrectly later. The safest approach is to check your council’s hazardous waste guidance first, and where possible, keep the product sealed and labelled during transport," he continues.

Don't make a common summer garden mistake and leave your chemical products lying around in a mess. Tidying and disposing of them properly will give you peace of mind and keep you and your loved ones safe.

No two people are the same, so no two gardens should be. For anyone wanting to add more personality to their space – from lavish lawns to balcony plots - Sara Davies has just the trick.

The former Dragons’ Den entrepreneur is a recent convert to gardening, documenting her journey as she transforms her outdoor space with the help of her mum. And while she’s no doubt feeling the many proven health benefits of awakening those green fingers, Sara is also letting fans in on the tricks and tips she’s picking up along the way.

Her latest trick is a simple yet impactful way for transforming climbing plants into statement shapes and standout features – and it takes barely any time or effort at all.

Taking to her social media, Sara demonstrated how, even as a relative nature novice, she’s been able to take a simple potted plant and transform it by moving it into a nicer-looking pot and shaping it around a bit of thick wire.

In the caption, she explains, "Since I started gardening, I've been searching for loads of new tips and tricks to try. I've come across this amazing technique a few times and I felt confident enough to have a go myself.

"All I did was take one of my plants, remove the sticks that it came with, bend some thick wire into a heart, and feed the stems around it instead... it was actually SUPER easy.

"Lovely to look at and it barely took any time, so definitely one to have a go at!"

Another trick Sara inadvertently demonstrated in the video is using polystyrene to fill up a pot. For anyone moving a plant into a larger pot, you can save on soil and make it easier to move around - especially great if you're worried about mobility - by using packing peanuts or broken-up foam.

Not every gardener is a fan, because of the risk of microplastics in the soil. Still, you can also replicate the benefits of this trick with natural objects like twigs, pinecones, or broken, unglazed terracotta.

Which plants would Sara's wire trick work best on?

If Sara’s wire trick inspires you, you might be wondering which plants will fare better when shaped around wire. Generally, these fall into two categories: flexible vines that can be wrapped around sturdier wire trellises, and dense shrubs that can be clipped into topiary frames.

Plants that fall under these categories include:

• Star Jasmine
• English ivy
• Creeping Fig
• Boxwood
• Rosemary

Sara turned her plant - a Star Jasmine - into a love heart shape in a patterned pot, and it’s easy to see how you can take this even further if you wanted to stick to a theme, which is why styling any room in your home with potted plants is an easy but overlooked method.

For example, if you wanted a collection of hearts, why not upcycle an old pot by painting more hearts on it? Or you could paint a simple clay pot a more vibrant colour for a real statement look.

Other finishing touches you could consider might include wrapping light, solar-powered fairy lights around your newly-created plant shape. When it gets darker, you’ll still see the shape you created twinkling away.

Fans replying to Sara's post also illustrate other ways you can use this trick. One person shared that they did this with plants at their wedding, and it's easy to see how this would be an affordable yet memorable way of sprucing up an entryway or a centrepiece.

The Ninja Slushi Twist is a summer sensation - that's not my prediction, it's a fact. The viral frozen drinks maker has sold out in America, thanks to the all-new dual-drink design. It promises to be the star of any sunny event, as well as a winner with the kids too.

Older versions of the Ninja Slushi have been big hits in the UK before. All the Ninja Slushi models can make healthy slushies, sorbets, and frozen cocktails in 15 minutes. What makes the new Twist model even more exciting is that it has two slushie drums for two separate drinks, whether that's an alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktail, or a milkshake with a dairy-free alternative, or two flavours that compliment each other in an the model's signature twist style.

As someone who loves to host, the Ninja Slushi Twist is an appliance I'm dying to boast about. I love generous, considerate catering; I love a fast appliance; and I love a feature for an outdoor kitchen. This ticks all of those boxes, with a side of cooling power. What's not to love?

Ninja Slushi Twist Iced Drinks Maker launch

If you're brand new to the whole Ninja Slushie line, these frozen drinks makers are a stroke of genius. Essentially, they churn your drink around a frozen cylinder, making everything from milkshake to frosé in as little as 15 minutes. If you haven't already spotted it too, the Slushi Twist works with alcohol and non-dairy ingredients, which is unusual. Many alternatives can't handle the different temperatures and water content of different recipes, so the Slushi is extra special.

The Slushi Twist is a brilliant for anyone who hosts regularly, wants to make a healthier version of a frozen treat, or for having some fun with in the summer. And, as with all Ninja appliances, this is packed with clever features and technology. The ones that set the Slushi Twist apart from the rest are:

• Make two drinks at once: the headline feature is the dual-barrel design, which lets you prepare two completely different frozen drinks simultaneously. Keep cocktails and mocktails separate, serve dairy and plant-based milkshakes side by side, or create two contrasting flavours for guests to choose from.
• Swirl flavours together with the spinning drip tray: pulling both levers at once lets the clever spinning drip tray swirl the drinks together as they dispense into your glass. The result is a fun, striped frozen drink.
• 14 texture settings: a range of manual settings mean that you can choose what kind of drink or dessert you want from your machine, from thick, spoonable desserts to lighter, more sippable frozen drinks.
• Dual SlushAssist technology: this isn't just a one-button slush machine. Ninja's Dual SlushAssist technology automatically senses the ingredients in each barrel and adjusts the temperature and spin speed to achieve the ideal consistency. If you'd rather take control yourself, there are 14 manual settings ranging from thick, spoonable desserts to lighter, more sippable frozen drinks.
• Faster freezing and better cocktail performance: Ninja says the Slushi Twist freezes drinks faster than the original FS301UK Slushi and can also handle higher-alcohol recipes more effectively. For summer parties, that's a true treat.

The point of the Slushi design is that it's a fun appliance, designed to elevate your hosting from home. You don't need it as much as you might your kettle or toaster, but it has become a "cultural hit" in the words of James Kitto, SVP Managing Director for EMEA at SharkNinja. He is excited “to give consumers a fresh experience, giving them a unique way to combine flavours, personalise their beverages and keep the excitement alive through summer hosting and beyond.”

Similar machines to the Ninja Slushi Twist

When I tested the Ninja Slushie MAX, I put it head-to-head with GreenPan's Frost, This also handles alcohol and dairy-free alternatives, but can also make soft-serve ice cream. However, it doesn't have the versatility boasted by the twist, nor does it have the intuitive touches that are signatures for Ninja: easy cleaning, fast churning, and extra-cold temperatures:

With summer entertaining in full swing, the Ninja Slushi Twist arrives at exactly the right time. The ability to make cocktails and mocktails, dairy and plant-based drinks, or two completely different flavours at the same time makes it far more versatile than your average frozen drink machine. Considering how quickly previous Ninja Slushi models sold out overseas, I'd be surprised if this one stayed in stock for long.

First, a confession. Since my decade-old stick blender gave up the ghost two years ago, I haven't replaced it. Instead, I've been wowed by premium countertop blenders like the Ninja Foodi and Sage Super Q, teaming them up with my favourite kitchen appliance of all time – my 25-year-old KitchenAid stand mixer.

So when I I had the opportunity to test out Dualit's 700W hand blender, I was more than willing, but sceptical that it would stand up to my impressive jug and bullet blenders. Surely countertop appliances have most jobs covered?

But *spoiler alert* I was wrong. Because what this mini machine lacks in terms of power and pizazz, it more than makes up for in convenience and usability. It's certainly worthy of a spot in our roundup of the best hand blenders.

Dualit 700W Hand Blender review

• RRP: £99.99
• Dimensions: H37.8cm x W6.4cm x D12.6cm
• Weight: 2.24kg
• Power: 700W / 220-240V
• Speed: Variable dial + Turbo boost
• Cable length: 1.24m
• Warranty: 1-year guarantee

Unboxing the Dualit 700W Hand Blender

My Dualit blender arrived in a cardboard outer packaging, with the cardboard box within. The blender and its accessories are very efficiently and ecologically packaged, which gets a good score for us, as many hand blenders come with non-recyclable packaging.

Everything is held in place with sturdy cardboard 'shells' and wrapped in tissue paper to protect the surfaces from scratches. The bladed parts (the wand and chopper bowl) have plastic covers to protect the sharp edges, so care needs to be taken to remove them. They are easy to miss, so make sure you check, otherwise you may end up blending them into your food...

A 36-page instruction booklet explains what the various attachments do and how to use them, which parts are dishwasher safe (more on that later), and a useful maximum loading chart, so you don't overwhelm the blender.

It also features a selection of 20 recipes, which I found to be a good jumping-off point for testing the blender. They range from simple smoothies and soups to pancakes, guacamole, pâté and satay sauce.

The blender mostly struck me as great quality: the jug and chopper bowl are made from sturdy plastic and the stainless-steel blender wand feels very premium.

The main body and gearbox are a little plasticky and they do tend to show up fingerprints quite quickly, but they're far from cheap or ugly. Only the whisk struck me as flimsy, though that didn't seem to affect its performance, as we shall see.

Who would the Dualit 700W Hand Blender suit?

Dualit pitches its hand blender as 'a flexible kitchen assistant' that can do most prep jobs. I'd say it's perfect for anyone who wants to elevate their culinary skills by preparing their own pestos mayonnaise, and sauces. It's also a great little blitzer for onions, garlic or breadcrumbs, and can mix up smoothies and soups with ease.

One of my favourite things about the Dualit is its neat size. The blender main body, wand gearbox and whisk will all fit in a shallow kitchen drawer, and the chopper and jug could be easily squeezed into a cupboard, making this a handy tool if you don't have ample countertop space for a countertop appliance.

In short, if you're an enthusiastic home cook with limited space, who wants more than an entry-level appliance but doesn't have hundreds to spend, the Dualit hand blender makes a lot of sense.

At £99.99, the Dualit hand blender sits somewhere in the middle of the stick blender market. It's a little more than similar corded models with comparable attachments from Kenwood and Braun, but cheaper than offerings from Ninja and KitchenAid.

What's the Dualit 700W Hand Blender like to use?

To test all of the Dualit stick blender's capabilities, I made a few standards tests - meringues and mayonnaise – and also took inspiration from the recipe book, mixing up an adapted mackerel pâté and some satay sauce.

Testing the whisk attachment

Fluffy meringue was the first challenge. This would require a combination of the gearbox, which twists and locks into place, and the whisk that’s attached simply by pushing it up into the body of the gearbox. You’ll hear a click when it’s locked in. Dualit recommends you mix no more than four egg whites at a time (I went for three), and whle you can use the tall jug provided, decided to use a glass bowl as I find meringues don't whip up as well in plastic containers.

I started the blender off at a low speed, gradually upping the rate by rolling the variable speed dial on the body of the machine. You do need to be careful not to roll it too quickly though – at higher speeds the meringue started to splash quite a bit and there was no need for the turbo function.

In less than two minutes, the egg whites were whipped up enough to start adding caster sugar, and my meringue mix was ready in less than five minutes. The meringues produced were the perfect combination of fluffy and chewy. So far, so successful.

Removing the whisk afterwards was equally straightforward – I simply grabbed it by the neck and gave it a firm tug. There is one lesson I learned the hard way, though, and that's not to use the whisk attachment on turbo speed. In a moment of impatience, I decided to give it a go and was immediately greeted by a faint burning smell.

Thankfully, no lasting damage appears to have been done, but I suspect repeated turbo-whisking would eventually take its toll on the gearbox and motor, so it's best to save the turbo button for jobs that actually need it.

Testing the chopper bowl and knife blade

Next, I decided to give the blender a more demanding test by making a smoked mackerel pâté using the chopper attachment and blending wand. I loosely followed the salmon pâté recipe in the booklet, simply swapping salmon for smoked mackerel and parsley for dill.

I started by adding large chunks of mackerel fillet to the chopper bowl before locking the blender body and gearbox onto the top. Using the turbo setting, I pulsed the fish until it formed a fine, flaky mixture. It made light work of the job, and the rubber ring around the base of the bowl kept it firmly – and reassuringly – planted on the worktop.

Testing the blender wand

Chopping complete, I transferred the mackerel to a plastic mixing bowl and added cream cheese, spring onion, Worcestershire sauce, roughly torn parsley and the juice of half a lime. It was then time to swap the chopper attachment for the blending wand.

While removing the gearbox was straightforward, attaching the wand took more effort than I expected. It was initially very stiff and needed a firm twist before it finally clicked into place. If you have limited grip strength or problems with your hands or wrists, this could prove tricky.

Once attached, though, the blender felt good and sturdy. The pâté was more of a workout for the blending stick than the fish had been for the chopper, and I did have to stop once to scrape the mixture away from the blades. After a couple of minutes, however, everything was smooth and well combined, and I was impressed by how thoroughly it incorporated the parsley and spring onion without leaving noticeable chunks behind.

And the taste? Delicious. So kudos to Dualit for offering some strong recipes that truly deliver. There was one big issue with the wand, however and that was trying to remove it. I really struggled. I had to get my hubby to release it on the first use, and it's remained stiff and tough after half a dozen uses. I do think it wlll loosen over time, but it's something to be aware of.

Cleaning the Dualit 700W Hand Blender

No matter how good a kitchen gadget is, the real test comes when it's time to clean it. Nobody wants to spend five minutes making a smoothie only to spend 20 minutes scrubbing blender parts afterwards.

Thankfully, Dualit seems to understand this. I was pleasantly surprised to find a dedicated cleaning guide in the manual, detailing exactly how to care for each component. Better still, only two parts aren't dishwasher safe: the main motor unit and the gearbox. Both simply need a quick wipe with a damp cloth followed by a dry one. Their shiny silver finish does attract fingerprints, but it also cleans up easily and never seemed to hold onto food splatters. As this isn't an appliance destined to live permanently on display, I don't see that as a major drawback.

Everything else – the blending wand, whisk, chopper blade, chopper bowl and jug – can go straight into the dishwasher. Dualit recommends using a cycle below 40°C or washing the parts by hand under running water. As someone who generally runs their dishwasher at 50°C, I wasn't quite disciplined enough to follow those instructions to the letter, but I'm pleased to report that everything emerged looking spotless.

The clear plastic components came out free from cloudy watermarks, while the metal wand and blades went from caked in ingredients to box fresh. And, perhaps most importantly, I didn't have to wrestle with a sponge and alarmingly sharp blades, which was a big safety win in my book.

Should I buy the Dualit 700W Hand Blender?

Using the Dualit 700W Hand Blender reminded me just how indispensable a good stick blender can be. It may not be the most glamorous appliance in the kitchen, but when you need one, nothing else quite does the job as quickly or conveniently.

It's become my go-to tool for blending soups directly in the pan – a task that's far less stressful than attempting to transfer litres of hot liquid into a jug blender. I also found myself reaching for the chopper attachment far more often than expected. It made quick work of onions and garlic, produced an excellent homemade pesto and a delicious satay (another delicious recipe courtesy of the instruction booklet).

I did find the whisk up to the task despite my initial misgivings about its flimsiness, though the turbo function is something to be avoided there. I will be honest and say I'd probably still rely on my KitchenAid for whipping cream, meringues and cake batters. However, if you don't have space for a stand mixer, I'd say this is a great option.

Overall, I'd happily recommend the Dualit to you. It's smart-looking, thoughtfully designed, easy to clean and simple to store. The chopper bowl is the standout attachment for me and the one I've continued to use most often. And if you can find it on offer for around £80, even better – that's a lot of versatility for not a lot of cupboard space.

How we test blenders

At woman&home, we test every blender that we recommend to you by hand. This means that all of our observations come as a result of in-person, hands-on experience, reflective of the kinds of jobs you'd be doing in your own kitchen. We make sure to cover all blender attachments, so that you can see how versatile an appliance is, but we also talk about what it's like to hold and clean as well as whether it's good value for money. In short, our review should answer every question that you have on whether the blender suits you. If you want to find out more, you can visit our dedicated page for how we test blenders.

I don't know about you, but I find shower heads to be one of the most frustrating things to clean in my home, especially when the limescale has fully taken over. So I was joyous when I spotted Nancy Birtwhistle has a scrub-free solution.

Although limescale removal isn't a part of my daily cleaning habits, it is still one of the jobs I really dread doing. And yet it's incredibly important to keep on top of it because of the way it affects my shower head's performance; having streams of water going in every direction is far from ideal.

Usually, when I'm in these predicaments, I rely on my expert cleaning hacks, but I hadn't yet discovered cleaning expert Nancy Birtwhistle's 'Pure Magic' spray and solution. It's safe to say I won't be dreading cleaning my shower head ever again.

Although it's one of the household items we should clean more regularly, it's quite easy to avoid cleaning the shower head for months. However, with this simple, scrub-free method, I'll certainly be doing it more often.

"When I got in the shower this morning, I thought the water here was spraying out in all different directions, and then I looked at the rose, limescale," starts Nancy.

"Unscrew, find a dish to fit, use pure magic solution, spray on, flip over and spray other side. Then leave in solution for one hour, rinse in warm water and reattach," she continues.

To make her versatile 'Pure Magic' cleaning solution, Nancy shares the simple chemical-free recipe in her book, and it's incredibly affordable and easy to make.

"Place the citric acid in the heatproof measuring jug, pour over the measure of the just-boiled water straight from the kettle and then stir until completely dissolved and the solution is as clear as plain water," explains Nancy in her book Clean Magic, available for £11.05 at Amazon.

"Once cool, add the washing-up liquid and, if using, the essential oil for perfume. Brightly coloured, branded chemical types of washing-up liquid may solidify the mix. Be sure, too, to use washing-up liquid or dish soap, not hand soap, as this may cause lumps," continues Nancy.

"Leave the liquid in the jug to cool completely, uncovered, for a few hours, then transfer to a spray bottle - label it Pure Magic so that you don't get mixed up and your cleaning can begin," she adds.

Cleaning with citric acid is a fantastic way to keep your home chemical-free; it's often forgotten about, but it tackles soap scum, limescale and mineral deposits all over your home.

Whilst we are big fans of investing in some luxury cleaning products for many jobs around the home, there are plenty of low-cost, simple solutions that work just as well as the branded soaps and sprays.

With temperatures reaching record highs this past month, it's getting increasingly hard to spend any quality time out in the garden. Which is why we've been on the lookout for some smart shade ideas so you can enjoy your summer outside.

There's no shortage of garden shade ideas to add to your garden for the summer months; however, many of them can be expensive, rather bulky or involve waiting for trees to grow. That shouldn't mean you're stuck without that all-important shade and struggling to keep your garden cool this season.

So if you do need small garden ideas, or simply don't have the budget to buy an impressive pergola, these shade sails are just what you've been looking for.

Beat the heat with sun shade sails

Shadescaping your can has multiple benefits for both you and your plant life, especially with the weather getting hotter each summer. That's why it's a good idea to invest in something that can offer that much-needed relief from the sun and the UV that can leave us looking a little too red.

Shade sails aren't only an affordable option, but they can also be easily taken down and don't take up any precious floor space like a parasol or pergola would.

Whilst we're all for properly investing money into your outdoor space to ensure it meets your needs through each season, sometimes installing a pergola or gazebo isn't within the budget. And if you're looking to transform your garden on a budget to help with the heatwave temperatures, a shade sail is a great option.

They're a great option if you have an awkwardly shaped garden or need something precisely measured to fit over your outdoor living room. They come in various shapes, colours and materials; however, their installations are similar.

If you don't have study anchor points to hang your shade sail, then you can buy versions that come with posts, although cementing them into the ground might raise the cost.

Attaching the hooks to your home or any surrounding structures in your garden will keep the costs down and stop any more room being taken. Which is ideal if you don't have much floor space as it is, shade sails are perfect if you've got a rather large collection of patio container plants to accommodate.

With prices starting as little as £27 at B&Q, these sails are a quick, affordable way to give you and your loved ones some respite from the heat whilst still being able to be outside and enjoy the season.

Should you be lucky enough to have a sun-filled garden, shade sails are a nifty solution for keeping your plants that love shade happy, too. Those more sensitive species can be kept safe under the cover, and you won't need to help them recover from sunburn anymore.

It's official: KitchenAid's sell-out walnut wooden bowl is back. This time, it's paired with a soft porcelain finish on the brand's best-selling Artisan design. In my opinion, it's one of the most elegant models KitchenAid has added to its permanent collection.

If you recognise the walnut wood bowl, that's because it was the star of KitchenAid's limited-edition Evergreen Stand Mixer two years ago. The warm walnut finish quickly became one of the brand's most coveted details, bringing organic textures to the kitchen on top of the performance that has secured KitchenAid's place as the nation's favourite stand mixer.

However, when the Evergreen sold out, the bowl disappeared too. And you can ask anyone close to me, I haven't stopped talking about it since. Which is why this latest launch is so exciting. It combines the Artisan design I already love with the walnut wood bowl I thought I'd missed out on forever. I've even had the chance to put it to the test myself.

KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer with Walnut Bowl review

You'll spot in the specifications that this is almost identical to the Artisan. It comes with all the same accessories as the normal range, but with the addition of the walnut wood bowl:

Who would the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer with Walnut Bowl suit?

• Aesthetic-driven bakers and design enthusiasts - the walnut wood bowl makes a stunning kitchen statement
• Bread bakers and artisan recipes - the walnut wood bowl has been praised for how well it creates a natural non-stick for bread doughs
• Slow bakers and careful cleaners - the bowl needs to be hand washed (and even oiled on occasion), so suits bakers who don't mind a little maintenance

KitchenAid stand mixers have long been loved by serious bakers. There's no denying that they strike an iconic silhouette on the counter, which is only enhanced by the striking wooden bowl. I have mine in a modern kitchen, but I could imagine it making a beautiful statement in a cosy cottage or farmhouse kitchen.

KitchenAid stand mixers have become famous for good reason. They're the model that the Great British Bake Off uses, because they work well across a range of functions. The walnut wood bowl has had some specific praise for its natural non-stick which is brilliant if you make stickier loaves, such as sourdough, brioche, and focaccia.

There are a few maintenance notes to account for though. Unlike KitchenAid's stainless steel bowls, this cannot go in the dishwasher, so needs to be carefully washed by hand and occasionally oiled to keep the wood in good condition. Also, as a wooden item, it can't be put in the freezer before whipping cream or egg whites, so isn't perfect for cold baking enthusiasts.

What is the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer with Walnut Bowl like to use?

I've tested several versions of the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer over the years, and they've consistently impressed me with their combination of power, style and reliability. This latest edition, with its walnut wooden bowl, brings something slightly different to the range: a warmer, more tactile design that feels made to sit proudly on a kitchen worktop.

My typical stand mixer tests cover everything I would expect a keen baker to make at home: bread (including both a classic white loaf and sourdough), cake batter, cookie dough and whipped cream. These recipes allow me to test the full capabilities of the mixer, from the strength of the motor and stability of the bowl to how evenly each attachment works. They also give me a chance to assess how practical the KitchenAid accessories are in everyday use.

As expected, this KitchenAid sailed through my tests. The first thing I noticed was how smoothly dough released from the wooden bowl. When making focaccia, I found it easy to lift the dough away from the sides without needing to scrape stubborn patches out with a spatula. I noticed the same with cookie dough, which can often cling to the sides of a mixer bowl and make transferring the mixture more frustrating. Here, the smoother finish made the process noticeably easier.

Whipping cream was equally impressive, with the whisk attachment creating a light, even texture in a short amount of time. One thing worth noting, however, is that the wooden bowl can't be chilled before use. Unlike a stainless steel bowl, wood is an insulating natural material, so if you're someone who likes to pop your bowl in the freezer before whipping cream, this isn't the model for you.

The lack of a handle was the biggest practical difference I noticed during testing. When scraping out the last of my mixtures, I found myself wishing I had something to grip while holding a spatula in the other hand. It wasn't a dealbreaker, especially because the bowl isn't particularly heavy to manoeuvre, but it is something to consider if you're used to the convenience of a handled mixer bowl.

For cakes and cookies, I used the standard beater attachment, and both mixtures were combined thoroughly. The attachment reached right down to the bottom of the bowl, leaving no pockets of unmixed flour behind. I was initially cautious about using chocolate and richer ingredients against the wooden surface, but the bowl felt robust throughout testing.

Like any wooden kitchenware, it does require slightly more consideration than stainless steel. While it feels durable, wood can absorb oils over time, so I would avoid using it regularly for particularly greasy mixtures or heavily spiced batters that could affect the appearance of the finish. For everyday baking, though, it adds a beautiful, natural element to the KitchenAid experience while still delivering the performance you'd expect from the Artisan range.

Should you buy the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer with Walnut Bowl?

The KitchenAid Artisan Wooden Bowl Stand Mixer is a beautiful example of how a practical kitchen appliance can also become a design feature. Throughout testing, it delivered the same impressive performance I've come to expect from the Artisan range, handling everything from bread dough to delicate whipped cream with ease.

The wooden bowl does come with a few considerations. It isn't quite as practical as stainless steel for every baking task, particularly if you regularly work with oily mixtures or rely on chilled bowls for whipping cream. However, for everyday baking, the smooth finish, easy release and warm walnut design make it a genuinely special addition to the kitchen.

If you're already a KitchenAid fan and want a stand mixer that makes a statement , this is one of the most elegant versions I've tested. It combines the reliability of the Artisan range with a unique material choice that makes even simple baking feel a little more special.

Does plant food remain a mystery to you? With so many different types on the market, it can be hard to figure out which ones you really need and what they even do for your plants.

Whether you're trying to make your grass look greener this summer or simply want to maximise your roses' blooming period, you've probably tried using plant food. And whilst they're pretty straightforward essential gardening tools for getting more from your plants, the sheer number of different types available can get confusing.

To make feeding your plants simpler, garden design expert and influencer at @Gardening.with.Ish on Instagram, Ish, has given us a complete rundown on all the different feeds, what they do and whether or not you need them.

Even if you're not trying to keep costs down in the garden this summer, buying a bunch of plant food is not only expensive but possibly unnecessary.

"Are all these plant foods really necessary for your plants? Well, let's find out, because there are so many different varieties for so many different plants, a lot of people are actually quite confused. So I thought I'd break it down today so you know exactly what's what," starts Ish.

"Let's start with the good old multi-purpose. I've got slow-release feed, which you put directly into the ground or into the compost, and this will last about four to six months, giving a steady release of nutrients to those plants. So for this one, it's a multi-purpose, which is good for leaves and flowers," he continues

"Now you've got the liquid feed, which is more of an instant feed. So you do this every couple of weeks or so during the high-growing months. As a result, it thrives, but it's not targeting anything specifically; it's just good for flowers, good for leaves, so you'll get a kind of mixed bag," Ish adds.

Should you be a beginner vegetable gardener, you've probably used tomato feed before, but there's more than one way to use tomato feed in your garden.

"If you want something a little bit better for flowers and your fruit, go for a tomato feed or a strawberry feed. Now, tomato feeds are high in potassium, which means they're great for strawberries, raspberries, even your apples, pears, peaches, but also really good for flowers too. So the dahlias that you've got growing at the moment love tomato feed, which helps them generate more flowers, and even your strawberries," explains Ish.

"But a little interesting fact, for you, strawberry feed and tomato feed are usually the exact same thing. So get whichever one works for you or is cheapest because they do the same thing," he says.

"Next thing we're looking at high iron feeds. Now, these are your lawn tonics and your ericaceous feeds. So, lawn tonics are really, really good at being watered straight on, and because they're so high in iron, the lawn loves it, but things like weeds and moss absolutely hate it; it actually burns them," Ish points out.

Not only will these tonics help get rid of moss in your lawn, but they'll also help darken the green colour of your grass.

Should you have some of the best cottage garden plants in your space, like hydrangeas or rhododendrons, then Ish recommends looking out for a particular feed.

"And then if you ever see pink on a feed, it usually means it's an ericaceous feed. Which is slightly acidic, so things like your rhododendrons, some of your hydrangeas, even camellias as well, will absolutely thrive with these," Ish says.

"Acer feed, feed in March and September, handful in and water in, all you need to do, as it's a slow-release feed that's perfect for acers," he quickly adds.

Now, you might still not want to buy every single feed mentioned here, but at least now you know which ones you actually need and why.

If you have your own homemade compost heap, then you'll know the nutrients in this can also be a great way to feed your plants, just be sure to check it's properly broken down before adding it anywhere.

As pruning is such an essential gardening task, having the best tools to tackle the job is a must. And while a professional set of standard secateurs is perfectly sufficient to prune with precision, what could be better than a power-assisted pair that takes the strain out of repeatedly clamping down on the handles with force?

That's where the new Bosch EasyPrune power-assisted gardening tool takes the lead, protecting your wrists and hands by relieving the pressure required when pruning even the toughest branches.

I've been using this smart pair of secateurs to cut through everything from the thick woody stems on a dying ivy bush and bay tree to pruning tomato plant stems. It has proved it's a worthy contender for any essential gardening tool kit.

Bosch EasyPrune Cordless Garden Secateurs review

Who would they suit?

These power-assisted secateurs would suit several different gardeners. Firstly, they are perfect for those who need to ease the strain on their hands, for instance those with joint discomfort and hand muscle issues.

Secondly, they are ideal for those who love power tools and enjoy the ease of working with a battery-assisted gadget. And generally for anyone who enjoys gardening but would rather tackle routine tasks with ease. Perhaps someone who had a once manageable plot that now feels overwhelming and too much upkeep?

Bosch recommends using the secateurs for small and medium-sized pruning jobs, so while they will help cut through plants that regular secateurs can't, they are not suitable for heavy-duty pruning such as your best potted trees.

What are the Bosch EasyPrune Secateurs like to use?

Firstly, they are super easy to use. I know sometimes when things are 'smart' they can feel like they might be complicated. The USB port makes it easy to charge (the cable is included but without a plug adaptor), within an hour.

Once fully charged, you are good to go. It says you get approximately 450 cuts per charge, but it felt like more than that after a morning of hearty pruning (I must confess, I didn't actually count – but it was a lot).

If you have fast-growing shrubs in your garden, you'll know how unruly they can get if left untended – particularly those with woody stems. These secateurs can cut through branches of 20mm hardwood and 25mm softwood, with no effort from you at all.

I did find that on particularly thick branches it took several attempts to cut through, but it still got the job done without me having to apply force.

With sizeable stainless steel blades and automatic power-assist technology which intuitively kicks in once resistance is detected, this tool really is smart garden gadget that can transform the way you prune.

Even if you don't struggle with hand strain, a long day of gardening can wreak havoc on your wrists and fingers; this will reduce the risk of that strain and make gardening easier and more enjoyable again.

Probably the biggest test for these cordless garden secateurs was tending to a dying ivy bush that is now mostly woody roots and branches that need to be completely cut back. Full disclosure, I've been putting the job off because I was dreading how hard it would be for my poor hands, as each cut would require pressure. Since using the new Bosch EasyPrune battery-powered secateurs, I was actually looking forward to getting to work on it. And I wasn't disappointed.

Because of its capabilities to cut through 20 mm of hardwood, the majority was as easy as trimming a single flower stem. There were a few thicker branches, but I simply had to repeat the cut twice to get through the tough stem. There's no doubt that this is where this smart pair of secateurs excels.

This image below perfectly demonstrates what size of stem the tool intuitively knows to cut – it didn't engage when cutting the smaller branch of my rose bush. But for the more substantial branch, it automatically cut through with power. This smart approach preserves battery life because it only engages the power-assist when you genuinely need it.

It's worth noting what it's like to use in terms of how it feels when it cuts. For the most part, it operates as a manual pair of secateurs and cuts in manual mode. When a certain branch diameter is reached, it automatically starts power-assisted mode by starting the integrated motor.

This emits a small vibration and a short mechanical-type noise. The sound pressure level of the product is less than 70db, so there is absolutely no danger of it upsetting the neighbours in the same way as a leaf blower would.

How do they compare to standard secateurs?

There are several ways to draw comparisons. The first is the price. Obviously, the EasyPrune is more expensive than even the most sophisticated professional secateurs, but they are a power tool, so that is to be expected. In terms of what they can do and how easy they make pruning, I would say they are worth investing in.

The next comparison is the weight and size. They are much bigger than secateurs I've ever owned or worked with, which for some might not be as appealing. The battery makes these secateurs slightly more weighty, but not so heavy that they are problematic to use.

They are most notably heavier than standard plastic alternatives. Compared to an old (very old) pair of Kent & Stowe hardwood and carbon steel secateurs, they don't feel overly heavy. So, in short, they are not significantly heavier than a quality standard set of secateurs.

The last, but not least, element to compare is how they perform. When it comes to cutting through stems and branches, there is simply no comparison. They effortlessly glide through thicker branches. And with slender stems that don't activate the power-assisted mode, they cut in the same manner as a regular pruning tool.

Cleaning the Bosch EasyPrune Secateurs

As with any garden secateurs, you should always take care when cleaning the blades. The instruction manual says to keep the tool away from water and moisture, so the best approach for cleaning is to simply wipe with a microfibre cloth after each use – always wearing gloves to protect your hands.

The upper blade is replaceable, and the helpful user manual that accompanies the tool provides clear instructions to help if you ever need to do so further down the line.

Should you buy the Bosch EasyPrune Cordless Garden Secateurs?

Whether cutting back a dense hedgerow, shaping foliage or pruning roses to maximise blooms, using a standard pair of secateurs can lead to aches and discomfort after repetitive strain. This power-assisted pair would suit anyone who wants to make the job easier.

They are an investment, with an RRP of £92, but they are rechargeable, and the main blade is replaceable, ensuring they last for years to come.

You should buy the Bosch EasyPrune tool if you want to reduce the effort involved in any pruning task.

Safety notices in the user manual: If no force is exerted onto the handles the tool stops. Protect the power tool against heat, e.g against continuous intense sunlight, fire, water and moisture.

There's nothing quite as rewarding in the garden as growing your own produce from seed. And while summer is usually seen as a harvest season, there are still tonnes of vegetables to sow this month and enjoy come autumn time.

If you're learning vegetable gardening for beginners, you may be surprised to learn that no matter what month you're in, there's usually plenty of veggies to sow in your garden. The month of July is no exception. Actually, you'll want to speed through your July gardening jobs list as some rather delicious vegetables need sowing now.

So it's time to get out into the garden, crack out your essential gardening tools and start sowing before it's too late.

What vegetables to plant in July: 7 recommended varieties

With so many summer gardening jobs to tick off this time of year, it's easy to forget about adding more plants to your collection. And with so many vegetable seeds to sow this July, it's a shame to miss out on late harvests.

1. Salad Leaves

Salad leaves are a great veggie to grow if you're limited to balcony gardening or need to keep your food growing in pots around your garden.

"Salad leaves are a quick and easy crop to grow, and they can be sown continually throughout the year. They will grow well even in poor soils, but boosting the moisture content of the soil will reduce the risk of them running to seed in hot weather, which can make the leaves taste bitter," says Richard Barker, horticulture expert and Commercial Director at LBS Horticulture.

"Prepare the sowing area by removing weeds and stones, and rake the soil so it has a fine texture. Make shallow drills in the soil, water along each drill, and sprinkle seeds along the bottom before covering them thinly with soil. Alternatively, you can grow small patches of salad leaves in the gaps of borders," he adds.

"Do not let the soil of salad leaves dry out during hot weather, and you can mulch the plants once they reach around 5cm in height to help the soil retain moisture. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, you can thin out any crowded plants or eat them straight away," continues Richard.

2. Carrots

Not only are carrots a great thing to plant in June, but they're also great to sow in July, so no panic if you didn't manage to get around to it last month.

"July is the last month you can sow carrots if you want a crop for autumn. Fork the soil thoroughly to remove clumps and stones, but avoid adding organic matter in the same year as planting, as if the nutrient level of the soil is too high, the carrots may 'fork' (split into multiple roots)," says Richard.

"Sow the seeds directly into the soil in a shallow seed drill, checking that the seeds will not grow too closely together before covering with soil and watering. Water occasionally as they grow, as too much water can cause stunted growth," he continues.

"Flowering can mean that the crops have bolted due to hot weather, and this unfortunately means that the carrot is no longer edible. You do not need to thin out carrot seedlings, as it can attract carrot root fly," Richard warns.

3. Turnips

Now turnips are certainly not a vegetable that can be grown in a pot, unless it's a very deep one. But they're very fast growers, so sowing them now will mean a brilliant harvest in autumn.

"Turnip seed can be sown in late summer if you are growing maincrop turnips. Sow seeds into well-prepared, moist soil, and if growing the plants for their roots, you will need to thin seedlings out depending on the size you want," starts Richard.

"Keep turnip crops well watered, particularly during dry weather, as if plants dry out, their roots can become small and woody," he adds.

If you do want to grow edible food in pots, then this advice from BBC Gardeners' World on compact varieties is going to be a lifesaver.

4. Radishes

Radishes are another plant that can also be grown in September; however, if you want to enjoy them in your salads before summer's over, now is the time to sow.

"Radishes are a quick crop to mature and easy to grow. Seeds can be sown every few weeks through summer if you want a regular supply, and they can be sown directly into warm soil," says Richard.

"They need plenty of moisture to grow well, so they will need to be watered regularly, and thin out any seedlings growing too close together. Summer radishes are usually ready to harvest within three to six weeks; if left in the ground any longer, they can turn woody," he adds.

Radishes surprisingly make great patio container plants thanks to their shallow growth, so great for when you're limited on space outside.

5. Cabbages

Growing cabbages can be made much easier if you try out some companion planting. Due to their leafy exterior, they're a huge target for snails and slugs, so planting them alongside chamomile or dill can help protect them.

"July is a great time to plant winter cabbages, as it gives them plenty of time to mature before temperatures drop in autumn. Plant cabbages 30cm to 45cm apart, but check the seed packaging as different cabbage varieties may need different intervals," Richard explains.

"Firm the plants well so the roots are secure, and this can also prevent cabbage flies from laying eggs in the soil around the stem. Keep cabbages well watered during dry spells so the soil does not dry out, but do not allow the soil to become dried out either. Remove any yellowing leaves from the cabbages, as these can cause diseases," he instructs.

6. Kale

Not only is kale a great superfood to grow at home, but it can also be a lovely yet unique addition to your plant arrangements for autumn hanging baskets.

"Classed as a superfood as it’s one of the most nutrient-dense foods available, I’d also class Kale as a ‘super food’ for home growers as it’s not only hardy enough to thrive in our UK climate, it’s also exceptionally low maintenance, rarely bothered by pests and is suitable for growing in all types of soil," begins Lucie Bradley, gardening expert at Easy Garden Irrigation.

"July is the ideal time to sow kale directly into the ground, having prepared a sunny spot first by clearing weeds and digging in well-rotted garden compost or fertiliser to boost the nutrient levels," she adds.

"Sow seeds 1cm deep and spaced up to 10cm apart, keeping the soil consistently moist until they germinate, which should be quick in the warm July weather, taking around 7 days and once they reach 10 to 15cm tall, you should be able to thin them out so they are spaced approx. 45cm apart," continues Lucie.

Monty Don recently shared his guidance on thinning seedlings and why it's so important for the plant's growth and overall health.

7. Pak Choi

If you're a fan of succession planting, you'll love the regenerative way Pak Choi can be grown in your garden so you can enjoy it for weeks and weeks.

"Simply the best time to plant the ultra-fast cut-and-come-again Pak Choi is mid to late July, so you have avoided the longest summer days, which can trigger ‘bolting’ in this cool-season crop, which will cause the otherwise mild, earthy flavour of the leaves to become bitter," Lucie explains.

"When sowing in July, to reduce the stress of the hotter summer days, select a spot where your plants will be in light, partial shade and ensure you keep the soil consistently moist. Seeds should be sown 1cm deep and spaced approx. 5cm apart, thinning to 20cm apart when the leaves reach 5 to 6cm in height," she continues.

"Key to successfully growing Pak Choi is to use a fine insect mesh to cover your crop from as soon as they are sown so that you can enjoy their mildly sweet flavour when eaten raw or cooked rather than them falling foul to flea beetles or slugs, which they are highly susceptible to but which are easily prevented by covering your crop as it grows," suggests Lucie.

FAQs

What is the best vegetable to plant in July?

Whilst you're sorting out the garden this month, why not add to your vegetable patch and treat yourself to some late summer veggie harvesting? If you want guaranteed success, Lucie recommends sowing Swiss Chard.

"One of the best vegetables to sow in July is Swiss Chard, as this tasty superfood not only provides continuous harvesting for between 6 to 12 months, it’s also one of those vegetables which is best grown at home rather than bought in the supermarket as it doesn’t travel and store well so for premium quality it is best treated as ‘cut-and-come-again’ crop," starts Lucie.

"Remarkably hardy and a consistent grower in our unpredictable UK climate, by sowing in July, you will have an abundant supply of fresh, tasty leaves to harvest all the way through autumn and winter and will even survive the coldest months, so you can pick fresh leaves in early spring," she adds.

You can still protect your plants from frost as you usually would, but the vegetable is tough enough to survive the bleak weather.

Is July too late to plant vegetables in the UK?

Don't make a summer gardening mistake and assume your vegetable planting days are over in July; there's more than enough to sow to keep your kitchen filled all the way through autumn.

"Whilst July is too late to plant tender, slow-maturing vegetable crops such as peppers or sweetcorn, it’s actually viewed as a ‘second planting window’ for a wide range of fast-growing crops like radishes and turnips as well as over-wintering crops like kale and sprouting broccoli," says Lucie.

"Fast-growing crops benefit from both the warmer soil and air temperatures which July bring to speed up growth, with radishes ready to harvest in just four weeks and salad leaves, including lettuce, rocket and spinach, all being ready to pick in four to six weeks if you sow them in July," she points out.

And if you don't have time to get out in the garden this month, whether it's because of holidays or World Cup viewing, then don't worry, there are plenty of things to plant in August too.

What better time to take a trip, albeit virtually, around the Murray's breathtaking Scottish hotel Cromlix, than on the final day of the iconic Wimbledon tournament?

Complete with a bar, restaurant, billiards room, and of course numerous tennis courts, the Cromlix hotel is perfectly located in the rural, secluded woodland near Dunblane, Scotland. And if you've ever wondered how to add personality to your home, then simply looking at every room in this refurbished Victorian country house will give you more than enough inspiration.

Sharing the space with The Sunday Times Style YouTube channel, Kim Murray welcomes us to walk around the property, visiting her favourite spaces and gives us a little behind-the-scenes of the interior choices in each room.

Unsurprisingly, the entire family home turned hotel oozes luxury and warmth, and whilst we might expect celebrities to prioritise their own tastes within a space, it's clear the Murrays have incorporated Scotland's heritage as well as the timeless interiors pre-existing in the property.

It's safe to say the Murrays and their interior expert, Suzanne Garuda, have mastered how to make a space look expensive without taking away the comfort or homely feel. Kim herself says, "It's family owned now, and that's really important to us. I've always wanted it to feel first and foremost like a home as opposed to a hotel."

One of the most bewitching spaces is the drawing room with its baby blue walls and light lemon ceiling, a choice that Kim says was quite the rogue concept. However, the bold floral furniture dotted around the room, some new and some refurbished from before, really ties the pastel colour palette together, making a cohesive, relaxing space perfect for a spot of afternoon tea.

This charming butter yellow and powder blue scheme is also featured in Kim's favourite bedroom and suite. She walks us through, describing the design process and why she loves the space so much.

"So this is Hyssa, one of our lovely turret suites, it's got it's own sitting room there and then this amazing interior corridor, which I love we went really dark on the wall colour which is probably quite unusual for a space where you've got kind of one window," says Kim.

"Through to this lovely bedroom, which has got the amazing aspect out over the grounds and the tennis court. This is one of my favourite bedrooms. I think it's got a real princessy feel to it and you feel like you're sitting atop a castle and the view is amazing. You've just this tree line and the mountains beyond," she continues.

The space, as well as the other bathrooms and bedrooms, is a lesson in sophisticated dopamine decor. They envelop you in personality and charm without being overwhelming or taking away from the serene feel of the hotel.

"Every time people walk through the door of it, it's like, 'Oh wow, is this all mine'. One of my favourite things in this room is the two window seats that we've created," Kim starts.

"There was just a chest of drawers in this one, and we've obviously built it in, furnished it, and I just think it's a lovely place to sit and enjoy the surroundings. The light pours in, and you've got amazing views of the grounds and the woodland," she adds.

Finishing the tour in Andy's favourite room, the billiards room, Kim points out all the fun, rather quirky additions in the space, as well as the inherited, refurbished billiards table. We might have to agree with Andy; this is undoubtedly our favourite room.

Were you expecting something a little more on the nose from the iconic tennis couple? Whilst there isn't much tenniscore interiors in the hotel, we're certainly not surprised to hear that there are multiple tennis courts on the 34-acre property. We'll see you there for a game, Andy!

At woman&home, we take pride in knowing exactly what makes a great night’s sleep, especially when it comes to staying cool. So when we started seeing impressive feedback about the Evermore 1500 Pocket Spring Foam Hybrid Mattress, we were intrigued. Promising breathable comfort, pressure-relieving support and a luxurious feel, we put it to the test in the real world to see whether it could deliver on those claims.

Like many of the best cooling mattresses, the Evermore combines pocket springs with layers of foam to create a balance of support and comfort. It also uses temperature-regulating materials designed to help dissipate heat, so you can enjoy a cooler night's sleep without relying on a fan running at full blast.

But cooling is only one part of a good mattress. The Evermore’s supportive construction is designed to provide a comfortable sleeping surface for a range of sleepers, including those who need extra cushioning around pressure points. So, could this newer mattress be the secret to deeper, more restorative sleep?

Evermore 1500 Pocket Spring Foam Hybrid Mattress review

• RRP: £479
• Warranty: Five years
• Sizes: Single, Small Double, Double, King size, Super King size
• Filling: Pocket Spring, reflex foam layer, Aurora Gel performance layer, quilted top
• Comfort: Medium-firm
• Thickness: 28cm
• Trial Period: N/A

How we test mattresses

Before you find out all about what we found when testing this mattress, it helps to know a little bit more about the person who tested it, Linda. She's part of our Tester Network where readers, like you, test products for us.

Who would the Evermore 1500 Pocket Spring Foam 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

One of the reasons we wanted to test this mattress was its reputation amongst hot sleepers. The Aurora Gel performance layer is specifically designed to offer temperature control and airflow underneath you. Unlike many mattresses that use foam, it doesn't trap your body heat by your skin, reducing the clammy feeling that plenty of hot sleepers struggle with. We will go into the details later, but Linda was happy to report that she found the mattress "very cool to sleep on and I'm well into menopause."

The mattress is also sold as the perfect option for back sleepers and front sleepers as well as anyone struggling with back pain and joint issues. This boils down to the supportive elements inside the mattress, which comprise of 1,500 springs, which operate independently, offering each part of your body a tailored amount of resistance. There's also a reflex foam layer, which is said to follow and support spinal curvature carefully.

Evermore 1500 Pocket Spring Foam Hybrid Mattress Composition

Quilted top - said to offer ‘luxuriously plush cushioning for better sleep’. It definitely does this, you do feel like you’re sinking into a cloud when you lay down.

Aurora Gel performance layer - said to give ‘temperature control and optimal ventilation’. It is very cool to sleep on (and I’m a hot sleeper/menopausal).

‘A layer of reflex foam technology encourages your spine into a healthy alignment’. I didn’t notice any pain in my spine (or anywhere). It feels very supportive.

‘The fibre comfort layer makes it extra snug to sleep on’. I did feel like I was sinking into a very snug mattress (but it didn’t feel saggy!).

Adaptive 1500 pocket springs technology adjust to your movement for motion isolation - I think so (but it was a single so I didn’t share it with anyone, so I can’t be 100% sure).

Unboxing the Evermore 1500 Pocket Spring Foam Hybrid Mattress

It's always helpful to have notice before your mattress arrives. Whilst they've certainly come a long way, they aren't quite at the stage where you could pop one through your letterbox just yet.

As a hybrid mattress, it's harder to squeeze this into a box, because you're dealing with springs as well as foam. Therefore, Linda wasn't entirely surprised when this appeared at her door wrapped in a minimal amount of packaging, but still full-sized. "You'll need two people to move it," she says, "but the delivery team were really polite, friendly, and helpful. They even offered to carry it up the stairs." We'd always recommend having your strong arms at the ready, just in case delivery drivers are in a hurry, but the general feedback online seems to reflect Linda's experience.

Once Linda had taken the plastic off the mattress, she noticed a "new" smell, but not any of the chemical off-gassing that some hybrid and foam mattresses come with. The scent had dissipated within a few hours and Evermore don't leave any notes for letting your mattress rest before sleeping on it, so it's safe to assume that this is a mattress that arrives ready to go.

What is the Evermore 1500 Pocket Spring Foam Hybrid Mattress like to sleep on?

The first thing you'll notice about the Evermore mattress is its depth. At 28cm tall, this is a substantial hybrid mattress with multiple layers designed to balance comfort and support. The extra height often translates as the brand making more room for comfort layers on top of supportive springs underneath. Unsurprisingly, that’s exactly what gives the Evermore its luxurious, sink-in feel without losing structure. There are layers dedicated to different elements of comfort, all of which pay off.

Our tester Linda described the experience as “a bit like lying on a cloud”, and from looking at the composition, it's easy to see why. This is a mattress that immediately feels inviting: soft enough to let your body relax into it, but with enough resistance underneath to stop you feeling swallowed. She rated the firmness as medium, describing it as “soft yet supportive” and “just right”, with the feel staying consistent throughout the night.

This is rare for many mattresses, including hybrids. Balancing foam and springs can be tricky: too much foam and softer mattresses can lack support, while firmer designs can leave you feeling like you’re sleeping on top of the bed rather than in it. The Evermore sits comfortably between the two, offering that luxurious cushioning you’d expect from a premium mattress while still keeping your body supported.

Linda was particularly impressed by how restorative her sleep felt. “It felt hotel quality without the price tag,” she said, adding that she experienced a “very deep, undisturbed sleep” and woke up feeling well rested. She compared the experience to staying in a luxury hotel, with the mattress creating that immediate feeling of relaxation when you get into bed.

It also performed well in warmer weather. Linda tested the mattress during a summer heatwave and found that it stayed cool throughout the night. While no mattress can completely prevent overheating, especially during extreme temperatures, the combination of breathable materials and temperature-regulating technology helped create a cooler, more comfortable sleeping environment.

The only practical consideration is the height and weight of the mattress. At 28cm deep, it has a real premium feel, but if your bed frame is already tall, you may find you need to climb slightly higher into bed. Linda also noted that its substantial build makes changing the sheets a little more effort. However, for a mattress designed to deliver a luxury sleep experience, those are small compromises for the comfort it provides.

Should you buy the Evermore 1500 Pocket Spring Foam Hybrid Mattress?

Judging by Linda's experience, this is a mattress that deserves more praise than it currently gets. When we put the question of whether she would recommend the mattress to a friend, or indeed buy it next time she's replacing her mattress, the answer was an emphatic "yes." She added "if you’re looking for a mattress with a luxury feel without the five-star price tag, and one which offers cooling technology, I wouldn’t lose any sleep over buying this mattress."

Testing it during a heatwave meant that Linda could scrutinise this in a new way and reported back that she was " one happy sleeper and woke up feeling refreshed (rather than like a hot water bottle)" during weeks of hot weather. It seems that the Evermore just gained its place as a new woman&home favourite.

Enjoying time out in the garden between Wimbledon matches this month? With the final ahead of us today, we've got tennis on our minds, and this rather ingenious trick is just the thing to get us ready for the championship's climax.

It may have been a challenge trying to sort your garden out this month without missing the thrilling Wimbledon matches. But there's nothing like having the right essential gardening tools to make your life easier, and more importantly, make your July gardening jobs list go quicker.

Which is why this trick from gardening expert Simon Akeroyd (@simonakeroydgardenwriter on Instagram) immediately caught our eye. Not only does it help get a particularly frustrating job in the garden done quicker and easier, but it's also got a Wimbledon-esque twist to it.

If you're a proud owner of your own homemade compost heap, you'll be more than aware of how clumpy it can get. And if you're using it to plant up patio container plants, these lumps need to go for the best results.

"When you make homemade compost, it is often very lumpy. This is fine if you just need bulky material for mulching or filling raised beds in the garden," starts Simon.

"But ideally, you want a nice, fine compost for seed sowing and potting on plants. For this reason, I sieve my garden compost. You can use a specific garden composting sieve (a riddle). But an old tennis racquet works just as well!" he continues.

Not only is this a great sustainable garden idea for keeping your compost performing at its best, but reusing old things in this way is a fantastic way to keep costs down in the garden.

"Instead of buying a compost sieve for removing the lumps in your homemade compost, repurpose your old tennis racquet instead. Your old racquet has a perfectly weighted handle, and the racquet holes are the perfect size for removing lumps," Simon points out.

"Gardeners call the process of sieving compost ‘riddling’, and a compost sieve is known as a riddle," Simon explains.

So whether you're a beginner vegetable gardener or are trying to waste less, this is a fantastic new trick to add to your gardening repertoire and a brilliant new use for your beloved tennis racquet.

Looking to waste less in the garden? There are so many ways to reuse household waste through your gardening, it's sustainable and will save you heaps of money in the process too.

Warm temperatures are great for helping your plants thrive and grow, but they also, unfortunately, create a welcoming environment for pests to move in. And right now, it's aphid season.

If you've been a gardener for a short time or for years, you'll have no doubt come across aphids in your garden. They're minute insects that enjoy feasting on your plants and can become a big issue rather quickly. Whilst there's a common flower that can help repel pests like aphids, there's another natural option to help keep your plants safe.

Although there are plenty of garden plants to grow that provide food for birds, there are a couple of species that will also feast on aphids, acting as a natural pest control.

Secret to preparing your garden for aphids this season

Whilst you've been sorting out your garden this month, you may have found some rather gross-looking insects taking over the leaves of your plants. These are aphids, also known as greenfly, and now is the time they arrive in gardens in swarms.

"With peak aphid season taking place across June and July, gardens across the UK can expect surging numbers of the pests. Aphids – or greenflies – are sap-sucking bugs, which feed on plants including ornamentals, vegetables, fruits, greenhouse plants and houseplants," says Ark Wildlife's wildlife expert, Sean McMenemy.

"Aphid populations can double every three days during their annual peak, with large numbers damaging plants by weakening new growth and spreading disease," he adds.

In the same way you'd attract birds to your garden to help with slugs, they can also be recruited for your aphid problem.

"Fortunately, some of Britain's garden birds act as highly effective natural pest control. Blue tits and long-tailed tits rely heavily on insects during the breeding season, with aphids forming a key part of their diet," continues Sean.

"Parent birds can collect hundreds of insects every day while feeding their young, making them valuable allies for gardeners looking to support wildlife and maintain a healthy garden naturally," explains Sean.

So if you do want to attract birds to your garden to help with your aphid problem, here are a few ways Sean says you can invite your feathered friends.

Along with following the latest guidance on summer bird feeding, you can also choose specific plants to help encourage these birds to your outdoor space

"Blue tits and long-tailed tits spend much of the breeding season searching for insects to feed their young, including aphids, caterpillars and other soft-bodied invertebrates. Gardens with a healthy mix of flowering plants, trees and shrubs provide valuable foraging opportunities, encouraging birds to visit regularly throughout spring and summer," he recommends.

"Allowing sections of the garden to grow more naturally can make it far more attractive to wildlife. Longer grass, wildflowers and undisturbed corners support a wider range of insects while providing additional cover for birds moving around the garden," Sean suggests.

Should you find that you're still dealing with aphids, and on a large scale, other garden experts recommend using a homemade natural garlic spray to keep the pests away.

It's not just your outdoor plants you'll want to keep an eye on this season; aphids are also a common pest found on houseplants and will need to be treated to keep your plants healthy.

If you're anything like us, you'll be an absolute sucker for a stylish home accessory, and with our current love of wireless rechargeable lamps only growing by the day, the news that this Next sell-out marble lamp is back had us jumping for joy.

When it comes to rechargeable lamps, this particular model is not the first one to catch our eyes and, quite frankly, our hearts. Next's chic set of two brass table lamps has become a strong favourite in our Homes Editor Tamara Kelly's home. Not only are they perfect for light layering, but they're also a great way to make your hallway look more welcoming to guests.

So when we heard that this utterly chic rechargeable bookcase lamp was finally back in stock at Next, we couldn't stop ourselves from sharing the news.

Sell out: Next's chic rechargeable bookcase lamp

You might've noticed that rechargeable, wireless lamps are dominating this year's lighting trends. And it's for good reason: they're incredibly convenient, can be placed pretty much anywhere in your home and look fantastic.

Whilst some can be surprisingly cheap, they are a product that we recommend investing a little more money into, as the higher quality versions tend to have much more charge and give off a considerable amount more light too.

Having already tried some of Next's rechargeable lamps and compared them to cheaper alternatives, we can confidently say it's well worth going for the slightly pricier choice. And this lamp is certainly worth that extra splurge.

With a chunky, sturdy real marble base and timeless brushed brass accents, this isn't a lamp that's going to simply last you a year or so. As is true with most Next products, this is a luxurious piece that's made to last in your home.

If you're looking to make your home look expensive without blowing your budget or want to add a little quiet luxury style to your space, adding high-quality lighting pieces is certainly the way to go.

Not only do they improve a room's ambience and help you get the right light colour temperature in every space, but they elevate the style of your home, too.

So, if you're ready to ditch the big light and liven up your bookcases, we suggest you act quickly to snap up this sell-out lamp.

Shop lamp alternatives

Trying to make a dark room brighter without turning on the somewhat overwhelming big light can be a real challenge. But finding these small yet mighty lamps and accent lights can be just the solution you need.

The recent heatwaves caught us all off guard, including the brands behind our favourite cooling appliances. When many of the best fans and portable air conditioners sold out, I started looking for an alternative that was still widely available. That's when I rediscovered air coolers: one of the most overlooked ways to stay comfortable when the weather heats up.

Sitting somewhere between a cooling fan and a portable air conditioner, air coolers combine the simplicity of a fan with evaporative cooling technology. Instead of simply circulating warm air around the room, they pass air through water to create a cooler, more refreshing breeze on your skin. They don't require venting like portable AC units, they're generally cheaper to run, and they offer a noticeable step up from a standard fan without the premium price tag.

I'd actually been using one without realising in the form of Shark's ChillPill and their FlexBreeze, and once I looked into the category, I found brilliant options for every room and budget. Better yet, while other cooling appliances have been disappearing from shelves, air coolers are still widely in stock. After testing and researching the leading models, these are the best air coolers to help your home feel cool.

The best air coolers to buy to get you through this heatwave

Air coolers, also known as swamp coolers, sit somewhere between cooling fans and air conditioning. They use water to create a cooler, more refreshing airflow than a standard fan, but without the cost, installation, or energy use of portable AC.

"Unlike fans, which simply circulate air around a room, and air conditioners, which remove heat from the home through a refrigeration cycle, air coolers cool the air through water evaporation," explains Joe Haycock, Vice President at Fresh Air Concepts. "As warm air passes through a wet cooling pad, the water evaporates and absorbs some of the heat, lowering the temperature of the air leaving the unit." In practice, that means you feel a cooler breeze on your skin rather than simply moving warm air around the room. Before we dive deeper into the details, here are some of our favourite models:

FAQs

How does an air cooler work?

Alexander Marsh, CEO and Founder of Bearcat Heating & Cooling, offers a simple comparison: "If you've ever stood near the misting stations at the fair on a 95-degree day, you've experienced evaporative cooling. As the small water droplets evaporate, they absorb heat and make the surrounding air feel cooler. A swamp cooler creates that same effect inside your home." It's a helpful way to think about air coolers: they won't chill an entire room like an air conditioner, but they can make the space around you feel noticeably more comfortable.

How is an air cooler different from AC?

Haycock points out that "an air cooler doesn't vent heat or moisture outside. Instead, humidity gradually builds up indoors," which is why they're best used with a little ventilation, such as an open window. The upside is that they're incredibly easy to use. There's no installation, no exhaust hose to wrestle with, and they typically use much less electricity than portable air conditioners. If you're after a cooling upgrade that's more effective than a fan but less expensive and cumbersome than AC, an air cooler strikes a happy middle ground.

Is an air cooler worth it?

Whilst stocks of fans and air conditioning units are running low, air coolers are a brilliant alternative. I love the misting function on my ChillPill and use that over the fan when the weather is hot.

Air coolers might not have had the same attention as fans and portable air conditioners in previous summers, but this heatwave has proved why they're worth knowing about. They offer a noticeable upgrade from a standard fan, creating a cooler, more refreshing breeze without the cost, noise or installation demands of portable AC.

With many traditional cooling appliances still difficult to find, air coolers are a brilliant alternative that are not only available but really useful. Whether you're trying to stay comfortable at your desk, cool down your bedroom, or make the whole home feel more bearable, there's an air cooler to suit every type of summer heat.

Are your hydrangeas not faring so well in the extreme weather? Once wilting sets in, it's hard to put a stop to it, which is why it's so important to know how often your plant needs a little hydration.

As one of the best plants for wet gardens, hydrangeas are known for loving moist soil and regular watering. However, when the weather is consistently hot and dry, these beloved plants that are happiest in rainy conditions are often left looking rather sad and crispy.

This can be prevented with the right garden plant watering routine, especially if you tailor it to suit both your hydrangeas and the current climate. Here's some helpful, easy-to-follow advice from gardening and horticulture experts to give your plant the best chance of thriving all year round.

How often should you water hydrangeas?

When it comes to watering, plants can have very different needs. How often you should water your tomato plants will not be the same as how often your hydrangea needs watering.

"Hydrangeas like consistently moist soil, especially during warmer weather, because their large leaves and flowers lose water quickly," explains Dr Russell Sharp, Founder of Eutrema. "In heat like this, established hydrangeas may need watering every few days, and newly planted shrubs will usually need more frequent attention as their roots are still developing."

"Always check the soil before watering, and if the top few centimetres feel dry, it’s time to water your hydrangea. Plants growing in containers will usually need watering more often than those planted in the ground because pots dry out much faster," he adds.

"If you find your hydrangeas are wilting regularly, you are definitely not providing them with enough water. This will not only impact their health this year, but also the amount of flowers and growth they can put out next year," explains Dr Russell.

Having the appropriate essential garden tools can make watering much easier, and adding some mulch during summer can help your plants retain moisture for longer.

Should I water hydrangeas every day?

Given how much hydrangeas like moist soil, should you water your plants every day in hot weather? No. Even if you're preparing your garden for a heatwave, you don't have to worry about being outside every day watering your hydrangeas.

"If your hydrangeas have been growing in your garden borders for two years or more, then they will have been able to establish a sturdy root system, which means that even when there is no rainfall, you shouldn’t need to water them daily," says Lucie Bradley, garden expert at Easy Garden Irrigation.

"What is important is that you check the moisture in the soil – either using your finger and pushing it down into the ground to see how dry it is or using a moisture meter for a more precise reading - before deciding if you need to water or not," she continues.

Between sorting the garden out and trying new garden party ideas, it can be hard to find time to water every day, but it is important to keep an eye on your hydrangeas in hotter weather.

"This means that during heatwave conditions, you should be checking daily as your plants will be suffering from heat stress and the soil will be drying out quickly. Yonder hydrangeas will need watering more often, but it’s still important to check the moisture in the soil that surrounds them before deciding to water," Lucie continues. "You may need to water hydrangeas daily, even twice a day, under extremely hot, dry weather when they are growing in containers."

"With a restricted amount of soil to hold water, combined with the soil being warmer, especially if your pots are dark or non-porous, you are best to check hydrangeas in the morning and late afternoon to see how dry the soil is and water accordingly," Lucie recommends.

Can you overwater hydrangeas?

Overwatering your garden plants is a common summer gardening mistake, and one that can be incredibly damaging to your plants' health.

"Whilst hydrangeas are heavy drinkers and want consistently moist soil, what they don’t want is to be sitting in waterlogged soil, which can make them highly susceptible to fungal diseases and their roots rotting," says Lucie.

"This means you should always ensure that the soil they are planted in is well-draining - so if you have heavy clay soil before planting hydrangeas, you should always improve the structure by digging in garden compost, leaf mould or well-rotted manure to break up the soil and improve its drainage," she continues.

"Hydrangeas will show when they are being overwatered by wilting or drooping - unfortunately, they also do this when they are not receiving sufficient water. To check whether it’s overwatering or underwatering, inspect the foliage – when you are overwatering, the leaves will feel soft or mushy, whereas too little water means the leaves will be crispy and dry," Lucie instructs.

Again, this is why it's important to monitor your hydrangea plants, especially through intense heatwaves, as their health could change within a day.

What is the best way to water hydrangeas?

It might be surprising, but there are mistakes to make when watering your plants, especially in hot weather. So knowing what's best for each of your plants is absolutely key.

"When watering hydrangeas, you should be watering them deeply to encourage them to develop deeper root systems. It is best to water early in the morning, as this ensures that water can reach the roots of the plant before it evaporates in the midday sun. It also reduces the risk of fungal diseases, as these thrive in warm, wet conditions," explains Richard Barker, horticulture expert and Commercial Director at LBS Horticulture.

"Always water hydrangeas at the base of the plant instead of over the top. Watering the foliage and flowers instead of the soil can cause fungal diseases, and water droplets can act like a magnifying glass in the sun, potentially scorching the plant," he continues.

The last thing you want to be doing during summer is helping your plants recover from sunburn and scorching.

It's also important you know how to prune your hydrangeas throughout the seasons as this will allow you to not only control their growth but ensure you have some impressive blooms when the warm weather does arrive.

Whether you're stocking up for BBQs, garden parties or simply trying to fit a week's worth of fresh salad ingredients into your fridge during a heatwave, most of us make the same mistakes with our fridges: we fill every available gap and don't have rules for organisation other than habit.

Whilst packing your fridge to the brim might feel like you're making the most of the space, experts say an overpacked fridge actually struggles to keep food at a consistent temperature. Poor airflow can mean fruit and vegetables spoil sooner, dairy doesn't stay as fresh when it's sitting in the door, and your appliance has to work harder overall.

The good news is that a few simple fridge organisation tweaks can make a surprising difference to how long your groceries last and how much food you can fit in when entertaining over the summer. So, we asked refrigeration experts exactly how to load your fridge during the hot weather and the mistakes they say to avoid.

Summer fridge organisation tips, recommended by experts

When you come back from doing a big shop in the summer, you need to pack the fridge properly. Every household seems to have its own way of loading the fridge. Unlike the age-old debate over whether jam or cream belongs on a scone first, though, there is a right way to organise your food if you want it to stay fresh for longer.

After speaking to experts, we've curated the table above, explaining the technically perfect way to order food in the fridge. A lot of it makes logical sense, but you might be surprised to spot that one of the biggest mistakes is where we keep the milk.

Many of us instinctively slot the milk into the fridge door, but Jamie Cooper, Senior Product Manager for Refrigeration at Hotpoint UK, says it belongs on the middle shelf instead. "Every time the fridge door opens, the items stored there are exposed to room temperature air. For milk, that repeated fluctuation causes it to spoil faster than it would on a middle shelf where the temperature stays stable. It is a small change that makes a real difference."

During summer, when kitchens are naturally warmer and the fridge door is likely to be opened more often for cold drinks and barbecue essentials, those temperature fluctuations become even more significant. Storing milk on a middle shelf is one of the simplest ways to help it stay fresher for longer.

Make sure you have space and airflow

With everything in its proper place, it's tempting to squeeze in just one more tub of hummus or another punnet of strawberries after a big supermarket shop. But when we're stocking up for barbecues, picnics and easy summer lunches, an overfilled fridge is one of the biggest mistakes we can make.

"How you load your fridge after a big shop has a direct impact on how long your food stays fresh," says Jamie. "Fridge organisation is not about neatness for the sake of it, it's about making your appliance work as efficiently as possible."

James equates efficiency almost with airflow. He explains that "proper airflow is essential for maintaining consistent temperatures throughout your fridge. Avoid overpacking shelves so tightly that food touches the shelf above". Without enough space for cool air to circulate, some areas of the fridge become warmer than others, forcing the appliance to work harder and causing food to spoil more quickly.

While giving your fruit and vegetables enough breathing room will make the biggest difference, some newer fridge freezers are also designed to help maintain better storage conditions.

The Hotpoint Care Frost Free Multi-door American Fridge Freezer (at AO.com), for example, has a FreshShield crisper drawer that helps maintain the ideal humidity for fruit and vegetables, alongside VitalCare technology that recreates the natural daylight cycle to help keep produce fresher for longer. So, if you're thinking about upgrading your fridge, it's well worth looking for features like these, which offer a helping hand for how you're storing fresh food in warmer weather.

Keep fruit and vegetables separate

If you've never understood why so many modern fridges have separate crisper drawers, we've found the reason. Keeping fruit and vegetables apart isn't just about staying organised; it can help them stay fresher for longer.

Jamie Cooper explains that "certain foods produce ethylene gas as they ripen, including apples, pears and avocados. When those are kept alongside other vegetables in a confined drawer, the gas speeds up deterioration across everything in there."

In practice, that means storing apples, pears, and avocados separately from vegetables wherever possible, rather than piling all your fresh produce into the same drawer. If you know what temperature to set your fridge and it has humidity controls, Jamie also recommends setting the humidity to "high for vegetables and low for fruit" to create the ideal conditions for each.

Some newer fridge models are designed with food preservation in mind. Newer models, including Hotpoint's fridge freezer, use quick freezing technology that brings food down to low temperatures as fast as possible or Dual No Frost technology to help maintain consistent storage conditions while preventing ice from building up.

As Jamie explains, "Hotpoint fridges are designed with technologies such as EvenFlow to help circulate cool, consistent air across every shelf, helping to maintain a more stable temperature so food is kept fresh for longer, wherever it is stored." Even so, he stresses that good organisation and using the correct fridge zones remain the foundations of keeping food fresh.

Minimise and streamline packaging

Once the shelves are organised and your fruit and vegetables are stored correctly, a few small habits can make an even bigger difference during warmer weather. Especially the way that you choose to store your food. Here are two of Jamie's top recommendations:

• Store leftovers in glass containers: I've been singing the praises of glass food containers for years as an alternative to plastic, so I felt particularly vindicated reading this tip. Jamie recommends glass because it offers better visibility of what's actually in your fridge, making it less likely that leftovers will be forgotten at the back of a shelf. As he points out, "glass also maintains a more consistent temperature, helping food stay fresh longer."
• Ditch unnecessary packaging: Bulky cardboard sleeves, oversized plastic trays and excess packaging all take up valuable space in the fridge. Removing them before storage can improve airflow and make it easier to see what you have on hand. I like to decant fruit and vegetables into ceramic bowls and baskets, which not only frees up space but also makes healthy ingredients much more visible when I'm deciding what to cook.

Keep your leafy greens and herbs hydrated

As with separating fruit and vegetables carefully. when you're hosting over the summer, it's highly likely that you're buying lots of leafy greens and herbs. These are notoriously sensitive to changes in environment and temperature, but Jamie has a couple of tips to keep them fresh:

• Turn leafy greens upside down: It might sound unusual, but storing lettuce, spinach and other leafy greens with their stems pointing upwards can help them stay fresh for longer. According to Jamie, this prevents excess moisture from collecting around the base of the leaves, where it can accelerate rotting and wilting.
• Wrap herbs in a damp tea towel: Fresh herbs have a frustrating habit of turning limp and yellow within days, especially during warmer weather. Jamie recommends wrapping herbs in a damp tea towel before storing them in the fridge, as it creates "the ideal environment for maintaining freshness" by helping to lock in moisture and prevent them from drying out.

Summer is probably the hardest time of year for your fridge, aside from the 'Christmas fridge'. Between supermarket hauls, BBQ ingredients and fresh produce, it's easy to overload every shelf. But giving food a little breathing room, storing it in the right place and separating fruit from vegetables can help your food stay fresher for longer.

If you're also thinking about upgrading your appliance, features such as even cooling, humidity-controlled drawers and dedicated freshness zones can make those good storage habits even more effective.

These heatwaves are certainly taking their toll on our plants and lawns. Even when you're keeping up with watering, they still seem to be wilting away. Luckily, one of our favourite garden influencers has shared his hot weather essential for keeping plants hydrated and happy.

If you've been out in the garden this month, ticking off your July essential jobs, you'll probably have noticed just how harsh the weather is being on your poor plants. And while it's helpful to know the best time of day to water your garden as well as what to do to prepare your plants for a heatwave, sometimes the temperatures just get the best of us.

However, garden design expert and influencer Ish (@gardening.with.ish on Instagram) has discovered a rather nifty way to help your plants retain moisture as well as keep pests and sun rays at bay. It's a heatwave miracle!

You might feel like you've only just helped your garden recover from the last heatwave, but with no signs of the hot weather letting up, you'll probably need further help keeping your plants happy.

"I have made an accidental gardening discovery which will actually help save your potted plants from drying out," starts Ish.

"Now, if you've never heard of them before, I got myself some wool pellets, and this was actually for something completely different. It was to protect my plants from slugs," he adds.

"Because if you don't know what wool pellets are, effectively they are just wool that's been crushed up into pellets, and because it soaks in moisture so easily, when a slug goes on top of it, it soaks that moisture from the slug; it doesn't like it as a result and stays away from it," continues Ish.

Aside from stopping your garden from filling with slugs, these wool pellets can be made into a heatwave saviour for your potted plants and hanging baskets.

"But add it to a tub of water or some really wet compost, and all of a sudden it makes this fantastic little slurry, which is soaking in the moisture really, really well," explains Ish.

"So I've been mixing this in with my multi-purpose compost or peat-free compost, which is not very good at retaining moisture anyway, and putting this in my potted plants," he shares.

"And as a result, it's been holding onto that moisture just a little bit longer, meaning that I don't have to worry about my plants drying out so quickly," Ish adds.

Also a great thing to do if you're worried about taking care of your garden whilst you're on holiday this summer.

Similar to your garden tool essentials, wool pellets are helpful for various reasons and ideal to have on hand year-round.

"Now it's not just good for that. Obviously, it's good for keeping slugs out, and if you place it on top, it also works as a really good mulch layer. So any sun rays coming on a heatwave are reflected off of this too, which means soil is drying out more slowly as well. So, all around a really good," Ish says.

"And a double bonus is that sheep's wool is naturally full of nitrogen, meaning when this breaks down, it's also a slow-release food," he finishes.

You can also use coffee grounds in your garden to add nitrogen to the compost; however, wool does have way more benefits for your plants to enjoy.

Wool is also a great way to protect your plants from frost when the winter months come around; it provides a blanket-like cover to keep your hardy perennials safe.

Please tell me I'm not the only one who's noticed how dirty their window tracks are since throwing the windows and doors open to air the house?

In truth, it's because it's too easy to forget to clean window tracks until the heat suddenly hits and you reach for the windows to let the hot air out or create a cross-breeze to help keep a room cool.

I was actually pretty horrified by how filthy my window tracks were, in my otherwise clean home. I have a regular window cleaner to wash the outside and I ensure the inside panes are always gleaming, but somehow cleaning the tracks has been completely neglected. Until I saw Lynsey's time-saving cleaning trick and felt inspired to clean them immediately.

"Drench a piece of kitchen roll with white vinegar, place it into the window track, then simply swipe it along to lift dirt and debris in one go," says Lynsey in her helpful tutorial video on her Instagram @lynsey_queen of clean.

To get into the tight grooves, on both window and door tracks, she suggests using the back of a spoon to push the kitchen towel into every possible crack.

"No fiddly brushes. No chasing dust around. Cleans and lifts debris at the same time." Lynsey declares it one of her favourite expert cleaning hacks because it takes mere seconds, involves no harsh chemicals, and "leaves your window tracks looking so much fresher".

Trying Lynsey Crombies window track cleaning hack

It really is as simple as it looks. You tear off a sheet of kitchen towel; I recommend doubling over two sheets to make it more robust when wet. Spritz the paper towel with white vinegar and place it along the window track.

I used a silicone cooking spoon (to avoid the scratchy sounds of a metal one) to drag the sheet along the length of the track, applying light pressure to wipe into the creases to ensure every bit of grime is picked up.

The dirt from the track transfers onto the paper towel as you wipe. Full disclosure, I did have to repeat the process because the tracks on my French doors were particularly dirty. Nevertheless, this trick worked an absolute treat.

As always, the professional cleaner is keen to encourage her fans to give it a try and let her know how they get on – and they didn't disappoint with this window cleaning task.

"So helpful. Thank you," wrote one, "Definitely trying this," enthused another. "I hate this job, thanks for the tip," said another more directly.

Here at w&h, we are always on the lookout for simple cleaning hacks that save us time but still produce great results without harsh chemicals or too much elbow grease. Cleaning with vinegar is always up there for some of the most effective ways of removing dirt, as this simple window track method has demonstrated.

Lynsey also attributes her trick of using a vinegar-soaked kitchen towel as the easiest way to deep-clean a mouldy washing machine seal – another cleaning trick we now use regularly.

When it comes to eco-conscious, cooling luxury sleep, few brands do it better than Naturalmat. The Devon-based company has been crafting premium bedding in its solar-powered factory since 1999. While it's perhaps best known for its exceptional mattresses, I want to introduce you to its centre-stitched wool pillow.

The centre-stitched design might look unusual, but it's been created specifically for people who struggle with neck pain. The natural dip cradles your head, helping to keep your neck aligned while you sleep. It certainly feels different from a traditional pillow, but for anyone who needs that extra support, it's a dream come true.

The thoughtful design is matched by equally impressive materials. Filled with organic wool and wrapped in organic cotton, this pillow cushions your head without relying on synthetic foams or chemical-heavy fillings. Those naturally breathable fibres also make it an excellent choice for hot sleepers, earning it a place among the best cooling pillows you can buy.

Naturalmat The Centre Stitched Wool Pillow review

• RRP: £90
• Filling: Organic cotton, organic wool
• Firmness: Firm
• Size: 48 x 74 cm
• Guarantee: 5 year

Who would the Naturalmat The Centre Stitched Wool Pillow suit?

• Anyone with neck pain – the centre stitch creates a natural cradle that supports your head and encourages better neck alignment.
• Hot sleepers – organic wool and cotton are naturally breathable and moisture-wicking, helping you stay cooler through the night.
• Anyone looking for a more natural pillow – it's made from certified organic cotton and British organic wool, without synthetic foam fillings.

The Naturalmat Centre Stitched Pillow is one of the brand's best-sellers for good reason. If you regularly wake up with a stiff or aching neck, I'd strongly recommend giving it a try. The stitched centre creates a gentle cradle that supports your head while helping to keep your neck comfortably aligned. It's not a cure for chronic pain - we'd always recommend speaking to a physiotherapist if neck pain persists - but it's a thoughtful design that could make a noticeable difference to your sleep.

Its also impressive when you look below the surface. The pillow is filled with traceable British organic wool and wrapped in an organic cotton cover. This makes it a great choice for anyone trying to create a more natural sleep environment: wool is naturally breathable and excellent at regulating temperature, while cotton feels soft against the skin.

Coincidentally, using natural materials also makes the Centre Stitched Wool Pillow brilliant hot sleepers. The natural fibres help wick away moisture and allow air to circulate, so the pillow feels fresher throughout the night. It won't eliminate night sweats or hot flushes altogether, but it can help create a cooler, more comfortable sleeping environment.

What is the Naturalmat The Centre Stitched Wool Pillow like to sleep on?

I test every pillow that we recommend so I can write from first-hand experience. For the Naturalmat Centre Stitched Wool Pillow, I also asked my mum to test it alongside me. While I'm a hot sleeper, I don't suffer from neck pain, so I wanted someone who could properly assess whether the centre-stitched design delivered on its ergonomic promises. My mum struggles with both neck pain and night sweats, making her the perfect second tester.

The first thing I noticed was how different this pillow feels from a traditional design. Most pillows lift your head above your shoulders, whereas the stitched centre creates a gentle trough that lets your head sink into the middle of the pillow while the sides offer support. It took me a night or two to adjust, but once I did, I found it really comfortable. The cradled feeling encouraged me to stay on my back instead of rolling onto my front (a habit I've been trying to break) and after a couple of weeks, the position felt completely natural. In fact, when I went away, I missed the distinctive feel of the Centre Stitched Pillow and found it much harder to get comfortable on a standard hotel pillow.

As with most natural pillows I've tested, I wouldn't describe it as a miracle cure for overheating. If you experience intense night sweats, you'll still get hot. What I did notice, though, was that I woke up feeling noticeably less clammy. The breathable wool filling and cotton cover seemed to manage moisture well, so my skin felt fresher in the morning, even after warm nights.

My mum was able to put the pillow's ergonomic design through a much tougher test. "I'd got so used to waking up with a stiff neck and shoulders that I'd almost accepted it as normal," she told me. "I'd tried thin pillows, U-shaped pillows, buckwheat pillows and firm pillows, but none of them completely solved the problem."

She noticed a difference almost immediately. "After a few nights of getting used to the different sleeping position, I was waking up without the same stiffness in my neck and shoulders. I could move much more freely in the mornings, and I also noticed my skin felt fresher overnight. It hasn't completely stopped me getting hot, but I definitely feel more comfortable sleeping on it."

Between the two of us, we came away with the same conclusion. This isn't a pillow that tries to feel plush or cloud-like. Instead, it's been carefully engineered to support your head and neck, and once you've adjusted to its distinctive shape, it's remarkably comfortable to sleep on.

Should you buy the Naturalmat The Centre Stitched Wool Pillow?

If you've been struggling to find a pillow that supports your neck without feeling rigid or uncomfortable, the Naturalmat Centre Stitched Wool Pillow is absolutely worth considering. The unusual centre cradle takes a little getting used to, but once you've adjusted, it creates a supportive sleeping position that can help ease pressure on your neck and shoulders.

Combined with breathable organic wool and cotton, it's also a brilliant choice for hot sleepers who want a pillow that feels fresher throughout the night. It isn't the cheapest pillow you'll buy, but the thoughtful design, traceable natural materials and impressive comfort make it a worthwhile investment for anyone looking to improve their sleep.

How we test pillows

At woman&home, we like to test all the pillows that we recommend to you. Our hands-on experience means that you don't just get to read about the impressive, paper credentials that each pillow boasts, you can also read about how it copes with real life sleeping problems in our slumber scenarios. For a pillow like this one, I tested it for comparison against all the other pillows and so that I could see what it was like for hot sleepers, but we made sure to have someone with neck pain testing the pillow too, so we could see whether it really meets the credentials for an impressive pillow for neck pain.

You can find out more about how we test pillows on our dedicated page.

If you've ever thought about rigging up an outdoor projector and hosting a watch party in your garden, this weekend is shaping up to be the best one of the year to do it. A weekend of sporting drama is on the cards as the Wimbledon finals are set to take place, and Thomas Tuchel’s England squad take on Norway in the World Cup quarter-final.

Under normal British summer conditions, relying on an outdoor projector for a watch party would be a risky choice, of course. But with yet another mid-summer heatwave also on the horizon, this weekend could be ideal for a seamless afternoon-to-late-night garden party. What’s not to love about the idea of serving Pimm's on the lawn in the afternoon, before creating an elegant late-night cinema outdoors to watch the football under the stars?

To help you create the perfect watch party setup, we’ve tracked down the ideal outdoor projector and screen that don’t require any complicated tech and will arrive before the action begins on Saturday. Best of all, if rain (or heat) stops play and you’d rather move the party indoors, these brilliant designs can handle that, too.

• Delivery reminder: Order via next-day delivery or click-and-collect no later than Thursday, July 9th, to guarantee time to get your set up sorted.

If you want a lightweight outdoor projector that doesn't look like ugly office equipment, this is the one. Measuring 5.5 cm thick, it's designed to look like a hardcover book, so it'll blend effortlessly into your bedroom or living room aesthetic when it's not in use – and it comes highly recommended by our Fashion Ecommerce Editor, Caroline Parr.

"It's a solid outdoor projector choice for this weekend's heatwave because it eliminates the clutter of extra cords and gives you one-click, licensed access to Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube with no need for an extra TV stick," she says.

Best of all, it has an integrated 360-degree adjustable stand. So if the mid-summer heatwave makes hosting outdoors uncomfortable, you can carry this lightweight device indoors and project a native 1080p display onto your wall while surrounding yourself with cooling fans.

It's also equipped with lightning-fast WiFi 6 and intelligent auto-focusing.

If your garden doesn't have a perfectly flat, whitewashed wall to project onto, a dedicated screen for outdoor projector setups is a must, transforming a casual gathering into a true cinema experience.

Similarly, built-in speakers in many modern compact projectors can leave a lot to be desired, especially if they have to compete with a crowd of noisy football fans. Solve that problem by pairing your projector with a portable Bluetooth speaker to deliver deep, rich commentary and crowd noise without ruining your aesthetic.

How to style a summer watch party

An outdoor projector is only one piece of the World Cup watch party puzzle – make your outdoor space elegant and inviting with a few thoughtful styling choices. Here is how to build a space that effortlessly transitions from afternoon tennis to a late-night outdoor cinema.

1. Use white to anchor the space

“White is the most instinctive starting point for a summer sporting setting, and a white linen tablecloth is the easiest place to begin,” says Chloe Barrow, interior expert at Laura James.

“Everything you add around it – the glassware, the greenery, the cushions on chairs – naturally falls into place without much effort. I would always recommend building colour from the base up rather than introducing everything at once. Swapping out your existing garden chair cushions for something in classic green is honestly all you need to tie the space back to the sporting occasion without it feeling heavily themed.”

2. Create a simple tablescape

“The tablescape is where a summer setting really comes together, because the references are already there for you to use,” Chloe explains. “I personally love using whole limes as part of a centrepiece; the colour and shape do a quiet nod to tennis balls and football pitches without going anywhere near novelty decoration. A small posy of purple sweet peas or lavender alongside them pulls the whole look together without needing much else. Matching glassware on the white linen base is the finishing touch that takes it from a garden table to something that feels elevated, and in my experience, it is the detail guests comment on most.”

3. Think about shade and seating

With high-summer afternoon temperatures predicted to soar, keeping your guests comfortable throughout the day is critical.

“July sun is something people consistently underestimate when they are setting up outdoors,” warns Chloe. “Shade is something I plan around before anything else at a summer event, because a garden that looks beautiful but leaves guests squinting through matches has missed the point entirely. A parasol over the main seating area solves that practically while also bringing height and structure to the space.”

When the sun finally dips, and it’s time for the 10:00 PM kickoff, you can lower the parasol to open up the view to your outdoor projector screen. Keep in mind, too, that harsh outdoor lights risk washing out your screen, so instead opt for warm-toned fairy lights or LED candles, but place them behind the viewing line to keep the screen clear.

“Getting the seating right for a watch party is crucial, because a scattered arrangement of chairs with no clear focus on the screen reads more like a last-minute gathering,” Chloe adds. “Facing a corner sofa set to the screen changes that immediately. An outdoor rug laid underneath anchors the zone and defines it as its own destination within the garden, which is the difference between a space that looks good and one that actually functions well for a group of people watching together.”

For a thoughtful extra touch, pile a basket high with cosy throws and lightweight blankets, just in case anyone starts to feel the chill once the sun goes down.

And finally, don’t forget to turn on the projector to sync it with your home Wi-Fi and log in to your streaming apps well before the party starts.

Extreme summer heat can wreak havoc with our gardens, making it harder to determine our plants' watering needs. Especially plants such as lavender, which typically prefer a dry environment but not necessarily for prolonged periods.

As a result, when it comes to caring for lavender plants, the watering routine is not a straightforward one-rule-for-all approach of little and often. It all depends on whether the plant is in a pot or growing in the ground and how established it is.

These key factors can make all the difference between a healthy, thriving plant and one that struggles to survive. To gain a clear picture of what's best, we've consulted a team of trusted garden experts for an optimum routine to ensure we're watering your garden sufficiently.

How often should I water lavender plants?

While the timing of pruning lavender is key to encouraging healthy growth, watering is even more important at this time of year to ensure the plant remains hydrated but not waterlogged.

"Lavender is a naturally drought-tolerant plant once it's established, so it's much happier with a good soak every now and then than frequent little drinks," explains Orpheus Alexander, w&h's resident gardener.

"If it's planted in the ground, established lavender will usually only need watering during long dry spells. Newly planted lavender is different, though, and will need more regular watering for the first few weeks while it settles in.

Lavender grown in pots dries out much more quickly, especially if it's in full sun. During summer, it's worth checking the compost every couple of days and only watering when the top few centimetres feel dry."

Do I have to water lavender every day?

With the record-breaking high temperatures of recent weeks, it's easy to wonder whether you should water outdoor plants every day in hot weather, but more often than not, it's that's not necessary – unless you are watering seedlings.

Because lavender is a drought-tolerant plant, it doesn't fall into the category of daily watering unless it's newly potted and needs help to establish stronger roots.

"Lavender is one of those plants that's much happier being a little drier than too wet," says Chris Bonnett, founder of Gardeningexpress.co.uk. "If it's growing in the ground, a well-established plant will usually only need watering during long hot spells, as rainfall is often enough."

And while a patio container plant will require more water, it still won't need to be every day, as Chris explains: "Potted lavender is a different story because the compost dries out much faster. During warm weather, you'll probably need to water once or twice a week, but it's always better to check the soil first rather than watering on a schedule."

Does it need more water in hot weather?

In short, yes. Like many garden plants, lavender may require a little more water to stay hydrated during hot weather. But this also depends on where it is growing - in the ground or in a pot.

"During a heatwave, potted lavender may need watering every couple of days, or even daily if it's in a small container," says Orpheus, suggesting also, "If you can, move pots out of the strongest afternoon sun into a spot with a little light shade. This helps stop the compost from drying out so quickly while still giving the plant plenty of light.

"Lavender growing in the ground is generally much more resilient, but if there's been no rain for a prolonged period, an occasional deep watering is far better than frequent light watering."

Chris agrees but also warns not to misjudge the amount. "You'll usually need to water a bit more often when temperatures climb, especially if the lavender is in a pot sitting in full sun. That said, don't be tempted to overcompensate, as lavender is naturally drought-tolerant, so even in hot weather it still prefers a good soak now and then rather than being kept constantly damp."

How can you tell when it needs watering?

It can be hard, especially during periods of extreme heat, to tell when a plant needs watering more often. So what are the telltale signs that a lavender plant needs watering? "The best way is to check the soil rather than the plant," says Orpheus.

"Push your finger a couple of inches into the compost or soil. If it still feels damp, leave it alone. If it's dry, it's time to water. During prolonged dry weather, the foliage may start to droop slightly, but it's always worth checking the soil first before reaching for the watering can."

Can lavender be overwatered?

Lavender can most certainly fall victim to overwatering; in fact is is one of the most common reasons it struggles in both pots and soil. Explaining the reasons why, Orpheus says: "Lavender doesn't like sitting in wet soil, and constantly damp conditions can quickly lead to root rot and poor growth."

Chris is quick to stress, "Once root rot sets in, the plant can be difficult to save."

Given this, it is essential to consider the growing conditions first and foremost. "Good drainage is every bit as important as getting the watering right," explains Orpheus.

Right now, it's all about watering and mulching to help lavender plants survive the summer climate, but come autumn, it pays to know how to overwinter lavender to prepare it for the dormant months in winter.

Since the recent heatwaves began, everyone has been asking, "are there any fans that are as good as air conditioning?" Air conditioning is still a rarity in many UK homes, portable units can be expensive (and often sell out during hot spells), and nobody wants to spend hundreds on something they'll only use for a few weeks each year. So, if a fan can deliver that same cooling relief for a fraction of the price, it's worth knowing about.

Over the past four years, I've tested dozens of the best cooling fans in real homes, from stuffy bedrooms and home offices to heatwave conditions that make concentrating or sleeping impossible. I've also tested DIY air conditioning hacks, spoken to experts in thermal comfort and indoor air quality to understand exactly what fans can do, where they fall short, and which models come closest to mimicking the refreshing feeling of air conditioning.

So, when it comes to fans vs air conditioning, which is actually the better way to stay cool? The answer isn't as straightforward as you might think. Here's how the two compare, and why the right fan might be all you need to beat the heat.

Air conditioning vs cooling fans - how do they compare?

When people compare cooling fans and air conditioning, they're usually asking a few questions: can a fan keep you as cool as an air conditioner without the higher running costs and installation? Is it worth installing air conditioning in the UK? What's the difference between the two? I've put all these questions to the test myself, alongside cooling window hacks and I have also asked the experts.

Michael Zohouri, founder of UK retrofit and home improvement specialist Pyramid Eco, sums up the difference saying, “the simplest way to explain it is that air conditioning cools the air and a fan cools the person." He adds that "air conditioning systems work by actively removing heat from the room and lowering the air temperature. A fan doesn’t have any impact on air temperature at all. It makes you feel cooler by moving air across your skin to help sweat evaporate and make you feel cooler.”

The first part of our answers to the fans vs air conditioner debate depends on just how hot you are and whether the high temperature in your home is a permanent state or a passing heatwave.

What I found when testing cooling fans

Unlike an air conditioner, a cooling fan doesn't lower the temperature of a room. Chris Michael, co-founder of Meaco, explains that it's important to avoid fan mistakes and to use yours tactically. "A fan can make you feel more comfortable by moving air across the body, helping sweat evaporate and creating a cooling effect on the skin." Importantly, he explains that "it will not lower the room temperature like an air conditioner, but it can make warm rooms feel more comfortable, especially when used with lighter bedding and good ventilation."

Having tested all the fan hacks as well as a range of cooling fans in hot bedrooms, home offices and living spaces, there's a lot of variety in the world of fans. A poor-quality fan simply blows a weak stream of air that only works if you're sitting directly in front of it. The best cooling fans create enough airflow to circulate air around the room, reducing the stuffy, stagnant feeling that builds up during warm weather. Features like wide oscillation, multiple speed settings and quiet operation make a noticeable difference, especially if you're using a fan while you sleep.

The biggest advantage of a fan is that it's affordable to buy, inexpensive to run and ready to use straight out of the box. There's no installation, no venting and you can move it from room to room as temperatures change. The trade-off is that fans only make you feel cooler and they don't reduce the room's temperature. For most UK homes, that's enough on all but the hottest days, which is why a good fan is often the first cooling appliance I'd recommend.

How air conditioning actually works (and why it feels so different)

Unlike a cooling fan, an air conditioner actively changes the temperature of a room so is a brilliant way to keep your bedroom cool. It uses a refrigerant system to remove heat and humidity from the air before releasing the heat outside (or through some form of exhaust), leaving your home noticeably cooler. In particular, helping to reduce in humidity can make a huge difference during muggy UK heatwaves, when the air feels heavy and sticky.

According to Chris Michael, co-founder of Meaco, there are times when a fan simply won't be enough. "On the hottest evenings, a fan may not be enough on its own," he explains. Instead, he recommends using a portable air conditioner to pre-cool your bedroom before you go to sleep. "Turn it on a few hours before bedtime, keep the bedroom door closed and keep blinds or curtains shut," he says, "Then put the hose out of the window and use the window kit to seal the gap, so the unit can cool the room more efficiently." On some models, including Meaco's, "once the room has reached a comfortable temperature, you can switch to fan mode to keep the air moving with less noise overnight."

The downside is that air conditioning comes with a higher upfront cost than a fan, uses more electricity and, depending on the model, may require venting through a window or permanent installation. Chris also advises to " focus on cooling capacity rather than extra features that do little to improve comfort," he adds that "many people underestimate the size they need and then find the unit cannot cool the room properly on the hottest nights."

For most people, air conditioning is best suited to homes that regularly become unbearably hot or anyone who finds high temperatures make it difficult to sleep, while a good cooling fan is often enough for everyday summer comfort.

So, should you buy a cooling fan or air conditioning?

For most UK homes, a good cooling fan is the most practical place to start. It’s affordable (you can read more about how much they cost to run), easy to use and can make a big difference when a bedroom or living room starts to feel hot and stuffy. If you mainly struggle with a few warm nights each summer, or you want something to make sleeping, working or relaxing more comfortable, a good fan will probably do everything you need.

Air conditioning is the better choice for anyone who regularly finds heat difficult to manage, whether that’s because your home gets extremely warm, you struggle to sleep during heatwaves, you can't keep your bedroom cool, or you live somewhere that experiences long periods of hot, humid weather. Unlike a fan, it can actually bring down the temperature of the room and remove excess moisture from the air, making it a more powerful solution when temperatures really soar.

The simplest way to think about it is that fans improve comfort, while air conditioning changes the environment. For many UK households, a fan will be enough most of the year, but when a heatwave hits and the air feels heavy and impossible to escape, air conditioning is in a different league.

It happens every year, but we don't think we'll ever get used to the sudden swarms of flying ants taking over our outdoor spaces. This year, they're earlier than usual, so you'll want to start preparing now.

Whether or not you've had to learn how to get rid of flying ants before, there's a pretty inevitable pest that comes into gardens and homes during mid to late summer. Of course, they're a little harder to eradicate than normal ants due to their aerial capabilities, which means they can get into your home much more easily.

To add insult to injury, experts have recently revealed that the dreaded flying ant season is starting earlier this year, so now is the time to take action and prepare your home to keep the pesky pests away.

Flying ant season is early and here's why

There's no hiding from insects during the summer months. Whether you welcome them with plants for pollinators or ward them off with citronella, chances are they'll be visiting your garden.

However, there are some bugs you'd really rather not welcome in or around your home, and one of these is flying ants. You might have been lucky to have missed them last year; however, thanks to high temperatures and consecutive heatwaves, they're back early and with a vengeance.

"Our data from the last 24 years shows 90% of nuptial flights happened in July, but as experts in myrmecology (the study of ants) now predict, the peak for 2026 will hit between July 20 and 25," explain ant experts Best Ants UK.

If you were busy with your gardening jobs in June, you may have noticed the first wave of flying ants. "The first heatwave hit in the last week of May, priming colonies early; this second spike is what finally pushes the queens into the air," says Best Ants UK. "We expect between 11% and 17% of the UK's Lasius niger (black garden ant) queens to take to the skies in this early surge, well ahead of the main swarm."

No, the days you might want to avoid sorting your garden out are between 20 and 25 July, when the primary swarm are expected to arrive. They do, however, warn that a smaller follow-up swarm will be expected around 2 August.

"It is an early advance flight triggered by back-to-back heat waves — the late-May spike followed by this second, more intense surge. The remaining 83–89% of queens will hold back for the main peak between 20 and 25 July, with a smaller second swarm expected around 2 August," echoes Best Ants UK.

So what can you do to keep the swarms away? Along with the solutions we've provided above, we'd suggest prepping the home like you would when getting rid of flies.

However, we'd also recommend taking more precautions with keeping your outdoor spaces clean, bins emptied and sealed, plus ensuring you keep windows shut, particularly during the predicted swarm days.

Don't be too worried about the flying ant swarms to keep completing your July gardening jobs. Luckily, the season doesn't last long, and you'll be back to only seeing normal ants soon enough.

Homemade ice cream and frozen drinks always sound like the perfect summer treat, but traditional machines often come with a catch: hours of pre-freezing, lengthy churning times, or both. Not GreenPan Frost though. In around 15 minutes, it can whip up everything from velvety ice cream and frozen yoghurt to slushies and frappés, making it one of the quickest ways to cool down when the temperatures soar.

You might already know GreenPan for its non-toxic cookware, but the brand's first venture into frozen treats has generated just as much excitement. The Frost combines an ice cream maker and slushie machine in one sleek appliance, making it a fun addition to any outdoor kitchen. It also arrives at a time when frozen drink makers are having a real moment, with the Ninja Slushi proving just how much demand there is for homemade ice cold drinks at home.

After the Frost sold out shortly after launch, I was keen to find out whether it lives up to the hype. Could one machine really replace both an ice cream maker and a dedicated slushie machine, while delivering delicious results in just 15 minutes? I put it through its paces to get the scoop on whether it's a worthwhile summer investment.

Greenpan Frost Ice Cream Maker and Slushie Machine review

• RRP: £399.99
• Dimensions: 43.8D x 22.2W x 44.1H centimetre
• Weight: 11 kgs
• Voltage: 230
• Pre-sets: classic soft serve ice cream and refreshing slushies, frozé, milkshakes, smoothies, protein shakes, frozen yogurt, dairy-free/vegan ice cream, custard, sorbet, sherbet, frozen cocktails, mocktails
• Frost settings: 7
• Dishwasher safe: yes

Who would the Greenpan Frost Ice Cream Maker and Slushie Machine suit?

• Families looking for healthier, homemade alternatives to frozen treats
• Hosts who want to impress guests with frozen cocktails, slushies and cool drinks
• Anyone who wants an ice cream maker and slushie machine combined into one appliance

Like most ice cream and slushie makers, the GreenPan Frost is a fairly sizeable appliance, so it's worth considering whether you'll get enough use out of it to justify both the cost and the counter space. For me, one of its biggest strengths is how easy it makes homemade frozen treats. Instead of relying on shop-bought ice cream or slushies packed with stabilisers and additives, you can make your own using just a handful of ingredients. GreenPan includes recipe ideas to get you started, but you'll also find plenty of inspiration online, and most recipes call for no more than five or six supermarket staples.

The Frost also stands out because it combines multiple appliances into one. While many frozen drink makers are dedicated slushie machines, this can churn soft-serve-style ice cream, frozen yoghurt, frappés and frozen cocktails too. It even has a dedicated alcohol setting, which adjusts the freezing process to account for alcohol's lower freezing point, so you can make frozen margaritas, daiquiris and other cocktails with consistently smooth results.

Ultimately, I think this machine makes the most sense for people who love entertaining or have a busy family home. If you're the house where everyone gathers for summer barbecues, birthday parties or major sporting events, it'll quickly become the appliance everyone asks for. Living in a one-bedroom flat, I struggled to justify giving it permanent counter space, but I can absolutely see why families, especially those with younger children, or keen hosts would get their money's worth.

What is the Greenpan Frost Ice Cream Maker and Slushie Machine like to use?

The GreenPan Frost is really simple and straightforward to use. It offers six programmes (milkshake, slushie, soft serve, sorbet, frozen yoghurt and frozen cocktails) with seven texture settings that let you fine-tune the consistency of your drink or dessert. The controls are intuitive enough that you won't need to use the instruction manual to get started: you simply press the illuminated menu button to cycle through the modes, then use the dial to adjust the texture. I was surprised by how much difference each increment made. Moving the dial just one step transformed recipes from a firm, scoopable consistency to something much softer and closer to Mr Whippy-style ice cream.

One of the biggest selling points is that there's no need to pre-freeze a bowl overnight. Instead, the Frost chills ingredients as it churns, with most recipes ready in around 15 to 25 minutes depending on the volume and ingredients. The machine works by cooling the chamber to well below freezing while continuously stirring the mixture, preventing large ice crystals from forming. In my testing, the outside of the machine stayed cool to the touch and it ran with a gentle hum that was noticeable, but never intrusive.

I started with slushies, using 500ml of fruit juice made from concentrate to ensure there was enough sugar for the mixture to freeze properly. Just under 20 minutes later, I had a perfectly icy slushie with the fluffy, spoonable texture you'd expect from a cinema or theme park machine. You can make larger batches too, but I found 500ml was a great amount for two generous servings and chilled slightly faster.

The ice cream and frozen yoghurt were both equally impressive. I tested a classic vanilla recipe made with whole milk, cream, sugar and vanilla, alongside plain yoghurt straight from the pot. Both churned into exceptionally smooth desserts in around 20 minutes, although my first batch came out firmer than I wanted. A quick adjustment of the texture dial softened it into a much creamier, softer serve, and I appreciated having that level of control without needing to restart the programme. Vegan ice cream recipes made with plant-based cream and milk also worked well, although plant-based yoghurts didn't achieve quite the same creamy consistency as dairy versions.

I also love sorbet, so was keen to see what this would be like, as well as how different it would be to a slushie. Blending fruit coulis with fresh fruit created vibrant, intensely flavoured desserts that felt fresher than anything shop-bought, and the Frost handled small mix-ins well without affecting the texture. The sorbet was smoother and creamier, more like blended fruit than the slushie, which had more ice crystals.

The frozen cocktail programme also lived up to expectations. Piña coladas emerged thick, creamy and bar-worthy, while frosé was beautifully smooth rather than icy. It's not just a standard slushie setting with a different name either, the dedicated cocktail mode compensates for alcohol's lower freezing point, so drinks freeze to the right consistency instead of staying liquid. This is important to note when you're shopping around, because standard slushie machines won't offer this special setting.

Cleaning the Greenpan Frost Ice Cream Maker and Slushie Machine

Cleaning these machines can be difficult, because there are so many corners and crevices which can get sticky. Luckily, the GreenPan Frost is low effort. Rather than requiring you to dismantle lots of fiddly parts after every batch, it has a dedicated rinse programme that does most of the hard work for you. Simply add warm water with a drop of washing-up liquid, select the rinse mode, and the machine churns the solution around the chamber to loosen any leftover ice cream, yoghurt or fruit residue.

I found the rinse cycle surprisingly effective. I refreshed the water a couple of times until it was coming out as clear as it went in, and that was enough to leave the mixing chamber clean after everything from creamy vanilla ice cream to sticky fruit coulis. If you've made something particularly rich, such as a frozen cocktail with coconut cream, you may want to repeat the cycle once more, but it's still a very hands-off process.

It's also important to disassemble and clean all the separate parts, although I would say it's not as smooth as some rival machines. However, for day-to-day use, the Frost is super simple It strikes a nice balance between being hygienic and low maintenance, making it much less of a chore to clean between recipes.

How does the Greenpan Frost Ice Cream Maker and Slushie Machine compare?

The closest rival to the GreenPan Frost is the Ninja Slushi Max, but they cater to slightly different audiences. If your priority is frozen drinks, the Ninja has the edge: it's generally faster to reach serving temperature (I had full-capacity slushies in 15 minutes), produces exceptionally consistent slushies and frozen cocktails, and its removable parts make it easier to give a deep clean after use. However, the GreenPan is the more versatile machine.

In addition to slushies, frappés and frozen cocktails, it can make soft-serve-style ice cream, frozen yoghurt and sorbet, effectively replacing a separate ice cream maker. I also found its slimmer, more upright design easier to accommodate on a kitchen worktop, despite both being fairly substantial appliances.

The adjustable texture dial on both give you more control over the finished consistency, allowing you to tweak recipes from firm and scoopable to light, airy soft serve. If your summer revolves around frozen margaritas and icy soft drinks, the Ninja Slushi Max is still the specialist to beat. But if you'd rather buy one machine that can satisfy both your ice cream cravings and your frozen drink obsession, the GreenPan Frost offers better all-round value.

Should you buy the Greenpan Frost Ice Cream Maker and Slushie Machine?

The GreenPan Frost will really earn its counter space in the swing of summer. It’s fast, versatile and cleverly designed, turning out everything from soft-serve ice cream to café-style frappés and frozen cocktails in around 15 to 25 minutes, without the faff of overnight freezing. The texture control is a standout feature, giving you real precision over the final result, while the rinse cycle keeps day-to-day cleaning relatively low effort.

It isn’t perfect. The machine is still a sizeable investment, both in price and footprint, and it won’t replace a dedicated deep-freeze setup if you’re after absolute professional-grade consistency or ultra-speedy batch production. And while cleaning is easy, it doesn’t feel quite as thoroughly disassemblable as some rivals, which may matter if you’re very particular about hygiene.

But judged on what it’s clearly designed to do, make frozen treats and drinks feel effortless and fun at home, it's a winner. If you want a single appliance that can handle ice cream for the kids, frozen cocktails for guests and slushies for hot afternoons, the Frost makes a compelling case for itself.

Whether you're avoiding your gardening jobs at all costs during the heatwave or making the most of the dry days, there's one job you can't forget to get out there and do.

With so many tasks to tick off your July gardening jobs list, it's all too easy to forget about commonly overlooked tasks like caring for wildlife. It's especially important when the hot weather arrives that we take a little more time to help our feathered and winged friends get through.

If you already attract birds to your garden, you may already have a bath filled with water out, but there's the matter of the much smaller members of wildlife that also need a little helping hand quenching their thirst. Luckily, BBC Gardeners' World have just the advice you need to help keep your garden's ecosystem thriving and hydrated.

Important 'wildlife welfare' job to do in a heatwave

Whilst you may already know how to help birds during the heatwaves this summer, some other animals need support and may not have the wings to reach your elevated bird bath.

"Birds, hedgehogs and even insects need a regular supply of water. And in hot weather, this is even more important," explains Adam Frost, professional gardener and Gardeners' World presenter.

"To give them a helping hand, I like to fill a shallow tray with a few rocks and stones from the garden. Place it somewhere cool, out of the way, and keep it topped up with water if the weather stays dry," Adam instructs.

It's also recommended that you replace the water frequently, as stagnant water can quickly encourage unwanted insect visitors like mosquitoes and midges. The last thing you want to start worrying about is how to get rid of mosquitoes in your garden during a heatwave.

Along with providing water, it's also key to introduce some garden shade ideas and ensure you're up to date with the latest bird feeding guidance.

If you really want to welcome wildlife into your garden this summer, we'd suggest trying out the rewilding trend. Your local environment will thank you for it.

If you don't want to completely redesign your garden to keep your local wildlife happy, simply letting some wildlife-friendly weeds grow can be the assistance they need through the warmer seasons.

Sleep has a way of unravelling everything else. One bad night becomes a pattern, and before long you’re negotiating with yourself at 3am, kicking off the duvet, pulling it back on, wondering why something as simple as staying asleep feels so difficult. I see it constantly in the mattresses I test, and I’ve lived it too: overheating, broken sleep and waking up already tired before the day has even started.

Which is why the idea of the best cooling mattress is so appealing right now - especially for women dealing with menopause or anyone who simply runs hot at night. But the reality is, cooling alone isn’t enough. A mattress can’t just regulate temperature; it also has to support your body properly, ease pressure points, and feel comfortable enough that you’re not fighting it the moment you lie down.

The Origin Hybrid Pro Mattress sets out to do both. It combines breathable natural fibres, graphite-infused latex and a layered spring system designed to encourage airflow while still delivering a medium-firm, supportive feel. To see how that translates in real life, I asked our tester Karen - 54, menopausal, and sharing a double bed with her husband - to sleep on it for six months. The question is whether it can genuinely solve two of the hardest problems in sleep: staying cool and staying comfortable at the same time.

Origin Hybrid Pro Mattress: Specifications

• RRP £660 (single), £874 (small double), £939 (double), £1004 (king), £1190 (super king)
• Sizes available: SINGLE / SMALL DOUBLE / DOUBLE / KING / SUPER KING
• Depth: 31cm
• Composition: machine-washable zip-off cover, plush premium Tencel fabric infused with cooling threads – “up to 10°C cooler² for deeper, more restorative rest”
• Mattress Type: 5,700+ TitaniumCoil springs with HexAdapt techonology
• Firmness options: ultra-adaptive cushioning gives you the ultimate tailored support.
• Delivery options: Free next working day delivery (UK Mainland) if ordered before 9am
• Returns period: The 200-day trial begins when the mattress is delivered to your home.
• Guarantee: 100% money-back guaranteed, within 200 days. The mattress will be collected and donated to the British Heart Foundation, rather than being sent to landfill

How we tested the Origin Hybrid Pro Mattress

This mattress was put to the test by Karen Kay, a member of our tester network. Here's a little more about her.

What's inside the Origin Hybrid Pro Mattress?

In the composition description of the Origin Hybrid Pro, you'll notice some impressive details (as well as some terms that need unpacking a little). All of the materials are classed as "non-toxic" and "hypoallergenic" by the brand, which is brilliant if you have sensitive skin or you want to keep your bedroom as natural as possible.

When you dive into the details, you'll see the following, which I'll explain in more detail beside each element:

• Luxuriously-soft PolarSilk Tencel Top Cover: tencel is a natural fibre, which is brilliant for feeling super soft and silky, whilst wicking away moisture and letting your skin breathe. It's great for hot sleepers.
• Graphite Crystal Latex Core: this part of the core is designed to pull heat away from the body quickly, whilst also offering a softer alternative to springs. It's like the mid-point between springs and foam - you still get support, but you also get softness, without trapping any heat in.
• Proprietary HexaGrid Plus Core: this brings comfort and cushioning for pressure points, but is more firm than foam, so you won't sink into it as much
• Bamboo-Infused Wool Core: having both bamboo and wool in the core enhances how breathable the mattress will be, as both materials have open structures to allow for maximum airflow, but naturally, of course
• ErgoCoil Titanium MicroSprings and Cooling Comfort Foam Aerospace-Grade Titanium Springs: smaller springs are brilliant for giving airflow through the mattress, whilst also minimising motion transfer, which is helpful for anyone who shares a bed
• D-3 Edge Support: this reinforces the structure that springs naturally provide, ensuring that there's proper consistent firmness right up to the edge of the bed

If you want the quick summary of all that, at 31cm deep, the Origin Hybrid Pro combines springs, foam, and other technical layers (hence the hybrid name) to solve two of the biggest sleep complaints I hear from readers: overheating and pressure relief. Rather than relying on traditional memory foam alone, Origin has built the mattress around several cooling materials, which our tester found very helpful in practice, but we'll talk more about that below.

Who would the Origin Hybrid Pro Mattress suit?

• Women struggling with night sweats or menopause: the cooling materials can't work magic, but they seem to make a noticeable difference to temperature regulation without feeling cold.
• Couples with different sleeping styles: the excellent motion isolation and balanced medium-firm feel work well if one partner moves around or prefers a different sleeping position.
• Anyone looking for premium comfort without a luxury price tag: it feels considerably more expensive than its regular sale price and offers many of the features normally found in mattresses costing much more.

What impressed our tester, Karen, most about the Origin Hybrid Pro is how well it balances competing sleep needs, which is why it has a pretty open set of recommendations for who it would suit. Cooling mattresses often sacrifice cushioning, while softer beds can leave combination sleepers lacking support or too hot. Here, the mattress manages to offer supportive without becoming hard, making it particularly appealing for couples or anyone whose sleep priorities have changed with age.

For women experiencing menopause or night sweats, it's also one of the few mattresses I've tested where the cooling technology appears to deliver a genuine real-world benefit rather than simply sounding impressive on paper.

What's the Origin Hybrid Pro like to sleep on?

Medium-firm mattresses are always a popular choice, especially if you struggle with overheating at night. However, in practice, it's often a tricky spot to occupy - and we've tested many mattresses that end up feeling firm rather then medium-firm. The Origin Hybrid Pro actually manages to strike a balance that's difficult to achieve. It feels supportive without being rigid, cushioned without swallowing you up, and responsive enough that changing position during the night won't disturb your partner or demand too much energy. We predicted that the Origin Hybrid Pro would be good for this when we saw the composition: a combination of springs and softer layers look, on paper, like they should work really well for relieving pressure while keeping your spine properly aligned. It was brilliant to see that translated into real life too.

Karen, our tester, who has struggled with lower back pain for years, noticed the difference immediately. She told us that "right from our first night on the Hybrid Pro, my husband and I both felt comfortable enough to slip rapidly into blissful, restorative sleep." Even more impressively, that first impression didn't wear off. After six months of use, she reported "the same edge-to-edge support welcomed us every night, without any deterioration or tell-tale hollows," which speaks well of the mattress's durability as well as its comfort.

As a combination sleeper who alternates between her back and side, she found the mattress adapted well to different sleeping positions. Rather than creating pressure around the hips or shoulders, she described feeling "supported and cosseted, the mattress firm enough to ensure my spine was held, but with just enough 'give' to feel pressure-relieving – whether I was on my back or side." That's exactly what I'd hope to hear from a well-designed hybrid mattress: enough firmness to maintain healthy spinal alignment, but enough cushioning to prevent pressure points from building up overnight.

Couples should also appreciate its excellent motion isolation. Despite a significant height and weight difference between herself and her husband, Karen found their old problem of being disturbed by each other's movements disappeared. She compared her previous mattress to sitting on "a trampoline" where "every movement by my husband would transfer kinetic energy to my side of the bed." On the Hybrid Pro, those midnight disturbances were dramatically reduced, allowing them both to sleep more peacefully despite very different body types and sleeping styles.

Is the Origin Hybrid Pro Mattress cooling?

Cooling technology is one of the biggest selling points for modern mattresses, but it's also one of the claims I approach with the most scepticism. Plenty promise cooler sleep, yet few make a real difference once you've spent eight hours tucked beneath a duvet. The Origin Hybrid Pro, however, appears to back up its specifications with genuine real-world performance.

The cooling starts with the construction. Instead of relying solely on memory foam, which has a reputation for trapping heat, Origin combines a breathable PolarSilk Tencel cover with graphite-infused latex that's designed to draw heat away from the body, moisture-wicking bamboo-infused wool and ventilated titanium microsprings that encourage airflow through the mattress. None of these materials are revolutionary on their own, but together they create a noticeably more breathable sleeping environment.

For Karen, who experiences menopausal night sweats, that meant she could feel a tangible improvement. She described her changing hormones as leaving her body with "more extremes of temperature than a chef's kitchen," explaining that she'd gone from sleeping under thick duvets to waking "drenched in sweat in the early hours." While she's careful not to describe the mattress as a miracle cure, she was unequivocal about the difference it has made. "I am in no doubt that my nights are now far more comfortable and the incidence of waking, poached in perspiration, is happening far less frequently," she told me.

It is important to caveat that no mattress can stop hormonal hot flushes, and I'd always be wary of any brand suggesting otherwise. What the Origin Hybrid Pro appears to do is minimise the amount of heat that becomes trapped beneath you, helping your body regulate its temperature more effectively through the night. For women navigating menopause, or anyone who tends to overheat while they sleep, that can make the difference between repeatedly waking to throw off the duvet and sleeping through until morning. As Karen neatly summed it up, "I now regularly nod off in comfort and wake up rested."

Should you buy the Origin Hybrid Pro Mattress?

If you're looking for a mattress that combines supportive comfort with effective cooling, the Origin Hybrid Pro is one of the strongest all-rounders I've come across. It delivers a balanced, medium-firm feel that suits most sleeping positions, isolates movement exceptionally well for couples and, perhaps most importantly for many women, helps create a cooler, more comfortable sleeping environment without relying on gimmicks or exaggerated claims.

I particularly like that it doesn't force you to compromise. Too often, cooling mattresses sacrifice comfort, while softer models can leave your back crying out for support. Here, Origin has managed to blend pressure relief, spinal alignment and breathability into a mattress that feels thoughtfully engineered rather than overcomplicated. Add in the generous 200-night trial and frequent discounts, and it represents excellent value compared with many premium hybrid competitors.

Karen perhaps put it best after living with the mattress for six months: "I can confidently say I don't think you can go wrong with this one." She even added, "I have already recommended it to a couple of friends," which is often the strongest endorsement any product can receive. If you're a naturally hot sleeper, navigating menopause or simply ready to replace an ageing mattress with something that's supportive, breathable and built to last, the Origin Hybrid Pro would be an easy recommendation from me too.

Adding new plants to your garden seems simple enough; you dig an appropriately big hole and place the plant in it. Well, according to gardening icon Alan Titchmarsh, there's one particular, crucial step we've been forgetting.

If you're trying out some of this year's garden trends or want to add some more late summer flowers into your space, the chances are you'll be planting new additions this season. And whilst digging a spot for your new plant is a rather straightforward task, there is more to consider when planting to ensure your newest leafy friend is given the best chance at establishing and thriving.

Similar to how you can make container gardening mistakes, when adding a container plant to the ground or even a larger pot, you mustn't skip this crucial step.

Whilst you might be a well-seasoned gardener equipped with all the essential garden tools, it's still easy to forget simple yet important steps when doing basic jobs like planting out.

Luckily for us, gardening legend Alan Titchmarsh has pointed out the common mistake and, more importantly, how to avoid making it.

"Before you plant anything, whether it’s a tree, a shrub or a border perennial from a container, it’s important to make sure that it is really well watered," starts Alan.

"If you plant a dry root ball, it will have a dickens of a job trying to absorb moisture from the surrounding soil, however wet it is. So all of these have been really well soaked in their pots, so they’ll get established immediately," he continues.

You can know how to water your garden plants properly, but if you don't prepare your new plant's root ball before adding it to the ground, it will struggle to adjust to its new home.

"Measure the depth of the hole so that the top of the root ball ends up being at exactly the same level as it is in the pot. Support the crown of the plant, ease the pot off; you can see that it’s nice and soggy," Alan explains.

"Push the earth around it, pushing your fingers in so there are no air pockets, and then cover with soil; don’t rush and enjoy the process," he adds.

All you have to do then is remember the best time to water your garden, and ensure those roots establish in the ground for a happy, healthy plant.

Should you be a particularly busy homeowner or a forgetful one, we'd recommend adding more garden plants that thrive on neglect in your space. They'll establish themselves very easily and require very little maintenance to thrive in your space.

Only just recovered from the last heatwave? Well, the bad news is that there's another one on the way, but the good news is we've got the tips and tricks from a gardening expert to help you prepare your plants for the hot weather.

Even when you've been keeping up with your summer gardening jobs all season, one heatwave can easily come and leave all your plants withered in its wake. And whilst it's not advised that you water your outdoor plants every day in hot weather, when particularly high temperatures hit, there are some things you will need to do immediately to keep your plants happy and healthy.

To ensure your garden survives the next heat wave, we asked garden design expert and garden influencer Ish (@gardening.with.ish on Instagram) what you can do for your plants to prepare them.

Things you need to do to prep your garden for the heatwave

There's no escaping it: summers are getting hotter each year, and that means our gardens need more help coping with the heat. Luckily, there are steps you can take to ensure you won't have to help your garden recover from the heatwave.

"Modern garden design needs to take plant spacing and mulching far more seriously. Planting some species a little closer together not only shades the soil, reducing moisture loss, but also helps suppress weeds," starts Ish.

"Likewise, while peat-free compost is much better for the environment, it doesn’t retain moisture as well as peat-based alternatives. A generous layer of mulch helps compensate for this, keeping the soil cooler and reducing evaporation throughout the year—not just during heatwaves," he continues.

If you struggle with keeping up with the best timing to water your garden during these hotter temperatures, or don't want to be out in the heat, then having automated watering systems is a great idea.

"Direct-to-ground irrigation has become an essential part of my own garden. I collect rainwater in large storage tanks, which are raised off the ground and connected to a timer and a network of soaker hoses," explains Ish.

"Each evening, the system automatically runs for around 15–20 minutes, thoroughly soaking the soil where it’s needed most. Because the soaker hoses are buried 2–3cm below the surface, evaporation is dramatically reduced, the plants receive a deeper watering, and I have much more free time," he adds.

When it comes to keeping cool in the garden during summer, both for you and your plants, incorporating garden shade ideas in your space has to be a top priority.

"Finally, we need to think about shade and mobility. One of the biggest complaints I hear is that large pots are simply too heavy to move. Fitting castor wheels beneath containers and planters makes repositioning them much easier when the sun becomes intense," Ish suggests.

"We should also consider incorporating sliding shade screens or retractable canopies into pergolas, porches and other garden structures. Most modern homes are designed to retain heat, which is fantastic during winter but far less welcome in July," he says.

Shadescaping your garden is a real saviour when the heatwaves hit and can make a huge difference to the overall temperature in your outdoor spaces.

"By shading windows and outdoor spaces before the sun reaches them, we can help keep both our gardens and our homes cooler without having to shut ourselves away behind closed blinds," finishes Ish.

As much as we can avoid making common summer garden mistakes, ensuring our plants survive these rising temperatures starts with prevention.

"Heatwaves are quickly becoming a normal part of the British summer, and it’s time we started designing our gardens to cope with them, rather than simply reacting when they arrive," explains Ish.

When it was founded, Delivita (translated as delicious life) set out to deliver on more than its namesake. They created an oven that takes traditional clay interiors and makes it modern, wrapped in a colourful, handcrafted shell that wouldn't look out of place in a Tuscan courtyard/ And he's been improving the design year upon year upon year.

Today, DeliVita has earned a loyal following for bringing a little slice of la dolce vita to British gardens. Its ovens are instantly recognisable, with their vibrant colours, smooth curves and artisan feel, but they're far more than just pretty to look at. They consistently rank among the best pizza ovens because they combine traditional Italian cooking principles with modern engineering, reaching soaring temperatures while remaining approachable enough for home cooks.

As someone whose family ran a pizza business for more than a decade, I'm naturally sceptical of products that promise authentic results without the know-how to back them up. However, I fell in love with Delivita's original wood-fired oven, but I also recognised its limitations: live-fire cooking isn't practical for everyone. The new dual-fuel Flow promises to keep everything that made the original so special while adding the convenience of gas and a little more cooking space. After weeks of making everything from classic margheritas to heavily topped pizzas, I wanted to find out whether this beautifully Italian oven is as enjoyable to cook with as it is to look at.

Delivita Flow Dual Fuel Pizza Oven review

• Oven dimensions: 430mm x 628mm x 665mm (H x W x D) 
• Oven mouth: 175mm x 378mm (H x W) 
• Weight: 45kg 
• Fuel type: Gas + wood 
• Maximum temperature: Up to 550°C 
• Gas cooking readiness: Around 15 minutes 
• Wood-fired cooking readiness: Around 30 minutes 
• Typical pizza cook time: Around 90 seconds 
• Pizza capacity: 1 x 14” pizza 
• Cooking area: 570mm x 500mm 
• Outer shell: High-temperature powder-coated steel 
• Insulation: Clay-infused insulation 
• Inner chamber: Stainless steel 
• Cooking surface: Clay and stone 
• Available colours: British Racing Green, Chilli Red, Hale Grey, Orange Blaze, Royal Blue, Very Black 

Who would the Delivita Flow Dual Fuel Pizza Oven suit?

• Beginners who want an oven they'll never outgrow: The Flow is wonderfully approachable for first-time pizza makers, thanks to its reliable gas burner and generous cooking space. Once you've mastered the basics, switching to wood opens up a whole new world of smoky flavours, live-fire cooking and slower recipes. Rather than buying an entry-level oven you'll want to replace in a few years, this is one that can grow alongside your skills.
• Style-conscious hosts with compact outdoor spaces: Not every pizza oven complements a carefully designed garden, but the Flow is as much a design piece as it is a cooking appliance. Its handcrafted finish and wide range of colours make it a real focal point, while its compact footprint means it looks just as at home on an IKEA bistro table as it does on a bespoke outdoor kitchen. Whether you have a small courtyard or a larger entertaining space, it feels beautifully considered.

After months of testing, it's difficult to think of someone this oven wouldn't suit. It caters to beginners with dependable gas cooking that's easy to master, while giving more experienced cooks the flexibility to experiment with wood-fired pizzas, smoked dishes and slow-cooked recipes. It's also one of the most attractive pizza ovens I've tested, with enough colour options to complement almost any outdoor space without dominating it. The only real compromise is the price. This is undoubtedly an investment, but the craftsmanship and versatility justify the cost. While it only cooks one pizza at a time, I don't see that as a significant limitation when a 12-inch pizza is ready in as little as two and a half minutes.

What is the Delivita Flow Dual Fuel Pizza Oven like to use?

One of the biggest advantages of the Delivita Flow is that it removes many of the barriers that stop people buying their first pizza oven. Unlike some models that require lengthy assembly or calibration, the Flow arrives almost completely built. Aside from attaching the gas burner, it's ready to position in your garden and fire up. If you're cooking on gas, you'll simply need to connect it to a compatible propane canister using the supplied hose. I'd also recommend investing in a few essentials from the outset: a good pizza peel is non-negotiable, a brush makes cleaning the stone between cooks much easier, and a weatherproof cover will help protect your investment. A temperature gun isn't essential, but if you're serious about making consistently excellent pizza, it's one of the most useful accessories you can own.

Like all clay and stone pizza ovens, the Flow needs curing before its first cook. This involves running the burner for around an hour to gradually drive moisture out of the stone. You may notice a little condensation or dripping during this process, but that's completely normal and only happens once. After that initial cure, the oven is ready to cook in around 20 minutes, which is an impressive heat-up time for an oven with a traditional clay interior. Even more importantly, it reaches temperature evenly. I found the cooking stone heated consistently from front to back, which makes managing pizzas much easier and reduces the risk of burnt bases with undercooked toppings.

To properly test the oven, I cooked dozens of pizzas using different dough hydrations, topping combinations and cooking temperatures. I always begin with a classic margherita because it reveals almost everything you need to know about a pizza oven. With so few ingredients, there's nowhere for poor heat distribution to hide. My first pizza emerged after just 2 minutes 40 seconds with beautifully puffed cornicione, even leopard spotting underneath and bubbling patches of golden mozzarella across the surface. Those visual cues tell me the oven is doing exactly what it should: the stone is transferring enough heat to fully bake the base while the dome is generating sufficient radiant heat to cook the toppings at the same pace.

Just as importantly, those results weren't a one-off. Across more than 20 margheritas, the Flow delivered remarkably consistent pizzas. The bases developed a crisp, well-baked structure without becoming dry, the crust remained light and airy, and the tomato sauce reduced into a rich, concentrated sweetness rather than drying out. Good pizza ovens don't just produce one great pizza, they produce the twentieth just as well as the first, and that's where the Delivita really impressed me.

Marinara pizzas cooked even faster, averaging around 2 minutes 14 seconds thanks to the lighter topping load, but they highlighted another strength of the oven, which is the balance. Faster cooking often risks leaving the centre underbaked or drying the sauce before the dough has finished cooking. Here, neither happened. The dough retained its soft, open crumb while developing a crisp underside, and the tomato stayed vibrant and fresh.

Moving on to heavier pizzas loaded with vegetables and extra cheese required a different approach, but that's where the dual-fuel controls really came into their own. A simple adjustment of the flame lets you reduce the intensity, extending the bake just enough for thicker toppings to cook through without scorching the crust. It's an intuitive system, clearly marked with simple symbols, and one that beginners will quickly gain confidence using. More experienced pizza makers will also appreciate how precisely they can tailor the flame to different styles of pizza.

Perhaps my favourite thing about cooking with the Flow is simply how generous the cooking chamber feels. Although it's designed around a 12-inch pizza, there's ample room to launch, rotate and retrieve your pizza without feeling cramped, which is a detail that's easy to underestimate until you've wrestled with a smaller oven. The wide mouth also makes it easier to use taller roasting dishes or cast iron pans, opening the door to baking bread, roasting vegetables or cooking meat alongside pizza. It feels forgiving, spacious and thoughtfully designed, which makes the whole experience more enjoyable whether it's your first pizza or your hundredth.

How does the Delivita Flow Dual Fuel Pizza Oven compare?

I've made my way through testing all the best pizza ovens and the Delivita Flow is one of the most impressive of them all. For the sake of working out whether it's good value and what else is out there, it's worth making two comparisons. The first is to Delivita's all-wood model and the second is to the Gozney Dome, which offers the same dual-fuel function.

The Delivita wood-fired oven is very similar in design and cooking performance, of course. The single-fuel option is cheaper and wood-fired results are always the most flavourful. However gas is quicker, more reliable, and doesn't come with all the smoke of the single-fuel model, which makes it much more versatile and also beginner-friendly. If you have the space in your budget, I'd definitely recommend sizing up with the Flow to give you the options and versatility of a newer model.

The Gozney Dome is a more expensive and larger oven than the Delivita Flow. The difference between the Gozney and the Delivita comes down to aesthetics, as the cooking results in both were equally impressive. The Delivita has a more traditional Italian look and it sits nicely on a table as simple as the IKEA bistro set. It's smaller and cheaper, but still feels premium. The Dome is a more subtle, modern looking oven, which will suit a different kind of garden style. You can't go wrong with either.

Should you buy the Delivita Flow Dual Fuel Pizza Oven?

This is one of the most charming pizza ovens on the market, and that charm is backed up by impressive performance. It delivers the kind of authentic, Italian-style pizza you’d expect from a traditional wood-fired oven, with beautifully blistered crusts and a moreish light, airy base. The dual-fuel design is what really elevates it, giving you the freedom to cook with gas for speed and ease, or switch to wood when you want a more traditional, flavour-driven experience.

Beginners will appreciate how straightforward it is to get consistently good results without a steep learning curve, while more experienced cooks will enjoy the ability to experiment with heat control, fuel types and different cooking styles too.

I’ve been a fan of Delivita since I first tested its original wood-fired oven, and the Flow is a natural evolution of everything the brand does well. If you want a pizza oven that combines standout design, authentic Italian character and real versatility in one package, this is an easy recommendation.

How we test pizza ovens

At woman&home, we have a series of tests that we put every pizza oven through. I'm from a family that owns a pizza business, which means we are cooking all day and every day on both commercial and domestic ovens. We class ourselves as discerning customers as well as pizza oven snobs. We look at everything from set-up and storage through to warm-up time and, of course, how well the oven cooks pizza. It's a tough test to pass, but when we recommend an oven, you know it's something special. If you want to find out more about the process, you can read more on how we test pizza ovens.