Your guide to homes and gardens in Herts and Essex from the Harlow Star

Fly the flag in your garden

With the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics approaching, red, white and blue planting schemes may be in vogue, Hannah Stephenson predicts

Gardening

How to make the most of your garden, whether it's acres or metres long

Jobs for the garden

Treats for your garden lover

The mild bunch: fruit crops may struggle

This week...

Let's hear it for hellebores

Twitchers unite in garden watch

Keep fit in the garden

Nurture your own office

Water the garden in style

Filling the void

Green Living

A guide to making your home and garden as eco-friendly as possible

Sign-up for Essex waste buster training events

New opposition to plans for massive greenhouse

Environmental nappy group may have to fold

Get free hot tips on energy in Uttlesford

Model eco-home to open its doors in Uttlesford

Make your food go further

Facing fuel worries? Help is on hand!

Use up your leftovers to win top prize

Beans means prizes for Hertfordshire students

Recycled cooking oil saves money and energy

Golden Gardens

Garden designers Jon Smith and Adam Woolcott share their tips for sprucing up your garden

There's a whiff of spring in the air

Fleece your favourites: protect your tender plants

Part 3: Grow something different

Part 2: Grow something different

Part 1: Grow something different

Hooray for house plants

There's something strange going on outside

Why bother with bulbs?

Hedging your bets

Tackling pests and diseases

Property

Whether you're thinking of renovating or moving, this is the place to come

Don't freeze, call the Home Heat Helpline

End of stamp duty holiday encourages East of England buyers

Make the most of your loft space

A bit on the side

Homebuyers still on the hunt despite gloom

The financial benefits of a spare room

What buyers really want to know before they buy

Our guide to mortgages in 2012

A generation may never afford to buy their own home

Generation frozen out in East over house prices

HomesNow

Check out our HomesNow site for the latest properties to rent and buy

Need to know suppliers

A guide to homes and gardens businesses in your area

Make more space by converting your cellar

It may not be the most obvious way to enlarge your home, but converting the cellar can have lots of benefits - as long as it's done right, says Julia Gray

Turn up the heat

Bedding from the Medallion range at Next

Leave the cold, grey days of the British winter far behind - and fill your home with hot Moroccan-inspired accessories

Make your garden more wildlife friendly

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) are encouraging the public to turn their gardens into wildlife havens to help save the country's pollinating insects

Give your home a loved up makeover

Fall head over heels for these gorgeous interiors

Take your home to the next (mezzanine) level

Mezzanine levels have long been popular in church and chapel conversions, but they can also be used to add an extra room in ordinary houses, says Julia Gray