Behind Christchurch’s best gardens – Green Giant
Owner-led, locally trusted: the craft behind thriving Christchurch gardens.
Behind many of Christchurch’s most beautifully planted gardens is horticulturalist Nathan Neath (pictured), a craftsman with deep plant knowledge and over two decades of experience. As the owner of Green Giant Gardens, Nathan brings international expertise including training with the United Kingdom’s Royal Horticultural Society and time at the iconic Kew Gardens.
After more than a decade working in Christchurch he has an instinctive understanding of the region’s soils, micro-climates, and what truly thrives here, knowledge that guides every planting decision and every garden the team cares for.
Craftsmanship shaped by Christchurch conditions
Nathan’s approach is grounded in horticultural intelligence: reading soil behaviour, exposure, moisture patterns, wind, heat, pests, and the subtle micro-climates that define Christchurch gardens.
“A garden succeeds or struggles based on plant knowledge,” he explains. “Christchurch has specific growing conditions, so knowing what will thrive and how to support it is essential.”
This philosophy carries through to every aspect of the boutique, owner-led service Green Giant Gardens is known for. Nathan and his highly trained team specialise in high-end planting, soft landscaping, garden refreshes, maintenance, irrigation, privacy planting, and horticultural guidance, always beginning with listening and careful preparation.
Care that continues
Many of the company’s strongest client relationships have been with him from the start, and come through ongoing maintenance, which Nathan sees as the true foundation of a flourishing garden. Maintenance is more than upkeep; it is skilled horticultural care, monitoring growth, improving soil health, managing pests early, refining structure, and helping plantings mature in the way they’re meant to.
“A well-designed garden only reaches its potential with consistent care,” Nathan says. “Ongoing maintenance is where the real magic happens.”
A Merivale garden with history, prepared for its next chapter
A long-term client in Merivale asked Nathan to prepare their much-loved family garden for sale. Having maintained the property for years, he refined the spaces he knew well, refreshing established plantings, improving plant health, and restoring clarity to each area. The result honoured the home’s long family history while presenting it at its best for the market, a clear example of how expert care can elevate a property’s appeal.
Garden care you can trust season after season
Whether refreshing a garden, preparing a property for sale, or seeking reliable high-end maintenance, Nathan and his team bring craftsmanship and pride to every project.
