Gardening

Winter came late but it certainly came with a vengeance, writes local green thumb and garden-based business owner Peter Worsp of Terra Viva. Cold rain, record frosts, Antarctic southerlies. Winter in Christchurch makes us wonder if we’ll ever feel like venturing out into the garden again. Yet three days of sunshine plus warmer, […]

Your home reflects who you are. Why should your garden be any different? “Spring is a great time to look at your garden afresh – what’s working, what isn’t, and what you’d love to change,” says Nathan Neath, horticultural expert and owner of Green Giant Gardens. “After Christchurch’s hard frosts, don’t be too […]

5 ways to maintain a low-fuss, nice-looking outdoor living area and garden. Zero-fuss plants. Selecting plants that will strive in Canterbury is a simple way to make your life easier in the garden. Consider native favourites already used to New Zealand’s weather patterns. This includes hebes (compact and great for borders), Kānuka and […]

Winter gives homeowners something that’s often in short supply during spring and summer: time to stop, look at the garden properly, and plan before the growing season begins. Expert gardener Nathan Neath shares his spring-ready tips. For me, every project starts the same way – with a walk around the garden. I ask […]

Christchurch’s Red Zone is being used as a test bed to see whether biological wastes (biowastes) can help transform contaminated soil into climate-resilient soil. As a result of the earthquakes, Christchurch’s Red Zone is like a “living laboratory” for studying how cities can respond to both contaminated land and the impacts of climate […]

Keen to learn how to prune roses like a pro? Now is the perfect time to get to work. With more than 100 species and counting, the rose is one of the most popular flowers across the globe and mid-winter is the best time to prune them, when the plants are fully dormant, […]

Barking up the right tree are Christchurch arborist experts Ben and Jake. While winter might seem like the quiet season for gardening, they say it’s the perfect window for maintenance. Is an overgrown garden making you want to reach for the pruning shears or chainsaw? Tree pruning or removal without the correct know-how […]

Horticultural expert Nathan Neath from Green Giant Gardens says winter is one of the most important seasons to get your garden in shape. Roses deserve a fresh start Winter is the ideal time to prune roses while they’re dormant. Removing old, damaged growth, treating pests and diseases, and mulching plants encourages strong new […]

Winter is here, which gives us a break from lawnmowing, but there are still plenty of other jobs to do in the garden. Prepare and protect June is a great time to tidy and protect your outdoor space before the coldest winter weather arrives. Clear away fallen leaves, trim dead growth from perennials, […]

Beyond the art, there’s a science to keeping bonsai alive – and beautiful. New Zealand bonsai artist Aaron Curtis sits down with Metropol about the craft behind each branch, and his New Brighton store and café, Shiro Bonsai. Aaron, tell us, how did your career in bonsai begin? I originally started from being […]