Holistic homes: Studio Wren
A home is more than just the physical bones of a house or the nature residing in a garden. Rachael Farthing, owner of Studio Wren, Christchurch’s newest landscape design company, believes that a home is created as elements of architecture, interior and landscape come together. Each “reflects different parts of the owners, connecting […]
Beautiful bonsai
Bonsai is an ancient horticultural art form. Originally developed in the Orient almost 2000 years ago, today it is an art practised throughout the world. Shape, harmony, proportion and scale are all weighed up carefully in creating bonsai. Just planting a tree in a small pot is not bonsai; it has to be […]
Creating predator-free properties
To create a sanctuary for native birds and other wildlife in your backyard means managing predators. Stoats, rats, weasels, possums, cats, and hedgehogs prey on birds, including their eggs and nestlings, and on other small creatures. If you want to keep the birds flourishing, and other wildlife enjoying your property, then controlling pests […]
Going native
Attracting native birds into your garden may be as easy as planting a few specific tree species, adding a bird bath, and providing the right food. Tui, fantails, kererū, and even kingfishers will visit regularly if garden conditions are right. Many native bird species face extinction, or are already extinct. As urban jungles […]
Name your poison (plants)
A surprising number of plants, including many indoor species, are toxic and even poisonous in one way or another, having developed chemical compounds to discourage predators from eating them. A toxic plant can cause harm through various means, such as skin irritation or inhalation, while a poisonous plant is specifically dangerous if ingested. […]
Get down and dirty
Winter is a great time to have a clean-out in the garden. Wait for a crisp fine weekend, sort a green waste bin, rug up warm and head outside. By now, most of the deciduous trees will have shed their leaves, so rake them up and add to your composting, or bin. Bare […]
Growing healthy soil
Achieving healthy, nutritious food relies a lot on where you grow it, not just how you care for each plant. Strip it back to the base and look at the health of your soil. Understanding your soil takes time. It is important to consider your location, how you nourish it, and its moisture […]
A grand garden: Grow Landscapes & Lifestyle
Create an ambience and the garden of your dreams with fountains and gorgeous garden art from Grow Landscapes & Lifestyle. The gentle murmur of trickling water and elegant art sculpt a serene atmosphere for winter evenings, whether you’re admiring from your window or outside enjoying it. This is where a water feature takes […]
Overwintering plants
A way of protecting potted plants through winter, overwintering keeps plants alive and healthy and is sometimes essential for their survival. With consistent frosts and hard winds creeping in, this might be the solution to leave winter and enter summer with a lively, blooming garden. Plants can struggle with the temperature drop, such […]
Cold climate plants
Many native and exotic plants, shrubs, and trees available in New Zealand are tougher than they look, surviving low temperatures, droughts, frosts, poor soil, and occasional neglect or improper care. Seasonal changes bring challenges for gardeners, especially in colder climate areas such as Canterbury. The trick is to choose plants that survive and […]
