Former garden manager of Whangārei Quarry Gardens Guy Hessell was inspired to become a landscape designer while on his OE in London.
“All my life I have been an arty person and the jobs in London involved creating gardens from scratch, as well as general gardening,” he says.
“I enjoyed seeing the client’s reaction after we completed their gardens.”
What are some key elements and principles of landscape design using native plants?
I use similar principles when planting exotics – keeping the design simple and uncluttered is paramount. Use leaf colour, texture, shape and plant height to your advantage, which contrasts and looks interesting against other plants. Of course, you have to take into account shady, dry or exposed spots and suggest plants that can cope with such conditions. Planting groups of similar species gives more impact and, generally speaking, grow taller plants at the back and smaller ones at the front.
Why should we plant more natives in our garden?
They are uniquely New Zealand and are relatively trouble-free, hardy plants. They seem to combine well and suit each other and offer features that are an asset to any garden. Native birds are attracted to native plants for food, too – it is always great having native birds visiting your garden.
Do you have any tips about choosing and establishing native plants?
I usually handpick the healthiest plants from a nursery, making sure they have a good spread of leaves, are in good shape and aren’t root-bound. I always plant as close to midwinter, where practical, as it reduces plant stress, and I place the plants out first before planting them – it’s much easier than finding out your spacing is incorrect later. Check the plants daily for up to a month after planting.
What are some of your favourite easy-to-grow native plants?
Groundcover: Pimelea prostrata (New Zealand daphne) and Muehlenbeckia axillaris (creeping wire vine). Shrub: Sophora microphylla ‘Dragons Gold’ (dwarf kōwhai) and Leptospermum species (mānuka). Tree: the humble Cordyline australis (cabbage tree).
What inspired you to write Let’s Go Native?
As I’m getting quite close to retirement, I felt that I should put something back into an industry that has given me so much. I also saw a large gap in the market for a book that was interesting and easy to read. It has more than 40 pages of general growing advice useful for any gardener. I tried to pack as much relevant information into the book that I had learnt over 20 years of being in the industry to make it a good buy.
I had a lot of help from contributors to the book, who offered as much support as I could ever have hoped for, which inspired me to complete it. I am also hoping to create interest in the younger generation to inspire them to enter into a job in the horticultural industry. There are great career paths and it’s a job where you are always learning.
For more, see Let’s Go Native by Guy Hessell ($49.99, Bateman Books).
Read more:
- These are the best vegetables to plant in your garden in June
- Harakeke: A story of New Zealand flax and its cultural meaning
- Jake Linklater, Young Horticulturist of the Year’s tips for growing native plants
