Gardening

Consider this your wintery planting guide! Here’s what to harvest, plant and sow in the garden during the month of July What to harvest in the garden in July – Winter is citrus harvest time. Don’t leave mandarins and tangelos too long on the tree after they ripen as they can dry out. – Limes can be […]

Have you got your eye on a plant in a friend’s garden and want the same type of plant of your own? It’s easy – take a cutting How to grow plants from cuttings Not only is growing plants from cuttings rewarding and cheap, it’s easy! The best time to do it is late autumn/early winter. One of the […]

Homes to Love quizzed florist Eden Hessel who specialises in weddings to find out what her favourite wedding flowers are, and when they’re in season When are my favourite wedding flowers in season? How do good florists always know how to get the best blooms for the best prices? Because they know when flowers are in their […]

 Is one of your plants too big for its spot in the garden? Does it need more shade? Whatever the reason, now is the time to move it During the winter months plants are not actively growing, so their metabolism slows down. As a result, if you move a plant there will be a little […]

Consider this your wintery planting guide! Here’s what to harvest, plant and sow in the garden during the month of May What to harvest in the garden in May – Some macadamia nut varieties will be ready to harvest now. Pick them up every second day if possible to avoid fungal disease, then dehusk and dry immediately. […]

On a steep site, exposed to hot northwesterly winds, Blenheim gardener Dianne Croad has managed to create her dream garden One of the joys of gardening is to see your vision gradually take shape from year to year. Southland-born Dianne Croad had always yearned for a garden where she could do just that, but her […]

Creating her dream garden was worth the wait for this Blenheim gardener A structured and semi-formal garden in Blenheim One of the joys of gardening is to see your vision gradually take shape from year to year. Southland-born Dianne Croad had always yearned for a garden where she could do just that, but her late […]

Consider this your Autumn planting guide! Here’s what to harvest, plant and sow in the garden during the month of April What to harvest in the garden in Autumn – Pick up passionfruit as it drops to avoid sun damage and rotting. – Harvest eggplant, capsicum, corn, cucumber, courgette, tomato and other late-summer vegetables. Make […]

A plain little garden on Waiheke has been transformed into a place of enchantment with a range of subtropical plants THE SITE Stuart Jobling and his partner Barry Danby have created a delightful, densely planted subtropical garden on Waiheke Island. With its canopy of palms, flowering trees and lush-leaved subtropicals below, the exotic garden is a far […]

Cacti and succulents are the perfect indoor plant – they look amazing and require hardly any upkeep. Take a look at some of our faves… Cactus are super easy to maintain, requiring little to no watering. They do need lots of sunshine though, so set them in a sunny spot! These quirky little guys add interest […]

This garden is so abundant and established it looks as though it’s been the life-long companion to the Victorian-era weatherboard home it surrounds Despite looking like it’s always been there, this garden is a recent development, installed in tandem with the home’s renovation two years ago. The Cheongs retained the Victorian facade and added a contemporary extension at the […]

Whether you’re after a dramatic effect or a soft and subtle glow, clever use of lighting can take your garden to the next level. Not sure where to begin? Let our 10-point checklist be your guiding light 1 Where to start Most outdoor lighting is 12 volt, which means you’ll need a transformer to connect it […]

Beat the late summer blues by rejuvenating flower beds and lawns with a little loving care Your March planting guide Gardens can look a little jaded by the end of summer but an easy way to add colour and interest is to fill containers and gaps in flower beds with brightly-hued annuals and perennials that bloom […]

We love a good indoor plant here at Homes to Love. Here’s 30 times an indoor plant added that extra magic to an interior Top 10 plants for growing indoors 1. Spider plant 2. Aspidistra 3. Peace lily 4. Rubber plant (Ficus elastica) 5. Weeping fig (ficus benjamina) 6. Parlour palm (or try a kentia) […]

A compilation of 10 planters to bring the outside in and the inside out Going green The addition of living greenery to your home will soften the edges and make your space seem calmer and more welcoming, not to mention it will also transform or enhance the existing style of any room. To ensure your […]

If you’re wanting your plants to stay looking good through the warmer months, especially if you’re planning on going away on holiday, here’s what you need to know 1. Mulch it Mulching is beneficial in so many ways. It helps keep moisture in the soil; therefore reducing the amount of watering you’ll need to do. […]

Take extra care of your garden as plants hit their peak growth period in mid-summer It’s high energy time for plants in mid-summer as they’re in their peak growth period. To make sure they don’t run out of steam before the end of the season it’s important to keep plants well watered and fed at […]

These days, garden sheds are expected to multi-task – playhouse, office, spare room – and look good, too. Here are some ideas if you’re planning a ‘shed-over’ 1. Playtime Luring the kids away from screens and devices into the outdoors will be easier if you give them their own place to hang out. If converting […]

Learn the basics for growing and potting orchids at home – you don’t need to be an expert! You’ll need – a pot, orchid bark, a cymbidium orchid, small stake, butterfly clips, pebbles and slow-release orchid food. Step 1 Fill a small pot with orchid bark (which has been sterilised and can be bought at any […]

Landscape designer Debbie Hardy talks garden trends, from green living walls to garden art Debbie, what’s the latest buzz with gardens?Beautiful lawns and structure, a garden with formal bones (clipped hedges, single plants planted en masse) is still very popular. Green walls and green roofs are a hot garden trend, as is a productive garden […]

No garden? No problem. Use Carol Bucknell’s ideas for indoor plants Why bottle planters are the perfect solution for a small garden Collect empty jars and small bottles in a variety of sizes and colours. Plant small plants in the bottles with wide openings, packing the plants firmly into the soil. Paint an old crate […]

This plain front yard is set to become a bee-friendly secret garden once gardens editor Carol Bucknell comes up with a plan of attack Dear Carol We have just moved into our new home in New Plymouth. We have ideas buzzing around our heads about so many areas but need advice on the front yard. […]

As the days heat up, don’t forget to water your plants regularly and you will be well rewarded. Read on for more of gardens editor Carol Bucknell’s top tips Stop the snail trail Another good reason to water in the morning is that snails and slugs love damp soil when they move about in the […]

Make the most of your summer garden with these hints and tricks from gardens editor Carol Bucknell HARVEST – Pick the baby leaves of spinach or the entire plant to thin out crowded crops. – Harvest regularly to avoid plants turning to seed as the weather warms up. – Thin out fruit clusters on apple […]

Although it obviously does take more time, propagating plants from seed isn’t difficult if you choose the right varieties. There is also a wider range of plant seeds available these days than seedlings. And better still many can be gathered from your own plants or those of friends and neighbours. Our 10-step guide will get […]

Dear Carol, I’m hoping for help with the main part of my garden. We’ve done a lot of work tidying up the area, but need some ideas to link the deck to the garden. There needs to be a paving or seating area. The deck faces east so is lovely in summer but almost sunless in […]

A seaside front section with a mishmash of planting needs more of everything Dear Carol We love our little seaside cottage, but we are unsure what to do with the front garden! We would love some assistance to help it reach its full potential. We live beside the sea in Wellington, in a 1920s weatherboard […]

A Tauranga front garden gets a lush planted border and a clear grassy space Dear Carol I’m stuck. Our Tauranga front garden is a sun trap with so much untapped potential. We’re down the bottom of a quiet cul-de-sac. The front garden has a large oak, which can’t be touched, and I’m happy with the lawn, […]