Gardening

A steep slope, weeds and thickets of bamboo couldn’t stop this inspired homeowner transforming her Auckland section into a Balinese-style paradise An unruly Meadowbank section became this tropical oasis Fiona Milde vividly recollects her first impressions of the property she bought four years ago in Kohimarama in Auckland’s Eastern Bays. “Ghastly. My father, who was […]

Darcy, the vintage caravan, has given his owners a new lease on life and outdoor living. See their top tips for creating your own special outdoor space. Meet and greet Stacey Bancroft (graphic designer), Mark Bancroft (draughtsperson), and Mabel, 6 months, plus Beau the black Labrador. Stacy’s outdoor styling tips – When styling a party outside […]

From your plant palette to subtle colour pops, these clever ideas are key to keeping your garden as stylish as your interior  Keep it monochrome Gardens with just one dominant colour are always intriguing. Legendary early 20th-century gardener Vita Sackville-West’s white (and silver) garden in Kent, England, is one of the most famous and thousands […]

A neutral colour palette of grey and white – with just a hint of wood – creates a soothing, minimal scheme for your outdoor space  Bring an urban courtyard-look to your outdoor space If you’re into minimal and low-maintenance, this urban courtyard look is easily achievable. The brick wall backdrop and concrete tile floor is simple […]

Why go on holiday when your garden – in busy old Auckland – is a Balinese retreat built to capture all-day sun? A lush Balinese-style garden hidden in an Auckland backyard Fiona Milde vividly recollects her first impressions of the property she bought four years ago in Kohimarama in Auckland’s Eastern Bays. “Ghastly. My father, […]

If space is at a premium in your courtyard, deck or veranda, a small seating nook might be just what you need. See how to create your own slice of paradise Create your own tropical seating nook If space is at a premium in your courtyard, deck or veranda, a small seating nook might be […]

November is the ideal time to stake your plants, step up your watering regime and tidy-up in preparation for summer. Here’s a round-up of things to tick off your spring to-do list Your November gardening to-do list Stake your plants November can be windy so make sure recently planted shrubs, trees and tall perennials are staked […]

From peas, kale and new potatoes, here’s what to harvest, plant and sow in the garden during the month of November What to harvest in the garden in November – Keep picking peas and beans to encourage plants to produce more pods. – Harvest kale, rocket and other leafy greens in the morning when leaves are full of […]

Living artworks are the latest way to invite the outside world into your home. Discover how you can incorporate moss in your house through moss bathmats, moss graffiti and more  Introducing moss – nature’s trendiest creation Moss is all the rage at the moment. And we’re not talking about Kate Moss – we’re referring to the […]

Check out Homes to Love’s list of easy jobs that will give your garden an instant boost and make it barbecue-ready, just in time for summer  How to give your garden an instant boost for summer We’ve made it through a long, tough winter and although daylight saving, spring blossom and the acid-green lace of […]

Garden designer Angela Arrowsmith shares some eco-friendly time-saving tips and explains why a good landscaper will save you money 1. Go professional Landscape design requires lateral thinking and years of experience so employing a talented designer will pay off in the end. It might mean paying more in the beginning but will end up saving […]

Check out these top tips to get your kids unplugged from indoor life and engaged with nature in your own backyard  10 tips for creating a child-friendly garden It’s every parent’s dilemma. How do you lure the kids outside into the fresh air away from their electronic gadgets without having to turn the entire garden […]

You don’t need a multitude of garden beds to grow fresh herbs; pot those puppies in containers Top 10 potted herbs for small spaces The great thing about herbs, apart from their divine flavour and wonderful nutritional value, is that most of them are able to grow in all sorts of places – rocky slopes, […]

October is the ideal time to re-pot all your container plants, feed your orchids and prepare your spring blooms to look their best. Here’s a round-up of things to tick off your spring to-do list Your October gardening to-do list Prepare your spring blooms  Daffodils and other spring bulbs brighten up the garden at this time […]

Consider this your spring gardening guide! Here’s what to harvest, plant and sow in the garden during the month of October What to harvest in the garden in October – Pick leafy greens such as rocket, spinach and lettuce as often as you can to encourage more leaves. Pinch out any flower shoots to stop […]

This achievable exterior makeover proves a basic suburban home with dated aluminium windows can have street appeal with a few simple updates Turning a plain, dated home into the smartest on the street This house could be in any suburban street in New Zealand. It’s neat and tidy, looks in solid condition and it’s probably […]

A bare Bayview section was a dream come true for a landscape designer with a passion for plants and a penchant for colour A landscape designer struck gold with this Bayview, Auckland garden Finding a garden that is a completely blank canvas is like striking gold for most landscape designers. Sandra Batley of Flourish Garden […]

It’s amazing what getting outside in the fresh air and connecting with the earth can do for your mind, body and soul 10 ways gardening can benefit the mind, body and soul Many of us are striving to take a more mindful approach to life, thinking carefully about how our activities might affect our overall […]

This landscape designer struck gold with this empty Bayview garden, transforming the bare section into a lush, eye-catching oasis  Finding a garden that is a completely blank canvas is like striking gold for most landscape designers. Sandra Batley of Flourish Garden Design was smitten when she and partner John Eagleton discovered a 1970s clinker-brick two-bedroom […]

A completely blank canvas has been transformed into a private contemporary courtyard on the fringe of Auckland’s city centre The secret garden The courtyard garden has been around for thousands of years, its basic enclosed form adapted through the centuries to suit the lifestyles of different generations. So it is with this contemporary courtyard garden […]

Consider this your early spring gardening guide! Here’s what to harvest, plant and sow in the garden during the month of September What to harvest in the garden in September – Early spring is asparagus season. If you’ve just planted your asparagus crowns, cut only a few spears this year (when they’re about 15-20cm long) […]

This beautiful New Plymouth garden has a contemporary, formal style and a variety of interesting spaces A beautiful New Plymouth garden with a contemporary, formal style If walls could talk, her Taranaki house could tell a story or two, reckons Chris McCallum. Built over 90 years ago, the Arts and Crafts house was once part of […]

This beautifully structured New Plymouth garden is a testament to the family who have been transforming it into their ultimate outdoor vision since the 1980s  Structure and beauty in a New Plymouth garden If walls could talk, her Taranaki house could tell a story or two, reckons Chris McCallum. Built over 90 years ago, the […]

Paths are often given little thought and added in an ad hoc manner – but in fact getting them right is crucial if you want a good-looking garden 9 things to consider when building garden paths When planning pathways we tend to prioritise practical considerations such as how to link outdoor spaces and create an […]

Living greenery brings beauty, softness and life to any interior – but which ones cope best with the hurly-burly of a busy household? Outside In Horticulturalist Ryan McQuerry selects his favourite family-friendly plants Words by: Ryan McQuerry. Photography by: Chris Warnes, Eve Wilson, Armelle Habib, Felix Forest, James Henry, Maree Homer/bauersyndication.com.au. Getty Images, iStock. [related_articles post1=”50412″ post2=”44927″]

A purpose-built oasis, complete with an outdoor kitchen, is a dream come true for this Wellington family A Wellington backyard with a difference When Anastasia and Tom Hickey discovered a 620-square-metre property with a big backyard in the east Wellington suburb of Miramar, they were over the moon. “The large backyard was definitely a big […]

Your Home and Garden’s outdoor editor Carol Bucknell has some clever ideas to turn this unloved backyard into a usable, family-friendly space the kids will enjoy as much as the parents Dear Carol, I love YH&G and have been meaning to email you about our garden for a long time. We live in Glenfield on Auckland’s […]

Consider this your end-of-winter gardening guide! Here’s what to harvest, plant and sow in the garden during the month of August What to harvest in the garden in August – Brussels sprouts should be picked when young, from the bottom of the stem upwards as the lower sprouts ripen first and harvesting them will encourage the […]

Turn a bare, partly enclosed space into the ultimate outdoor room – a place of shelter, beauty and comfort just a step away from your home How to create the ultimate courtyard garden in 10 steps We’ve been hanging out in courtyard gardens for thousands of years, long before the Romans even thought about building […]

Rather than base the design of her tiny front garden around its view from the street, this Grey Lynn resident did the opposite Renovations to her Grey Lynn bungalow left Nathalie Morris at a loss as to how to deal with a small but important patch in the front garden. The area could be seen […]

Mid winter is the ideal time to re-pot indoor and outdoor container plants, prune roses and other flowering climbers and shift deciduous trees. Here’s a round-up of things to tick off your mid-winter to-do list Watch out for borer Keep an eye out for tiny piles of sawdust and small holes in the branches of citrus, kowhai and other trees, which […]

This roomy section with bare fencing and only a couple of trees is crying out for an overall plan. Carol comes to the rescue, introducing softness, colour and coherence Dear Carol, My home in Invercargill is a fairly plain 1940s stucco box, which we’ve given a slight lift with a path to the front gate […]

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 […]

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, […]