Carol Bucknell

Let's be honest, we all judge a house by its cover.

Garden editor, Carol Bucknell, tells us about her own garden and shares her top five plants every beginner gardener should consider YH&G gardens editor Carol Bucknell has been with us since 1994, when ruched blinds, bullnose benchtops and coloured windows were all the rage. We asked her how she became a gardening guru and how […]

Pot plants are all the rage but getting lush results takes a little planning. Here’s how to create a perfect potted garden 7 tips to ensure your pot plants’ survival With outdoor space at such a premium these days, many of us are gardening in containers. And why not? Pot plants are perfect for those […]

Wish you could get more out of your sloping garden? Carol shares her tips on how to be strategic with steps and retaining walls These expert ideas will help you make the most of your sloping garden Many of us dream of owning a house with a flat site. However, the reality is a large […]

From new spring bulbs to pruning tips, get a jump start on the change of season and keep your garden looking great with our expert gardening guide Start preparing your garden for spring with these easy tips + Thoughts of spring are on every gardener’s mind at this time of year, with daffodils and other bulbs […]

It’s easy to get busy in the garden this August. Our practical tips and helpful hacks will make you a green thumbed gardener in no time Plant + Plant globe artichokes or divide existing plants and replant in well-fertilised soil. These gorgeous, silver-leaved perennial vegetables need plenty of space so don’t plant them too near […]

Known as one of the trendiest indoor plants, the lush and leafy monstera is the go-to choice for many an interior enthusiast. Here’s to how care for this stylish species How to care for monstera plants so they thrive in your home Monstera deliciosa, or Swiss cheese plant, is a firm favourite of many plant […]

July is the time to get planting for your summer bounty! Head to the garden and use this checklist to guide you on what to plant, harvest and sow this month These are the best fruits and vegetables to plant in your garden this July + A hot bed (a covered timber box filled with compost) […]

Get in the garden this July and spruce up your space so you’re ready for summer. From pruning to planting this is your go-to gardening guide How to tidy up your garden in July so it’s looking its best for summer + The more you prune hydrangeas, the better the flowering next season. These shrubs can […]

Take a look at this garden checklist to ensure you do all you can to keep your garden alive and healthy during the colder months. How to keep your garden looking great in the winter months + Winter is the best time to plant roses as they’re less likely to suffer any setbacks when in a […]

There’s nothing like a little garden work-out for vanquishing winter doldrums. Here’s your guide to August gardening with bonus tips for daffodil care Your August gardening checklist and daffodil care guide + Top up mulches (to 10cm) and pull out or hoe weeds in garden beds, shell paths and bark areas. Leave them too long and […]

What to harvest in the garden  + Don’t leave your citrus fruit on the ground too long or it will rot. If you can’t eat all the fruit produced by your lemon and other citrus trees, donations are always welcome at food banks and shelters. Another option is to turn them into yummy lemon curd or […]

Greening the walls and adding a soft screen of slender trees will transform a nondescript corner into a delightful paved courtyard A problem courtyard gets a stylish and fragrant garden plan Dear Carol, We have a problem area which we are keen to see turned into a stylish courtyard. The site faces east and only […]

From sweetcorn, beetroot and courgettes, this handy gardening guide will show you what to harvest, plant and sow in the month of January What to harvest in the garden in January  Who doesn’t love munching on freshly picked sweetcorn? The fresher the better with this crop as immediately after harvest the sucrose sugars start to convert to […]

Holidays and the hot sun are a deadly mix for your garden in January. Use this handy checklist to help keep your plants happy and healthy this summer  Your January checklist to help your garden through the hot summer months It’s holiday time for many people but plants have to work harder in midsummer as it’s their peak […]

Gardening guru Carol Bucknell dishes the dirt on the best flowers for attracting beneficial bees to the garden in New Zealand Why we need bees in the garden Without honeybees both our productive and ornamental gardens would suffer enormously, not to mention commercial horticulture and farming. Bee numbers are declining throughout the world and home […]

Planning your outdoor spaces as early as possible during the new-build process will help you achieve the ultimate in indoor-outdoor flow What to consider when planning your new-build garden There’s a lot to think about – and do, of course – when you’re building a new house. Landscaping is all too often left to the […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]