Garden planner

Consider this your summer planting guide! Gardens editor Carol Bucknell shares her tips for harvesting, planting and sowing in the month of February What to harvest in the garden in February Keep picking tomatoes and pinching out laterals (diagonal shoots that grow in the angle between branches), so the energy goes into fruit, not leaves. To beat […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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, […]