“We have so many visitors complimenting us on the garden – it’s wonderful.”

Problem

• A tired planting scheme that has become overgrown along with lots of self seeded natives

• Lack of direction - visitors were finding it confusing knowing which way to go to reach the front door

• Owner wanted more colour as well as something that would attract wildlife

Solution

• Build a pergola - pergolas by definition must lead to somewhere so by providing one we can help people to know which way to go to reach the front door

• Remove the self seeded natives and tired Phormiums along with the now exposed weedmat

• Install a drip irrigation system to reduce maintenance (watering hours and water waste in the summer months)

• Plant a Corokia hedge that borders both the garden and the path - this helps with peoples movement as well as adding just a touch of formality

• Plant with a variety of natives and herbaceous perennials (Achillea (Yarrow),a large Grevillea ‘Robin Hood’Libertia, Libertia, Miscanthus and some smaller cultivated Phormiums). This was in-keeping with the established natives already present, was low maintenance but provided year round interest as well as plants that would encourage more wildlife

Result

“I couldn’t recommend Sam highly enough.

He has taken the time to get to know our garden, and to really transform it from a dry, sandy garden into a beautiful, productive space.

The garden is evolving into having year-round interest and colour. He is creative, taking my more traditional garden ideas and using natives to create a particularly New Zealand version of those gardens.

Most importantly, the plants are well suited to their environment, and instead of having to battle to keep plants alive, they are thriving. They are also beginning to attract more birds into the garden, which I love.

- Megan