Whether Mum has a sweet tooth or would prefer a sentimental Mother’s Day gift, we’ve got your back. Our team has been hard at work field testing all the yummy treats they could, for scientific business research purposes of course. We’ve also done some research and made a list of the most sentimental presents we could find, because of course we all love our Mums! Sweet and Sentimental Mother’s Day Gift Ideas Thanks to our team sampling and research activities, we’ve made a list of the must have Mother’s Day gifts for this year: Magnolia tree – one for the sentimental Mums here! The bea ..read more

As we welcome cooler nighttime temperatures whilst still enjoying daytime warmth, we’re starting to think about our autumn planting schedule. There’s a lot to get done during this magical season, and thankfully we’ve got a great to-do list. Your Autumn Planting To-Do List  There’s something special about the cooler breeze, changing colours and fragrance of autumn in the garden. There’s also a lot to do before those icy days sneak up on us, which is why we’re sharing our autumn planting to-do list with you: Winter vegetables – if you are lucky enough to have a vegetable garden at home, yo ..read more

  Forget the bunch of roses and teddy bear; it’s time for green Valentine’s Day gifts this year! And by green, we mean literally and figuratively. Our tree gifts are the ultimate gift, but did you know there are some trees which are better suited as Valentine’s gifts than others? Two Most Romantic Green Valentine’s Day Gifts Thie Valentine’s Day, you can go green with two of the most romantic living gifts, camellia and magnolia trees. Symbolism of Camellia Trees The Camellia tree is loved by people around the world. Discovered by western explorers in Asia (native to Japan, China and the P ..read more

Native plants have been used in Māori medicine for a variety of ailments for hundreds of years. The medicinal use of plants for wellbeing is known as Rongoā, and includes herbal medicine, spiritual healing, and physical techniques like massage. The herbal remedies are specifically known as Rongoā rākau and were made into drinks, lotions, or poultices, or simply applied to the skin as is. 6 Native Plants Used in Rongoā Rākau There are over 200 plants used in Rongoā rākau to treat a wide range of conditions. Here are six of the most used native plants: Kōwhai trees – the mighty Kōwhai tree is ..read more

Whether you have metered water or not, it’s still important to reduce the amount of water your garden uses. As a finite resource, water conservation is something that all us gardeners should be conscious of.   To get things moving, we’ve made a list of our own water saving ideas: Water early in the morning or late in the evening. This reduces the speed of water evaporation, meaning your plants and not the air receives the benefit. Choose native plants – many of our native trees do not require a lot of water. Select ones that are found the most in your local area, rather than those ..read more

   No matter what the season or where you are, those nasty garden pests will find you. Call them stalkers, call them the bane of your existence, call them (insert swear words), garden pests affect us all in some way. We take a look at the most common pests and share some tips on managing their presence, i.e., how to get rid of them! 6 Common Garden Pests & Their Removal Treatment These six garden pests are ones I am always on the hunt for: Snails and slugs – slimy trails are one thing but eaten seedlings and holes in plants are unwelcome. You can treat with snail bait but be awa ..read more

  Imagine stepping outside your door and being greeted with an abundance of fruit and vegetables. Well, it certainly isn’t a pipe dream any longer, as many people now enjoy having an edible backyard. Whether it is formally designed or planted wherever there is space, an edible backyard can be yours too. Growing an Edible Backyard Back in the ‘olden days,’ it would be unusual for a residential garden to not have the obligatory plum or apple tree. Some had more exotic stone fruit trees, others had the good old lemon tree. Then there was the large vegetable patch from which at least part of ..read more

Gardening is a fun and rewarding hobby that not only provides fresh produce and beautiful flowers, but it also has numerous mental health benefits. Positive Impact on Mental Health Spending time in the garden can be a great way to reduce stress, improve mood, and boost overall well-being. One of the main ways that gardening can improve mental health is by providing a sense of accomplishment. Planting a seed and watching it grow into a beautiful plant can be incredibly satisfying and rewarding. This can help to boost self-esteem and confidence, which can have a positive impact on mental health ..read more

Honeybee numbers are reducing all around the world, making it important that we NZ gardeners do all we can to create a bee friendly garden at home. The importance of their role as a major pollinator cannot be underestimated, as they pollinate 80% of all flowering plants on earth. Without their pollination services, both ornamental and food plant sources would be seriously depleted. How to Have a Bee Friendly Garden There are several things you can do to encourage bees to visit and stay within your garden. These include: Provide a water source – bees do require access to super shallow water s ..read more

Repotting trees is a great way to give them a fresh start and help them grow healthier. Winter is the best time to transplant as Trees are not actively growing. Steps to follow when repotting a tree: Choose the right size pot: Make sure the new pot is slightly larger than the old one so that the tree has enough room to grow. Also, ensure that the new pot has drainage holes at the bottom to allow excess water to escape. Prepare the new pot: Fill the new pot with fresh potting soil. You can also add some slow-release fertilizer to give the tree a nutrient boost. Remove the tree fr ..read more