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  • ‘Shrubland’ Gardens

    ‘Shrubland’ Gardens

    Replace the woodchip and bark below your shrubs with a living layer of plants. My last piece was about allowing grasslands – mainly lawns, to grow more naturally and to include flowers both for our enjoyment and for the benefit of those crucial insects, the pollinators. Here I will look in a bit more detail […]

  • A plea for flowers in the long grass

    A plea for flowers in the long grass

    This is the fifth article of a series of short pieces for landscapedesign.co.nz in which I look at current trends and ideas in garden design.   There is a lot of intensively mown grass in New Zealand–road berms, parks and reserves, garden lawns and various types of ‘unused land’–even if we exclude sports pitches. Most of […]

  • A Challenging Waikato Design Project - Nicky Samuel

    A Challenging Waikato Design Project – Nicky Samuel

    Based in the Waikato I regularly carry out design projects in challenging places beyond the main Waikato basin. In 2011, I met with a young couple in the Taumarunui region, who had built a new residence on their farm and requested that I provide them with a Landscape Plan.  They wanted a “blueprint” to develop […]

  • Ecological Garden Design - Planning and planting for biodiversity and beauty

    Ecological Garden Design – Planning and planting for biodiversity and beauty

    This is the fourth article of a series of short pieces for landscapedesign.co.nz in which I look at current trends and ideas in garden design. Biodiversity and beauty. These vital ingredients of a sustainable human environment are the aim in ecologically designed gardens. In my ecological design approach I combine an understanding of how plants […]

  • A 'Rooftop' garden in Wellington

    A ‘Rooftop’ garden in Wellington

    Jamie Reid talks about designing rood top gardens and terraces in Wellinton Roof gardens tend to have a good view, not always, and it’s generally something to do with being on top of a building.  Unfortunately with that comes one or two other considerations, especially if you’re in Wellington, like the wind and privacy, or lack […]

  • Ecological design models for New Zealand urban areas

    Ecological design models for New Zealand urban areas

    This is the third article of a series of short pieces for landscapedesign.co.nz in which I  look at current trends and ideas in garden design. I think there is a  need to move ‘native’ design in NZ beyond the twin poles of revegetation. On the one hand and garden design with natives on the other to […]

  • Gates: Timber vs Aluminium?

    Gates: Timber vs Aluminium?

    Heritage Gates & Fences has been designing and manufacturing premium timber gates for near on twenty years. Our designs and manufacturing methods have been proven over many years. Our timber gates are constructed using mortise & tenon joints, waterproof structural adhesives and stainless steel fixings ensuring our products are strong and built to last a […]

  • Does natural = native? Does native = natural? by Nick Robinson

    Does natural = native? Does native = natural? by Nick Robinson

    This is the  second of a new series of short pieces for landscapedesign.co.nz in which I  look at current trends and ideas in garden design. We live in a biodiversity hotspot (to find out more about what make this the case see the Conservation International website and especially here. What makes us so important to global […]

  • Landscape Solutions: Reinforce grass or gravel

    Landscape Solutions: Reinforce grass or gravel

    SurePave is a plastic cellular paving grid for reinforcing grass or gravel where a permeable or porous surface is required. The unique design of this system offers excellent ground reinforcement by creating a surface made up by an open cell structure that can be used with either grass or gravel. SurePave pavers are suitable for […]

  • Design Trends - New Perennial Planting by Nick Robinson

    Design Trends – New Perennial Planting by Nick Robinson

    This is the first of a new series of short pieces for landscapedesign.co.nz in which I will look at current trends and ideas in garden design. I’ll focus on ideas of ecological design, using both herbaceous perennials and native plants in a new way and how we can realize the potential of home gardens and […]



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  • ‘Shrubland’ Gardens

    ‘Shrubland’ Gardens

    Replace the woodchip and bark below your shrubs with a living layer of plants. My last piece was about allowing grasslands – mainly lawns, to grow more naturally and to include flowers both for our enjoyment and for the benefit

    Mar 10, 2015 | 0 comments | View Post

  • Gates: Timber vs Aluminium?

    Gates: Timber vs Aluminium?

    Heritage Gates & Fences has been designing and manufacturing premium timber gates for near on twenty years. Our designs and manufacturing methods have been proven over many years. Our timber gates are constructed using mortise & tenon joints, waterproof structural

    May 09, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

  • Landscape Solutions: Reinforce grass or gravel

    Landscape Solutions: Reinforce grass or gravel

    SurePave is a plastic cellular paving grid for reinforcing grass or gravel where a permeable or porous surface is required. The unique design of this system offers excellent ground reinforcement by creating a surface made up by an open cell

    Mar 06, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

  • Design Trends - New Perennial Planting by Nick Robinson

    Design Trends – New Perennial Planting by Nick Robinson

    This is the first of a new series of short pieces for landscapedesign.co.nz in which I will look at current trends and ideas in garden design. I’ll focus on ideas of ecological design, using both herbaceous perennials and native plants

    Feb 13, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

  • Gardening & Maintenance

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  • ‘Shrubland’ Gardens

    ‘Shrubland’ Gardens

    Replace the woodchip and bark below your shrubs with a living layer of plants. My last piece was about allowing grasslands – mainly lawns, to grow more naturally and to include flowers both for our enjoyment and for the benefit

    Mar 10, 2015 | 0 comments | View Post

  • A plea for flowers in the long grass

    A plea for flowers in the long grass

    This is the fifth article of a series of short pieces for landscapedesign.co.nz in which I look at current trends and ideas in garden design.   There is a lot of intensively mown grass in New Zealand–road berms, parks and reserves,

    Oct 29, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

  • A Challenging Waikato Design Project - Nicky Samuel

    A Challenging Waikato Design Project – Nicky Samuel

    Based in the Waikato I regularly carry out design projects in challenging places beyond the main Waikato basin. In 2011, I met with a young couple in the Taumarunui region, who had built a new residence on their farm and

    Aug 08, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

  • Landscape Solutions: Reinforce grass or gravel

    Landscape Solutions: Reinforce grass or gravel

    SurePave is a plastic cellular paving grid for reinforcing grass or gravel where a permeable or porous surface is required. The unique design of this system offers excellent ground reinforcement by creating a surface made up by an open cell

    Mar 06, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post