Now is a good time to prune back many shrubs and plants that have finished flowering. But how to prune and when is often a mystery to many people.

Here is some general advice that applies to most plants, when in doubt look it up or contact me. I often refer to a book that details by plant how and when to prune.

When cutting using sharp secateurs/loppers slant the cut so the water runs off the cut surface, make the cut above a branch or growing tip. Sloping the cut away from the growing tip. Keep in mind that most plants are stimulated to branch after pruning. See the picture for a plant recently pruned. If you understand that pruning often stimulates growth it can motivate you to do this mindful task that happens to be good for your mental health.

If your cuts are large like on the branch of a tree, to lessen the risk of infection do this on a day of no rain when rain is not forecast over the next three days. This allows the cut to heal.

I was recently asked by a reporter about trends I saw in Gardens in 2021. Something she picked up on was the desire that people had to use their outdoor spaces to play games.

Here is what she wrote in her article https://www.trademe.co.nz/c/property/article/top-landscaping-trends-in-kiwi-homes-for-2021

Outside games included in the landscape

A final trend to think about, more people are investing in outdoor games they can play in the garden, says Change Up landscaper, Linda Etwell.

People are buying big Jenga sets, big golf sets, and croquet equipment. Linda’s family is currently enjoying Kubb, a wooden blocks game. You can play with up to six people and you can pick them up and take them to the park if you want to, says Linda.

“People want spaces to be enticed into, she says. “Places where you can say, ”Let’s go and do this.”

The short answer to when to plant is anytime. However some plants are only available in certain seasons. It is best to plant fruit trees now in the winter. If you want to reduce watering Autumn is an excellent time to plant. I’m involved in a revegetation project at my local park and we always plant in the winter time.

This Philodendron sits happily beneath palms. While the palms were growing creating a shady microclimate it spent the first part of its life as a pot plant inside. Successful transitions from pot plants to outdoor gardens can be tricky. Take advantage of my expertise in both indoor planting and outdoor plants to enjoy plants at different phases of their life. Time for a fresh look? Let me revamp your indoor planting and give the old plants a new lease of life outside.

Themed Gardens

The Hamilton Gardens are a great example of Themed Gardens. Grouping plants and built structures around a cohesive theme. Themes gardens can transport you to a different place. Maybe Italy appeals to you. Your own garden could be based around this theme. Hamilton Gardens boast a number of different themed gardens for you to experience. To name a few- Modernist, English Flower Garden, Japanese Garden of Contemplation. For more info https://hamiltongardens.co.nz/visit/

As a Landscape Designer I am sometimes asked how do I deal with weeds growing through the cracks. While it is most effective to use a weed killer with a long term function that is specifically formulated for this another method is to use Boiling water. This has the advantage of being easy on other animals around like bees and cats. It won’t last as long as a special weed killer but it definitely works even for hard to get rid of weeds like kikuyu.

Rare and Unusual

While it is common to see Geraniums beneath standard roses you probably won’t be seeing this one. Geranium ‘Victor Reiter’ is only grown by one nursery who specially import it from Germany.

As well as mulching, a way of getting around the Auckland water restrictions is to save water from you kitchen tap. When you go to wash your dishes instead of letting the cold water run down the sink before it heats up collect it and pour it into a watering can for later use on your garden. I’ve been able to water my new lettuce seedling that way.