Groundwork

In this issue
Digger Dan
Competitions & Giveaways
Concrete + Art
Join us on social networks
Industry news
Findaplant.co.nz
Industry news
Natural Beauty - Design Case Study
Wally's gardening advice
Welcome to our new clients
Our YouTube pick of the month
Natural Beauty - Design Case Study
Splash! Expo

Digger Dan's May

gardening tips

 Digger Dan

 

 

 

 

 

Digger Dan gives advice and tips on how to manage your vegetable garden and lawns in winter.    

 

Read his latest article here  

 


Competitions 


Win with Wally! 

Click here to enter the draw to win a copy of Wally Richards' books - "Wally's Green Tips for Gardeners" or "Wally's Gardening and Health".   

  Wally ricahrds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Win a Homestyle magazine subscription

To enter simply click here   

 Homestyle

 

 

Win a Kilarney Stone cube planter worth $350

To enter simply click here

 

Kilarney prize

Planter similar to one shown - see Competition page for details.

  

 

 

 

 


Concrete + Art 

= Peter Fell

 Peter Fell 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Peter Fell not only do they love concrete, but they also love art!  Perceptium is a collection of sculpture by Peter Fell using the medium of concrete.

 

Peter Fell Perceptium Art  

 

Peter has created a number of unique pieces of art demonstrating the versatility and beauty of this ubiquitous product. View more here 

Join us on social and business networking sites

  

Find us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

View our videos on YouTube

View our profile on LinkedIn

Industry newsexploding watermelon  

The overuse of a chemical that helps fruit grow faster is causing a rash of exploding watermelons in eastern China.

The same chemical is being used by a large number of kiwifruit growers in NZ.

An investigative report by China Central Television found farms in Jiangsu province were losing acres of fruit to the problem. 

 

Read more here and let us know what you think.  

 

 


Findaplant Plantfinder


Use our sister site findaplant.co.nz to source plants for your landscape.

 

 

Take a look at the video here...  

 

dfd

Solar pool heating -a lot of hot air?

Guest Blogger: Kristen Swope, USA.

The use of renewable energy sources is not just an environmentally friendly way to provide light and heat to a home, but also something that significantly reduces electricity or gas bills, and spells out huge savings in the long run.

Innovations in solar heating are being picked up by homeowners to become part of their lifestyle,  

solar heating 

Read the article here 

 

Greetings!

 

Next week heralds the official start of winter and with that comes the fading of the beautiful Autumnal light. This morning I surveyed our garden at the dawn of a crisp clear Hawke's Bay day. I observed the Camellia's all packed with buds and the piles of prunings from last weekend's garden blitz. I know what I will be doing this weekend...


At work we've been busy completely redesigning our Findaplant.co.nz website which will be re-launched later next month. Findaplant.co.nz will continue to feature more than 400 nurseries and be a source for tens of thousands of plants nationwide. But this alone is not enough. We are developing a site that will keep you informed and inspired about plants. This will be a growing resource that networks  the greater industry and connects end users and consumers. We will be showcasing the new site at a trade stand during the Nursery and Garden Industries Association Conference at Wairakei Resort in Taupo. If you are attending do come and introduce yourself.


In this issue Phillip from o2 Landscapes begins a two part essay on his ideas about planting design in New Zealand. How can we take a leaf out of Northern European garden design? This essay is well written and worth reading if you have a passion for plants and New Zealand gardens. Please feel free to leave any feedback or comments on the article.



Regards  

 

Tim Durrant and the Landscapedesign.co.nz tea

 


Northern European planting design as a prototype for NZ part-one 

 

Essay by Philip Smith, 02 Landscapes 


essayPluralism in design

Modern culture (and particularly design) seems to be heavily concerned with reinventing almost everything. This has been evident in NZ gardens where we have seen a major shift in recent years, especially from a state of heterogeneity towards a more homogeneous industry.  

 

There has been a reduction in the range of plants available, and the manner in which these plants are used. As a result, gardens in general within New Zealand are becoming culturally and botanically less diverse. Read part one of the two part essay here  

Brach haastii


Wally  Richards - managing winter in the garden  

Over the nex
t  three months we can expect a number of frosts and wet weather, both of which have their advantages and disadvantages for our gardens.
Daphne

Daphne - a fragrant winter flower


The advantages are the killing off of some inse

ct pests and wiping out a few disease spores. The disadvantages are possible loss or damage to plants that are susceptible to winter's chills and ills.   

 

There are a few things that you can do to help prevent  damage and losses, making life a bit better for your  plants.    

 

Read the full article here 

  

Click here to read Wally's new articles including  more winter garden advice and why you  should plant strawberries now.

A warm welcome to our new clients

 

 

Justin Harris Landscape Design  

 Justin harris logo 

Reflect your lifestyle and personality with a stylish, functional landscape.   

 

Justin Harris Landscape Design is a Christchurch based company offering a complete landscape service from consultation and design, to managing the construction and maintenance of your completed garden.

 

For more information on Justin Harris click here. 

 

 

Premier PaversPremier Pavers logo 

 

Premier Pavers provides you with a whole new world of paving options........ Pavers are a beautiful and highly durable choice for all indoor and outdoor areas.  


For more information on Premier Pavers click here

 

 

 

The Gorge NurseryGorge 

 

The Gorge Nursery specialises in growing containerised ornamental trees and shrubs suitable for both open paddocks and sheltered gardens.  Their selection of ornamental and specimen trees includes deciduous, evergreen an natives. 

 

For more information on The Gorge please click here.

   

Greenman Landscaping & Property Maintenance

Greenman logoGreenman offer complete property maintenance and building services.  Whether it's a simple makeover or a total transformation of your garden, they provide a comprehensive range of landscaping, maintenance, building and design services.

For more information on Greenman, click here 




Welcome back to:

 

The Specimen Tree Company 

 

The Specimen Tree Company Ltd. is a diverse Company that combines its highly regarded arboricultural services with a nursery which specialises in the growing of large amenity trees.


For more information on The Specimen Tree Company

click here 


Sometimes you just have to find the right words.........

 

The Power of Words

 

Click on the image and scroll down the page to view.

 

Natural Beauty: Landscape Design Case Study 

 

A picturesque natural pool is the perfect accompaniment to a native bush setting north of Nelson.


by Soraya Nicholas, Homestyle magazine June/July 2011

 

With a busy bed and breakfast to run in Kaiteriteri, Fiona Thornton and Hans Brutscher were ready to create a sun-drenched paradise to relax in. While their guests had sunny patios to enjoy, the main house did not boast the same luxury.

 

 Natural Pools 

 

While Fiona was initially hesitant about renovating their garden to include a natural pool having previously been drawn to more contemporary, blue swimming pools, she changed her mind during a trip to Europe.

More.....  

 

See the upcoming June/July issue of Homestyle magazine on sale 30th May.

Splash banner

SPLASH! is the "must attend"exhibition for manufacturers, retailers, pool builders, contractors, architects, engineers and pool service technicians.

The event will provide an opportunity to showcase products, network, build relationships with distributors and pool shops and meet key decisions makers in the New Zealand wet industry.

For exhibition details, registration and information

please click here 



That's all for this month!

Kind regards,

 

Tim Durrant

Adv. Cert. Landscape
Design & Construction

Editor | Managing Director

 

Landscapedesign.co.nz Limited | Findaplant.co.nz