Waving goodbye to summer fun is never easy. No more trips to the beach. No more outdoor swimming pool relaxing. And no more walks in the sunshine to the dairy for ice cream. Fortunately, there are plenty of fun things to do in autumn that can entertain young ones and teens alike.

So, while you may have waved goodbye to summer, you haven’t seen the last of family entertainment. Here are eight outdoor activities for your kids this autumn.

1. Nature Art

During autumn, trees are dropping all kinds of leaves, berries, twigs, bark, and pine cones. While to us adults, they are just yet another thing to clean up, they are exciting artwork additions to children.

Get the kids to gather up anything they want to use in their artwork, including any of these things mentioned above. Add some glue and paint in the mix, and you’ve got an activity that can keep them entertained for hours. Fortunately for mum and dad, these Picasso lookalikes will be too heavy to display on the fridge.

2. Autumn Scavenger Hunt

With a bit of planning, your backyard can become an exciting treasure trove for the kids. Create a bingo board of things the kids have to find in the backyard, then get them to stick those items to the squares that align with the name.

Some typical autumn finds could be:

• Leaves

• Twigs

• Berries

• Pinecones

• Feathers

3. Leaf Mazes

As much as we wish that tree trimming would stop leaves falling in autumn, that’s not the case. Though, these mountains of leaves could end up being a source of fun for the kids when they don’t want to be stuck inside.

Arm them with leaf rakes and have them create a fun maze for them to walk through. Not only do they have something fun to do, but they’re also raking your leaves into easy-to-manage piles that you can clean up far easier later on. It’s a win-win for everyone!

4. Autumn Walks

Even though autumn in New Zealand can be cold and damp, it can also be strikingly beautiful. If you live somewhere with nature walks, why not take the kids out for an adventure? They can jump in piles of crunchy leaves while you breathe in the sweet autumn air and take in the kaleidoscope of autumnal colours.

5. Leaf Art

If leaves have taken over your yard, it would be easy enough to head outside with a rake and get to work. But if you’re busy listening to your kids talking about how bored they are, you can kill two birds with one stone.

Get them involved in a leaf art project. This can include getting them to collect the biggest, strongest, and most colourful leaves so they can turn them into art. They can create shapes, a leaf collage, or simply glue them all onto paper to show off their beautiful colours.

6. Leaf Wreath

Here in New Zealand, we don’t celebrate autumn as much as in other countries. Though, that doesn’t mean you can’t decorate your door with an autumn-themed wreath.

Purchase a wreath base, or make one using a piece of vine. The kids can then add twigs, berries, leaves, and flowers and design them into something pretty you can hang on your front door. The best part is, you only have to use what nature has given you, and this arts and crafts project costs very little.

7. Gardening

There’s no rest for the wicked. After spending a summer relaxing, getting stuck into DIY, or working, it’s now time to prepare the garden for autumn. This is something you can do on your own, but also something the kids can get involved in. You never know; you may just discover that the children have green thumbs.

Now’s the perfect time to lift your main crop, potatoes, and sow seeds for your winter crops. It’s also a good time to plan vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, beetroot, and spinach. If you plant lettuce now, you can also get a reasonably good harvest before very long.

Your local garden store is bound to have a variety of child-friendly gardening equipment and gloves. You can even allocate a section of your garden for them to grow and tend to their own vegetables.

8. Attend an Autumn Event

Not everyone has the Kiwi dream backyard – a quarter-acre section. However, that doesn’t mean your kids aren’t stuck with nothing to do. There are plenty of autumn-themed events happening up and down the country.

The Arrowtown Autumn Festival in Arrowtown runs for 4-5 days over autumn in April. The Festival of Colour in Wanaka is also a huge hit during April, as is Bluff Oyster & Foods Festival in Bluff during May. It can be worth checking out local events at the changing of the seasons to find out what fun outdoor activities your family can enjoy.

While You’re Having Fun, What About Your Yard?

Leave your weekends free for fun autumn activities with the kids. Why not bring in the experts to take care of lawn mowing, leaf raking, tree trimming, and garden tidy ups? You can then enjoy as much free time as possible to spend with your loved ones.

Hedges. We love them when they’re perfectly trimmed, but they become the bane of our existence when they start growing out of control. Whether you’ve just purchased a property with hedges, or you’re getting ready to give your hedge its first haircut, there’s a lot you have to learn. Read on to find out everything you need to know about hedge trimming tools and their use.  

What Is the Difference Between a Hedge Trimmer and a Hedge Cutter?

When you start browsing the various landscaping outlets for hedge trimming equipment, you may quickly become overwhelmed. Who knew there were so many options out there for hedge care? You may even see two different products, a hedge trimmer and a hedge cutter, and wonder if they achieve the same result.

Surprisingly, there are differences between a hedge trimmer and a hedge cutter. You might need one or the other, or even both, depending on your hedges.

Hedge Trimmers

Hedge trimmers are the perfect tool for light, delicate hedge work, such as finishing touches. You may rely on your hedge trimmers for shaping your hedges to perfection once you’ve given them a healthy haircut.

Hedge Cutters

In contrast, hedge cutters are designed to handle large hedge cutting tasks. You might use these when you’ve let your hedge grow wild or if it’s particularly woody or unkempt. These tools tend to have larger blades, which means they are suitable for cutting larger branches.

There’s a lot involved in hedge care, but having the right tools for the job can make a significant difference to the final result. If you’re not sure what you need, why not contact a gardening and lawn care expert for advice?

How to Trim Hedges by Hand

You might think you can attack your hedges in the same way you prune your shrubs or trim your trees, but hedge trimming is an art form. It requires you to understand the growth patterns so that you can shape and prune for your hedge’s health and your privacy.

Hedges should be full from top to bottom. This means you have to trim the sides with an outward flare angle to ensure the hedge top is narrower than its base. This unique shape can ensure that your hedge’s lower branches get enough sunlight to grow and add body to your hedge.

But that’s not all. Learning how to trim hedges by hand can also require you to understand the importance of string guide lines. Without them, you may find yourself with a less-than-perfect hedge you’d prefer to remove altogether.

Attach strings to wooden stakes and insert them in the ground at both ends of your hedgerow. You can then follow these boundaries as you cut, without cutting off too much or too little.

Start from the Top

Trim from the top to create a plane that is as flush with the top guide strings as possible. We’ll get more into the safety aspects of hedge pruning at height below. You can then trim the sides to create even planes along your guide strings.  If you notice thin spots, the haircut will likely spur new growth to fill them.

Lastly, you can trim the hedge ends. Square these up for aesthetic purposes, but you can also get creative by angling them inwards, as you did with the hedge sides.

What is Needed to Trim Hedges?

You’ll learn very quickly that you need more to trim your hedges than a pair of scissors. In fact, it’s worth having quite a few tools in your arsenal so that you can achieve both health and aesthetics in every cut.  

As previously mentioned, hedge trimmers can be ideal for light trimming. You can also arm yourself with hedge cutters to handle those larger branches and more detailed cuts. Don’t forget to have a stepladder handy for those tall hedges, along with string, a tape measure, stakes, and a hammer for making sure your hedge is uniform.  

How to Level My Hedges

You might have an eye for detail, but hedges are a fickle beast. While you’re working on them, you might think you’ve cut them perfectly. It’s not until you step away that you realise that wasn’t the case at all. 

As mentioned above, using string as a guide can offer no end of benefit. Box the hedge with your string at the top and bottom so you can cut within its parameters. You may not get your hedge inch-perfect, but it can look far more level and uniform than if you decided to wing it and hope for the best.  

What Do I Use to Trim Tall Hedges?

Most people grow hedges for privacy, which is why they let them grow so tall. Some species, like the pittosporum hedge, for example, can even grow up to three metres tall. This can make hedge cutting quite a complex undertaking.

One of the most important things to know is that you should never operate a hedge trimmer above your head. It’s all too easy to lose your balance and fall, resulting in severe injuries and a potential ACC claim.

Instead, use a long-reach hedge trimmer or a platform system ladder. Both can allow easy access to the tops of your hedges without having to put yourself in a dangerous position. Alternatively, contact the experts who can carry out tall hedge trimming for you.  

Are You Ready to Start?

Armed with helpful tips and tricks on the best hedge trimming equipment and techniques, are you ready to start? Knowledge is power, so you may realise you’re more prepared than you thought or require the helping hand of a hedge trimming professional.

There’s nothing quite like waking up in the morning and picking apples from your own apple tree for breakfast. However, it’s essential not to take it for granted that your apple tree will always give, give, and give some more. Sometimes, it needs you to offer something in return: pruning.  

Not everyone knows when to prune apple trees in NZ or even what the process involves. Never fear! You’re in the right place to learn some valuable information.

When Should You Prune Your Apple Trees?

It’s a commonly asked question for a good reason. There is a right time to start the apple tree pruning process. Miss that window, and you may just affect your next season’s growth. Most experts say that you can prune in summer and winter, but it takes a particular set of circumstances to pull this off.

If you are going to prune in winter, then aim for July through August, or before the buds begin to swell. Alternatively, consider summer pruning once the tree has finished fruiting.

By pruning your apple trees in summer, you may be able to reduce the chance of infection or disease. The wetter the environment, the higher the chance of disease that can spread across your apple tree.

Although, whether you plan on undertaking any apple tree pruning in summer or winter, there are a few things to consider as best care practices.

• Avoid pruning back by more than a third

• Prune your apple tree into a central leader

• Prune on a dry day

• Establish your shape early on in the tree’s life

Once you’ve hit the ideal time of year to start pruning your apple tree, you can move on to learning how to do it.

Step 1: Remove What You Don’t Want

Take a critical look at your apple tree to see all its imperfections. You might notice branches that seem like they’re in the way or too large. You may even notice branches that cross over each other or are rotting. Take care of these branches for safety reasons and your apple tree’s overall good health.

Step 2: Prune for Aesthetics

Once you’ve removed dead, diseased, rotting, or imperfect branches, you can now focus on pruning for your apple tree’s beauty. Trim the limbs down to the fruit blossom spurs that look the best. Prune the smaller branches where the young wood meets the old wood.

While it’s always a good idea to leave some new growth to grow into new branches, it’s also in your fruit bounty’s best interests to focus on fruit bud growth.

Step 3: Survival of the Fittest

The whole reason for having an apple tree is that it produces fruit. Although, not every branch on your apple tree is going to bear fruit. These branches end up stealing the energy from the branches that are doing their best to provide you with plenty of delicious apples.

Prune any non-fruit branches. These are easily identifiable by their smooth bark and fine leaf buds, rather than the rounder buds that produce fruit. Consider trimming twiggy inner branches that don’t have fruit spurs.

Step 4: Admire Your Handiwork

After giving your apple tree a long-overdue haircut or hiring a tree trimming expert to do it for you, you may notice that it’s far smaller than it used to be. While that might alarm you, it’s not a cause for concern.

Consider what you’ve learned about pruning roses. Sometimes, they flower better when you get a little bit ruthless with your pruning. The same rules apply to apple trees, which makes sense, given that they are from the same family as roses.

When you remove poor-producing or non-producing branches from apple trees, they can focus all their energy on the limbs that do you proud.  

What You Need for Apple Tree Pruning

If you’ve just purchased a property with an apple tree, or your new tree has just matured enough for pruning, then you may not know what you need to get the job done. Some people prefer to hire a lawn care company to take care of everything garden-related. However, others like to get stuck in themselves.

If you’re more of a DIYer, there are a few things you’re going to need:

• Loppers

• Pruning saw

• Secateurs

• Pole tree pruner (for tall trees)

• A-frame ladder

• Stanley knife or sharp knife

• Methylated spirits

• Pruning paste

Loppers, a pruning saw, and secateurs can all help achieve a clean cut of branches and limbs. The Stanley knife comes in handy for slicing off branches that may have torn.

While methylated spirits is not compulsory, it does prove useful for sterilising blades to prevent diseases from spreading. However, you can prevent fungal diseases by using pruning paste on any branches you cut.

Or Just Skip the Hard Work, Call in the Experts

Not everyone wants to enjoy the literal fruits of their labour. Instead, they want someone to take care of their trees for them. If that’s the case, there’s no harm in finding a tree trimming company near you that can provide the TLC your apple trees need.

Whether you’re hoping to fetch the best price for your property or you want a home you can be proud of, learning front yard ideas for a great street appeal can serve you well.

Street appeal is something that can often be overlooked as you go about making sure your interior is up to scratch. Still, as it’s the first thing visitors see, it’s a lot more critical than you might think. Read on to learn some handy tips and tricks for making sure your front yard is as pretty as a picture.

Don’t Underestimate Proportions

If you have a large home with a flat, square front yard, the options are endless for how you make it stand out from the crowd. In saying that, this yard shape doesn’t tend to benefit from an eclectic mix of your favourite flowers like less-uniform yards tend to.

Instead, work with your yard’s perfect proportions by adding plants that enhance this look. Repetitive, uniform shrubs lining a path, box hedging, and symmetry all come into play. Essentially, you’re pairing a uniform home with a uniform front yard for perfect harmony.

Make Property Access Obvious

Have you ever visited a home that didn’t provide the clearest access? You weren’t sure whether to go up the driveway to the back door or cut across the lawn to the front door. If you want to benefit from a great street appeal, let your home’s front entrance make a statement.

Consider paving a pathway if you haven’t already. If you have lawn access to your front door, make sure you keep on top of lawn mowing, so it’s a pleasant walk from the street to the home.

You may even like to invest in lighting when visitors turn up at night. There are plenty of options, such as fairy lights, solar path lighting, and even in-stair lighting.

Focus on Low Maintenance

Many people hire gardeners and lawn mowing companies as they don’t have much time or passion for property maintenance. You can do yourself and future owners a favour by creating a front yard that requires little to no care. Otherwise, make sure you hire a gardening team who can take care of it for you.

Low maintenance plants like grasses handle most weather conditions and can be paired with bark or small stones. Even succulents can be a focal point in your front garden, particularly in the driest parts of New Zealand.

Don’t Forget Seasonal Changes

If you are adding new plants to boost your street appeal, it’s a good idea to consider seasonal changes. What may look beautiful in spring and summer may look absolutely dreadful during the colder months of winter and autumn.

That’s why many homeowners opt for shrubs and trees that look stunning at any time of the year. Sure, annuals offer a beautiful burst of colour for a few months, but perennials are hardier and more likely to survive as temperatures plummet.

Attention to Detail

Sometimes, it’s the small things that end up making the most difference. That can be a good or a bad thing. For example, you might have the most beautiful home and a neatly manicured garden. Then you’ve got a beaten up, tatty-looking mailbox that spiders are now calling home.

Your fence may even be the picture of perfection, but you’ve paired it with a rusty, broken gate that doesn’t open. It’s these small things that can detract from the beauty of your yard. If you’re not quite sure where to begin, ask a friend or an outsider. They can point out the flaws that are preventing you from having an otherwise perfect street appeal.

Healthy Lawns

Diseased, dying, and patchy lawns can stick out like a sore thumb. Your gardens might be neat and tidy, but your grass can be letting the team down. A simple soil test can determine if your lawn is lacking something. Otherwise, there are other things you can do like mow it properly, add fertiliser, overseed it, or start from scratch.

If you’re not quite sure how to achieve that lush, green patch of grass you’ve always dreamed of, there are always lawn mowing contractors around who can lend a helping hand.

Brighten Your Door

If you’re trying to achieve vibrancy to enhance your street appeal, your door can be an excellent place to start. In recent years, homeowners have been steering away from neutral tones in favour of red, yellow, and even pink doors. They look fresh and fun while also leaving no doubt in a visitor’s mind about where they should gain access to your home.

Great Street Appeal Starts Here

Armed with helpful tips and tricks, now is an excellent time to start working on your street appeal. You can then enjoy the fruits of your labour or put your house on the market with a lot more confidence.

If you lack time to carry out property maintenance, don’t be afraid to contact a lawn mowing company in New Zealand who can take care of it for you.

When you see yellow on a lemon tree, it’s typically a good sign. Yellow equals lemons, right? Seeing yellow lemons is one thing, but what about yellow leaves? Lemon tree leaves turning yellow is far from a good sign. Read on to learn why it happens and what you can do about it.

What Does it Mean When Your Lemon Tree Leaves Are Yellow?

If you’ve noticed that your lemon tree has yellow leaves, you need to jump into diagnostics mode. There are many possible causes, including citric diseases in NZ, a lack of nutrients, or something else. The first step to diagnosing the problem is identifying the symptoms.

All-over Yellow Leaves on a Lemon Tree

All-over yellow leaves on citrus trees is a common problem, but it’s not one that’s without a cause. Typically, this problem is connected to a magnesium deficiency. Even though there may be plenty of magnesium in your soil, the soil might be too alkaline, which means it’s not in the correct form for your citrus trees’ roots to absorb it.

You can correct this problem by purchasing a yellow leaf remedy from your local garden centre. Alternatively, Epsom salts mixed with water to form a foliar spray may be able to assist. However, it’s crucial not to overdo it, as the cure can be as harmful as the disease if magnesium builds up.

If you are looking for a longer-term solution for yellow leaves on your lemon tree, consider applying a citrus-specific fertiliser during spring and through to autumn. Your local gardening expert may also be able to provide some tips and advice.

Yellow Leaves in Winter

Have you noticed that your leaves take on a yellowy tone in winter but are okay at other times of the year? Mottled yellow leaves can signal a nutrient deficiency. Once spring arrives, feed your citrus trees a citrus fertiliser.

It’s best not to act in winter. Adding fertiliser could promote new growth that then dies due to frost, snow, and generally cold conditions. However, if you want to give your trees the best chance of survival during winter, provide them with lime and gypsum to increase their nutrition and improve the leaves’ appearance.

Dehydrated Leaves

A lack of nutrients is one of the most common reasons for yellow leaves on citrus trees, but it isn’t the only cause. Sometimes, pesky mites are to blame – particularly in hot and dry weather. If you suspect a mite infestation due to the presence of dry leaves, check the underside of the leaves. You may notice a few mites hanging around, pretending to mind their own business.

Rather than leave them to cause more chaos, prepare a soap-based spray. Spray it on both sides of the leaves in the morning and evening when temperatures are cooler. Monitor the tree and respray it every fortnight if the mites reappear.

There are plenty of insects out there that will try and harm your trees. The more proactive you are, the more damage you might be able to avoid.

Veiny, Pale Leaves

Are your citrus tree leaves a pale green, white, or yellow colour with strange-looking green veins? Sometimes, this means your soil is too alkaline, so your tree roots can’t absorb iron. Visit your local garden centre and pick up iron chelates. These work as a liquid feed for the foliage.

However, a lack of iron is not the only reason why your citrus tree leaves may look a little peculiar. Sometimes, a zinc deficiency can be to blame. However, you may notice that leaves also appear narrow alongside being pale and veiny. In the case of zinc deficiency, you can apply a citrus fertiliser.

How to Treat Yellow Leaves on a Lemon Tree

As you now probably realise, there is no single method for treating a lemon tree’s yellow leaves. As there is no single cause, there is no single remedy. However, citrus fertiliser is one of the most popular options for improving your citrus trees’ overall health.

You may also like to talk to your local gardening expert or garden centre worker, who can shed some light on treatment options for varying issues.

General Citrus Tree Care

Whether you planted your own citrus trees or you inherited them in a property purchase, they are wonderful trees to have. They improve the aesthetics of your yard, offer shelter, and bear delicious, refreshing fruit.

However, to ensure they continue providing these useful services, you need to keep them in tip-top shape. Prune them at the right time of the year, provide them with the nutrients they need, and make sure they get enough sunshine and quality soil.

If you’re not confident in making sure your lemon trees can stay as healthy as possible, contact landscaping, gardening, and lawn care teams nationwide to lend a helping hand.

With all the safety features our modern-day lawn care equipment comes with, you may not spare a thought for your protection. Believe it or not, though, safe hedge trimming is not a task that your top-quality hedge trimmer can manage independently. It needs your help.

Before you haul out the ladder and all the tools of the trade, take a moment to consider what you need to do to keep yourself safe. After all, ACC doesn’t want to see you on their books.

Wear Protective Equipment

Sure, it might be shorts and t-shirt weather in your neck of the woods, but that doesn’t mean it’s the most appropriate choice of clothing for safe hedge trimming. In fact, a good rule to live by is that you should dress like you’re getting ready for a blizzard.

Wear anti-cut long-legged trousers, non-slip boots or shoes that won’t fight with the ladder, and heavy-duty gloves. These gloves can stop you from being cut or scratched by falling branches, thorns, and twigs, as you cut.

One of the most important things to wear, too, are UV-protected eyewear. Your standard pair of spectacles won’t be enough to stop sharp branches and twigs from embedding themselves in your eye sockets. So, consider buying purpose-made protective glasses from your local garden store or hardware store.

With the new rules surrounding mask use in Auckland when COVID-19 made a reappearance, most of us now keep single-use and reusable masks in our homes. Pop one of these on when you start hedge trimming because they can stop spores and insects from making their way into your nose and mouth.

Follow the Instructions

If you’re one of those people who throw the instructions away when you buy anything new, then it’s time to change your ways. When you purchase a hedge trimmer, you’re going to need them – especially if you want to practice safe hedge trimming.

The instructions can be manufacturer-specific, as well, which means past habits you’ve formed may no longer apply to your current hedge trimmer. Take note of the recommended method of use, maintenance tips, and general ‘do’ and ‘do not’ tips included.

You may be surprised at how much you learn – just like when you finally read the instructions of a board game you’ve been playing wrong for years.

Check for Obstacles

Before you start trimming your hedges willy-nilly, it’s a good idea to give them a thorough visual inspection. By doing so, you can save yourself from being called the worst parent in the world when you carve up your child’s favourite rugby ball.

Checking for obstacles can also keep you safe because there’s nothing more shock-inducing then having a hedgehog racing across your lawn after you woke it from its slumber. Once you’ve cleared the hedge of any obstacles, you can be one step closer to giving them a haircut.

Don’t Trim Your Hedges in Wet Weather

When you look outside and see that it’s raining, you’ve probably decided then and there that you’ll just hire someone to handle hedge trimming. And, of course, we recommend that. But if you do want to tackle them yourself, have patience and wait until it’s dry or has at least stopped raining.

You may notice that the job you do in wet weather is not as great as the one you did in the dry weather. What’s more, electric hedge trimmers are not safe to operate around moisture. Because, as you probably know, electricity and water are not a match made in heaven.

Another problem with wet weather is the concern around heights. If you are working on a ladder, you may find the moisture impacts your footwear’s ability to grip the rungs.

Don’t Operate Your Hedge Trimmer Above Your Head

Hedges can reach some astounding heights. For example, the pittosporum hedge can grow to around three metres and is among the hardier varieties in New Zealand. But because of its height, you may find yourself unable to reach the very top of it without the use of a ladder to bring you to its level.

And if you can’t reach the top even with a ladder, then never attempt to raise the trimmer over your head. You may lose your balance, fall, and severely injure yourself. Instead, leave the job to the experts or invest in a long-reach hedge trimmer or platform system ladder – or both.

Never Walk Backwards

When hedge trimming is at the top of your to-do list for the day, then make sure it’s safe hedge trimming you’re going to be doing. One way to keep safe is by making sure you always walk forward while cutting a hedge.

If you walk backwards, you may trip over something you don’t see and seriously injure yourself. It may not be something you’ve ever thought about, but it’s worth noting.

Or, Hire Someone Who Provides a Hedge Trimming Service

There can be a lot involved in safe hedge trimming. You have to buy a high-quality hedge trimmer, maintain it, then sacrifice watching the rugby game on TV so you can keep your yard in tip-top shape. When that’s the case, it’s often a good idea to hire someone to take care of it for you.

Someone who does hedge trimming for a living already has all the equipment. They can then turn up at regular intervals and make sure you never have to lift a finger.

We are blessed here in Aotearoa to have beautiful native trees, such as Rimu, Tōtara, Kauri, Kōwhai, and Pūriri, gracing our backyards. They form the backdrop of our family photos, shelter for our picnics, and homes for our insects and birdlife.

Our trees, native or not, can also prove beneficial for absorbing traffic noise, capturing air pollution, and protecting our homes from the elements. So, it goes without saying that when they serve all of these purposes, they are something we should take care of.

Trees have the potential to live for several generations with the right care and attention. Learn how to take care of old trees on your property below. Your family can then enjoy them for years to come, but so too can the families after you.

Spread Mulch Around the Base

Mulch is beneficial for your gardens, is easy to make, and affordable to buy. But did you know the old trees on your property can also benefit from it? An even layer of mulch covering the trees’ roots and soil surrounding them can be more helpful than you might think.

It insulates your trees’ roots, offers the soil much-needed nutrients, and discourages people from walking on them. Wood chips or shredded wood can make an excellent mulch for your trees. However, it’s essential to keep it away from the bark of your tree, for it can promote rot and disease.

Look After the Bark

Just above, we mentioned how important it is to keep mulch away from your tree bark to avoid rot and disease. But creating a ring of mulch around your tree, distanced from your bark, can also aid in protecting that bark, as well.

That mulch can reduce the risk of power tools damaging the bark, which has growing tissue and water vessels beneath it. Healthy bark promotes a healthy tree, so it’s well worth putting in the effort.

Take Care of the Roots

Your tree’s roots are its lifeline, which means they require plenty of care and attention to ensure they can give your tree the health and vitality it requires. Taking care of your tree’s roots doesn’t require a lot of effort, but it’s not something we think about as often as we should.

Take note of the soil quality around your tree’s roots. If it’s packed down, it may not be letting in as much water and air as it needs. You can avoid your soil being flattened by avoiding placing furniture, cars, or play equipment near the tree’s base. Using mulch can also stop it from being used as a shortcut to footpaths and driveways.

Bring in the Experts

If you’re worried about your tree’s health, or you want an expert’s opinion, then contact a certified arborist. They can help identify tree diseases, damage, and advise on the best course of action regarding tree trimming and pruning.

Trees can develop rot, dead branches, cracks, and disease over time. Requesting the assistance of an arborist can prevent this from becoming a problem in the future.

Don’t Use it as a Toy

It can be tempting to hang a tire swing from a large tree, but it’s not always going to be in your tree’s best interests. Over time, the rope from which you’ve hung your swing can wear away the bark and damage its tissue. You also run the risk of having the branch break from wear and tear.

Reading a book in a hammock suspended from a tree is a fun way to pass the time. Still, it’s essential to approach the installation of a hammock in a particular way. Rather than use a rope, a drilled hole and eyebolt will be a far less damaging option.

Water It

Most of the time, you won’t need to worry about watering your trees. New Zealand tends to get plenty of rainfall in most parts of the country. However, during times of drought, your old tree may require a helping hand.

When you go about your daily task of watering your shrubs and other plants, give your mature trees some attention, as well. Turn the hose on so that it produces a small trickle. Place it under the tree in a root zone and move it every 15 to 20 minutes until you’ve watered the entire root area.

If you can’t reach your tree with a hose, distribute buckets of water slowly over the root zone until you’ve applied it evenly.

Plant More Trees

It’s always a good idea to look after the trees you already have, but what else can you be doing? For the sake of climate change and your environment, planting more trees is always a good idea. You can gift native trees to friends and family members for special events like birthdays, and even become involved in tree planting initiatives.

You never know, taking care of old trees on your property may evoke a new passion for caring for your natural environment.

We aren’t all born wearing gardening gloves and knowing how to trim our trees. Gardening is something that involves constant learning and experimenting. It’s also something that can even require the helping hand of an expert from time to time. 

Because everyone’s gardens are also so different, it can be challenging to know how to manage every plant, every tree, and every shrub. Fortunately, though, we’ve got one exceptional tool at our disposal: the internet.

In no particular order, we’ve compiled a list of some of the great gardening resources for New Zealanders. A whole new wealth of knowledge awaits!

1. Tui Garden

Tui Garden is one of the best gardening resources in New Zealand, primarily due to its variety of content. From learning about how to grow the best potatoes to figuring out when to plant different plants in various regions, it has it all!

This gardening resource even features a growing calendar so that you stand a better chance of planting a season’s worth of fresh fruit and vegetables at the right time.

2. Pod Gardening

If you struggle to remember what to plant at which times of the year, then Pod Gardening is an ideal resource for you. This site is dedicated to growing guides, a growing calendar, practical gardening tips, and even recipes.

You can learn about common pest problems and how to solve them, beneficial insects and birds, and how to turn your yard into an oasis. There is even a store to purchase seeds once you finish learning about which ones to plant right now.

3. Palmers

Palmers has been a one-stop-shop for gardening supplies and advice for eons. Seasoned and beginner gardeners often find all the information they need with one quick visit to this online gardening resource.

You can get inspiration, find ideas for getting the kids involved in gardening, and even learn about growing citrus and attracting birds to your garden.

4. Kings

Whether you need gardening advice or gardening supplies, keen gardeners across the country make use of Kings as their preferred resource. You can pick up planters, containers, and gardening supplies, not to mention information on the best house plants, shrubs, fruit trees, and grasses.

Kings also release monthly checklists, news stories, and articles that are sure to come in handy for people who want up-to-date information on what to plant next.

5. Yates

Whether you need products, plants, or solutions to problems, Yates is one of the best gardening resources for you. There is almost nothing this site doesn’t cover, which is bound to benefit beginner and expert gardeners alike.

You can join a community of gardeners, share tips, ask questions, and even join the Yates Garden Club. What’s more, new information and articles are added all the time, so you can always receive an answer to that burning question.

6. Sarah the Gardener

If you are more interested in the faces behind the gardens and their journeys, then Sarah the Gardener is an ideal gardening resource for you. This site follows Sarah’s gardening journey, which offers you the opportunity to learn new things and become inspired.

Sarah the Gardener also offers books, cooking ideas, and the opportunity to ask questions. It’s a far more personal gardening resource than several others in NZ.

7. Homegrown Happiness

Gardening can be about more than mowing the lawns, pulling the weeds, and trimming the hedges. It can also be about producing ingredients for homemade goods and getting creative in your own slice of paradise.

So, that’s where Homegrown Happiness comes in. This NZ gardening resource offers helpful gardening tips. It can also be your go-to when you want to learn how to bake bread, preserve goods, or even whip up a delicious salad with a difference.

8. Kath Irvine’s Edible Backyard

Grocery shopping is getting more expensive by the year, which is why many people are now turning to their backyards to make up the bulk of their weekly food supply. Kath Irvine’s Edible Backyard is an excellent resource for those who are not sure where to start.

You can learn about what to plant at various times of the year, how to prevent fungal diseases, and what it really takes to feed a family from what you produce yourself. Take your time to explore this site and gain a whole new appreciation for homegrown produce.

9. Kitchen Gardeners International

While not strictly a New Zealand gardening resource, the Kitchen Gardeners International site is worthy of mention. The non-profit organisation is based in the United States but offers opportunities and garden project ideas for people worldwide.

This particular resource also focuses heavily on public garden food projects instead of private ones for your family’s consumption.

10. There’s Also Our Crewcut Blog

Crewcut is a lawn care company with franchises across the country. While we’re quite proud of our team who take care of our lawn care needs, we also make sure our site can be more than a point of contact. We also offer an articles section with lawn tips, garden tips, backyard banter, and information from our franchisees.

 Whether you need lawn care services or advice on how to tame your backyard jungle, Crewcut can definitely be of assistance.

Fencing plays a significant role in our overall property’s design. Not only are they there to keep our pets and kids safe, but they act as a boundary line and a backdrop for the edges of our property. Still, not everyone is blessed with a beautiful fence that attracts the eye for the right reasons. Do you have an ugly backyard fence you need to hide? Read on to find out what you can do. 

Remove or renovate it

Before we get into the many different methods for hiding your fence, it’s worth checking out the more drastic options that might be available, as well. If the fence is in a state of disrepair or is ugly beyond help, then it might be worth looking at your choices surrounding renovation and repair. 

Under the Fencing Act 1978, a fence on a common boundary is a 50/50 cost between both neighbours who border it. So, if you have a great relationship with your neighbours, you may like to talk to them about the type of new fence you could install that would benefit from both properties.

There’s a process to follow, and you may ultimately discover that removal or renovation is not the best option for you. Particularly if the fence has merely been hit with the ugly stuck, rather than having anything structurally wrong with it.

Plant trees

A fence can act as a much-needed form of security and privacy, but you don’t have to see if it if you don’t want to. Talk to your local lawn care and landscaping expert about the types of trees you can plant along your fence line. Trees that can at least reach the height of your fence may be an option worth considering.

There are some excellent fast-growing varieties, such as bamboo, that may be able to meet the mark. Bamboo can grow around 91cm daily, and reach heights of around 40 metres. Hedge tree varieties may also be worth looking at, such as camellia, michelia figo, and photinia. If you think you could benefit from soundproofing, then michelia figo is a popular option.

Plant shrubs and bushes

Shrubs and bushes are more excellent options for hiding an ugly fence, particularly the dense variety. Something like Silver Sheen or James Stirling has enough height to hide a fence, but also leaf density to stop you from seeing through it. 

Little Gem Magnolia has been a Kiwi preference for many years, too. It has beautiful glossy green leaves, white flowers, and it suits the climates of most parts of the country.

As long as you plant it in well-draining soil with a bit of sun and shade, it will thrive. In fact, it can even grow up to four metres high and around 2.5 metres wide. Just know that this plant has been considered ‘high maintenance’ and tends to grow a little too well.

Consider climbing vines

If you can attach some trellis or netting to your ugly fence, then there’s every reason to believe that climbing vines can take care of the problem. Instead of looking at an awful fence, you can set your sights on some lovely climbing vines, instead. Climbing roses can offer a much-needed burst of colour, while star jasmine can be trained to provide both ground and fence cover.

However, getting climbing plants and vines started can take a little bit of care until they “take off”. They grow best with their flowers in the sun and their roots in cold soil.

You may also need to plant them in a mixture of slow-release fertiliser (or blood and bone) and compost. Fine bark or mulch can help to keep the moisture in your soil and the weeds out of it. You will also need a reasonably stable structure, so choose a type of trellis or netting with plenty of support.

Add privacy screens

If you don’t want to wait for plants or trees to grow, then privacy screens are worth a closer look. Consider a premade brush fencing that you can attach to your current ugly fence. You can also buy bamboo privacy fencing and wooden privacy screens that can solve the problem immediately.

The best part about privacy screens is that you don’t have to be a fencing expert to put them up. You don’t even have to be DIY-savvy. You can call upon the help of a local landscaping expert, or attach them to your fencing yourself. 

Ugly backyard fence be gone!

You won’t always have control over the fences that border your property. Some people may even have more than one ugly fence to deal with, as well. Fortunately, if you can’t replace your fence under the Fencing Act 1978, then you at least have a few other options up your sleeve. Why not consider any of these top tips above? Ugly backyard fence be gone!

In recent years, property prices across the country have skyrocketed. The median house price has risen to 6.9 per cent just from 2019 to 2020 alone. Still, while many homeowners are seeing gains, some are seeing more than others. And often, it can come down to your lawn and garden care.

If you want to increase your property value before putting your home on the market, these lawn and garden care tips are worth noting.

Carry Out a Yard Tidy-Up

No prospective purchaser wants to be stepping over half-eaten dog toys and abandoned children’s bicycles to get to the front door. First impressions count, so don’t underestimate the need for a yard tidy-up.

Push a wheelbarrow around your yard and pick up all those odds and ends that need to be returned to their rightful homes. You’d be amazed at how neat and tidy a yard can look after just removing items that don’t naturally live there.

Spare a Thought for Lawn Health

It almost goes without saying that a healthy lawn is going to look more attractive than a patchy, unhealthy one. Carry out a soil pH test to determine if there’s anything you need to do to improve your lawn’s health. The majority of lawns prefer a pH level of 6.5. Ask your local lawn care expert if you require assistance with this process.

If you need to raise your pH level, lime or wood ash might be a way to do so. Otherwise, you can lower it with organic fertiliser or sulphur.

Mow Your Lawns

Mowing your lawns is one way to make your yard look neat and tidy for prospective purchasers. You can do this yourself, or you can hire a lawn mowing service to do it for you. If you plan on having photos taken, or hosting open homes, make sure you mow your lawns with the catcher on to improve your yard’s presentation.

Clean Up the Gardens Too

You may be surprised at how much value you can add to your property by merely tackling your gardens. According to a global garden report, a well-maintained garden can increase a property’s value by approximately 16 per cent. Many real estate agents even believe that an immaculate garden can shorten the length of time your property takes to sell by several weeks.

The task of gardening can be as quick and easy as pulling out weeds, or it can require the investment in new, healthy plants and fresh soil. Whichever route you go down, know that it could ultimately boost your property sale price by tens of thousands of dollars.

Create an Entertainment Area

Having a beautiful lawn is an essential part of preparing your house for sale. Still, an entertainment area can be as well. Even if you don’t have a huge space to work with, you can do more with it than you might think.

Invest in paving stones to create an even, flat area. Then, consider investing in outdoor furniture to suit the design of your home. Having a focal point like a barbecue or outdoor fire pit can offer the illusion that your property is an entertainment paradise, as well.

Invest in Lighting

During the day, lighting isn’t essential in your garden. At night, though, it can make all the difference. Look at any professional real estate photos taken from the outside at night, and you will be amazed at how stunning any property can appear.

Lighting can be both temporary and permanent in your landscape design. You can spend a small sum of money on solar lighting and dot them around your garden. Alternatively, you can pay a little more and add them to the exterior cladding of your home. Lighting may not cost you a fortune, but it can certainly be a garden care tip that increases your property value.

Pathways

Not only can pathways in your yard protect your grass from being trodden on during the winter months, but it can also add much-needed style to any blank canvas. You can have pathways leading to quaint patio areas, or even to the children’s play area. Neatly-edged paving stones can also be a way to add charm to your property.

Increase Your Property’s Value with Ease

While big changes like fencing, painting, and new fixtures can increase your property value, so too can small things. Something as simple as mowing the lawns can make a dramatic difference to your street appeal and overall presentation of your home.

Don’t be afraid to call in the big guns for help with lawn care and gardens, and you can have that ‘sold’ sign up in no time.

Winters in New Zealand, though not terribly harsh in most regions, do require a change in how we manage our lawn care. While summer and spring see us mowing with gusto, winter quite often means that lawnmowers are stowed away for at least three months of the year. 

But even though you no longer need to worry about constant lawn growth, that doesn’t mean you can neglect your yard entirely. There are still plenty of things to do when you’re not mowing in winter.

Hedge Pruning & Tree Trimming

If you anticipate seeing a blanket of snow in the weeks or months to come, then hiring a lawn care expert to tackle your hedges and trees can be a wise decision. Broken, dying, or diseased branches can collapse under the weight of snow, which could have disastrous consequences for whatever is underneath.

Safety is one reason to hire someone to tackle trimming, but there are other benefits of doing so, as well. Fruit trees, for example, can benefit from pruning in winter to maximise fruit production.

Given that bacteria and fungi are often dormant in winter, taking care of trimming can also be far safer in winter due to the minimal risk of disease spread. 

Then there’s the stress reduction on the trees. When you prune a tree, its natural response is to grow and close the “wound”. By pruning them in winter, they don’t grow until spring, which means the tree has plenty of time to access the nutrients it needs to grow soundly in the months to come. 

Leaf Removal

Autumn is a beautiful time of the year, with a kaleidoscope of yellows, browns, and golds. Still, for all its beauty, it can also be a bit of a nuisance. Your once picture-perfect lawn is now covered in rotting leaves. Your lawn care expert may not be mowing your lawns right now, but there’s every reason to call upon them in autumn and winter for leaf removal.

Leaves can indeed be a much-needed nutrient, but they can also wreak havoc. Left to rot in a thick layer, they can “choke” your grass and restrict its growth. Then, by the time the warmer weather rolls around, you’re left with patchy, imperfect lawns that can take some loving to get back to their former glory.

Mulching

If your local lawn care service provider offers gardening services, then why not contact them for help with your mulching? It can be a matter of life or death for your plants. Some plants, such as perennials and trees, can suffer in the winter. Without adequate root warmth, they can succumb to the elements and wither away to nothing once spring arrives.

By adding mulch to your flowers and shrubs, you can provide them with enough nourishment and warmth to make it through the colder months of the year.

Lawn Aeration

You might not think that lawn aeration matters a lot in winter, but it does. With the colder weather, increased rainfall often follows. If your soil is compacted, then drainage can become a problem. Aeration can also help with airflow, not to mention the prevention of crown hydration.

Crown hydration is a form of grass injury that can be quite devastating for proud lawn keepers. It’s caused by grass absorbing water during warm weather, only for it to freeze inside on a cold day. The grass cells then rupture, inhibiting growth once the seasons change. Poor drainage is to blame, so talk to your local lawn care expert about how lawn aeration might help.

Fertilising

Lawn mowing may be on the back burner, but in the right conditions, fertilising doesn’t have to be. As long as your grounds are not frozen and your area not prone to frosts, winter can actually be an okay time to fix acidic soil.

Make sure you test your soil’s pH level to determine that acidity is a problem, then apply a slow-release winterising fertiliser. By the time spring rolls around, you can enjoy well-nourished shoots that turn into healthy grass. 

Weeding

No one’s garden will ever look at their best during winter. Many plants lie dormant, and very few flowers are in full bloom. Still, when you’re not mowing in winter, you can be weeding. It’s not uncommon for mild days with rainfall in winter to promote strong weed growth. Just because it’s winter, doesn’t mean you can’t be proactive and pull weeds throughout the year.

Or, if you want to have the upper hand, consider applying a pre-emergent weed killer. You’ll then have a far smaller post-winter clean-up job on your hands once spring arrives.

Stay on Top of Lawn Care Tasks Year-Round

Your lawnmower may be tucked away in the corner of your tool shed during winter, but that doesn’t mean lawn care has to stop once the colder weather hits. In fact, winter can be the perfect time to jump on those tasks that fell to the bottom of the list in summer.

Get in touch with your local gardening and lawn mowing team to find out how you can keep your garden and lawns looking at their best during winter.

It’s hard not to love the outdoors in New Zealand. Not only are we punching above our weight on the world stage regarding natural attractions, but we’ve also got some standout manmade ones, too.

Every weekend, thousands of New Zealanders flock to gardens and parks up and down the country. From an abundance of flora and fauna to exquisite paths and fun things for the kids, what’s not to love?

If the time has come to check out some of the best gardens in NZ, then read on. You’ll be blown away by what’s available on your very doorstep.

Hamilton Gardens

Hamilton Gardens

In the heart of the Waikato lies the Hamilton Gardens, and it is undoubtedly an asset to the region. From the showcasing of 4,000 years’ worth of history to the abundance of plant life and exquisite garden design, it’s well worth a visit.

Any avid garden fan can spend hours meandering through the many pathways of the public Hamilton Gardens, positioned on the Waikato River. Rather than focus on plant collections, the Hamilton Gardens promote different garden designs, with emphasis on research, conservation, and education. 

Auckland Botanic Gardens

Auckland is a treasure trove of fun things to do, but near the top of that list is the Auckland Botanic Gardens. Take your time wandering through 64 hectares of gardens and native forest, and all just 20 minutes from the city centre.

The Auckland Botanic Gardens has much to offer the average visitor. From edible gardens and African plant gardens to the orchard and perennials, there’s something for everyone in this public space.

Broadfield New Zealand Landscape Garden

If you’re looking for something fun to do with the family, then a trip to Broadfield New Zealand Landscape Garden could be on the cards. This exquisite private garden in Weedons is well worth your inspection.

It spans 3.5 hectares and has been lovingly maintained for the last 20 years. Explore the Kauri forest, the formal rose garden, and the stunning beech forest. The gardens are open year-round, with a $15 admission fee for adults and children admitted for free. 

Ohinetahi

Ohinetahi is a house and garden owned by the nation and run by the Ohinetahi Charitable Trust. If you find yourself in Allandale, Christchurch, then why not stop in for a visit? Ohinetahi spans 1.25 hectares with two galleries, sculptures, woodland trails, and a beautiful 19th-century homestead.

It’s available for hire for functions, and even just for visits to soak up the atmosphere. Entry is $15 for tours of the grounds, gardens, and sculptures from September to March.

Queens Park, Invercargill

Considered one of the most important parks in New Zealand, Queens Park in Invercargill is a significant attraction in the deep south. You can spend hours meandering through the public 81-hectare grounds, with so much to see, do, and experience.

Work up a sweat on the Queens Park Fitness track or bring your clubs for a round of golf. There is also a beautiful botanical garden, playground for the kids, a bird aviary, and an animal reserve. If you’re venturing down south, Queens Park in the heart of Invercargill will not disappoint.

Christchurch Botanic Gardens

The Christchurch Botanic Gardens is an exquisite attraction in the centre of Christchurch. At any time of the year, it has something stunning to offers its visitors. Admire the beauty of the daffodils in spring, the roses in summer, autumn leaf displays in Autumn, and the cosy conservatories in winter.

The Christchurch Botanic Gardens also has playgrounds for the kids, a dog park for the furry friends in your life, and a stunning array of plants in the botanic garden area.

Auckland Botanic Gardens

Pukekura Park, New Plymouth

Pukekura Park in New Plymouth is one of New Zealand’s premier botanical gardens, so it’s undeniably one of the best gardens in the country. This park covers 52 hectares, with more on offer than meets the eye.

Explore the Brooklands Zoo, wander through the garden estate, and soak up the atmosphere of the Fernery and Display Houses. There are also several different public gardens to visit, such as the Japanese Hillside, King Fern Gully, and Kunming Garden.

Otari-Wilton’s Bush Native Botanic Garden

Getting out in nature is good for the soul, and there are few better places to visit than Otari-Wilton’s Bush Native Botanic Garden in Wellington. This public botanic garden is the only one in the country that is dedicated to New Zealand native plants.

It has over 100 hectares of native forest, five hectares of plants, and some of the city’s oldest trees. Why not take a photo of the park’s 800-year-old rimu? Entry is free for all between sunrise and sunset, and the park lies just 5km from the city centre.

Larnach Castle and Gardens

Who would forget New Zealand's only Victorian castle? Built in 1871 by politician William Larnach for his first wife Eliza, it is now privately owned by the Barker family and maintains it as their family home, opened it for the public to appreciate after long years of restoration. This structure is considered a significant part of Dunedin's history.

Larnach Castle is surrounded by an exquisite garden measuring over 7 acres rated by the New Zealand Gardens Trust as a Garden of International Significance.

Eden Garden

Situated in the eastern slopes of Mt. Eden in the heart of Auckland, Eden Garden is a peaceful spot in the busy city covering over five and a half acres of beautiful space. The management uses eco-friendly methods for weed control and continuously develops its plant collections to feature native fauna, geckos, wetas, insects, and butterflies.

Te Kainga Marire

Tagged as New Zealand's native garden, Te Kainga Marire initially started as a posh hut with half an acre of kikuyu grass, gorse, fennel and blackberry. Outdoorsy people will find pleasure in their bird-friendly garden that would make one feel like they're in the wild. The garden, located in New Plymouth, is open daily for the very popular annual November Taranaki Rhododendron and Garden Festival.

Explore Your Backyard

Kiwis pride themselves on a picture-perfect backyard, often with the help of lawn care experts. But while we’re proud of our own slices of paradise, we should also be proud of our botanic gardens and parks dotted around the country.

Take your pick from our country gardens, formal gardens, English-style gardens, and more. Be in awe with the range of plants and fantastic bush walks you can take while visiting these wonderful spaces. Due to COVID-19, some of these gardens have been badly affected. The easiest and best way to support them through garden entry when it is completely safe to do so.

Could it be time to explore some of the best gardens in New Zealand?

Us Kiwis are all about the quarter-acre dream. Of course, our housing market is making it less and less of a reality for many, but there’s no denying that the Kiwi dream is still alive and kicking outside of Auckland, at least.

And we’re none the wiser to how folks across the ditch and around the world have it. We mow our generous-sized sections, hire the experts for gardening, lawn mowing, hedge trimming, and section tidy-ups, and live a life that has always been the way it is. You could almost say we take it for granted.

Did you know that lawn care around the world looks vastly different? Read on to learn what the lawn care industry looks like outside of our slice of paradise.

Russia

Believe it or not, having a lawn in Russia means you may be wealthier than someone without a lawn. Nearly everyone in a suburban area in New Zealand has at least a small patch of grass. In Russia, the area surrounding your property that could be lawn is typically taken up with gardens.

Russians quite often grow their own fruit and vegetables to feed their families. Some studies show that as much as half of Russia’s agricultural output is from backyard gardens. If you’re from wealthy stock, you’re more likely to have space for both lawns and gardens.

The United Kingdom

Just like us, the UK has a love affair with their lawns. So much so, that there is even a museum in Southport, Lancashire, dedicated to the lawnmower.

The island nation of nearly 67 million people has about 15 million lawns between them. They tend to them with over £50-million worth of fertilisers, and close to £130 million of lawnmowers annually. The landscaping market is also worth a whopping £5 billion, with over 19,500 landscaping services across the UK.

Here in New Zealand, we’re pretty proud of our lawns. If we can’t give them the attention they deserve, we hire someone who can. But in the UK, they take that care to a new level. There is even an essay on gardens to describe just how perfect the average British lawn should and could be.

According to Francis Bacon, a British garden should be square with an arched hedge and thickets of honeysuckle and sweet briar. The foreground should be a ‘finely shorn’ lawn. He’s not wrong, for it just takes a quick look at the Kensington Gardens to see that the British truly do take pride in their grounds. 

The Middle East

It might not be surprising to learn that the lawn care industry, at least not involving actual lawns, is not thriving in the Middle East. Back in 2009, it was even reported that businesses selling and growing artificial grass were in trouble.

It’s not that people don’t want grass in the Middle East. It’s that water restrictions stop lawn care companies and property owners from giving it the care it needs.

Lawns are fashionable throughout the world, and the Middle East is no different. However, water is often in short supply. Over there, gardens are watered with desalinated water that has undergone quite a polluting and energy-hungry process.

During times of drought, though, the Water Authority makes it illegal to water public and private grass. Therefore, anyone buying lawns to improve their home’s landscaping will most likely watch as they wither up and die. Fortunately, there are other options for ground cover to ensure no one has to miss out on a beautifully landscaped yard.

Malaysia

We may not have the lifestyle we always dreamed of. We may have even given up on the quarter-acre dream and opted for a smaller postage stamp lawn instead. However, if you compare our lawn care practices and section sizes to those in Malaysia, we’ll realise how lucky we really are.

Malaysia is one of the most populated cities in the world. Given the rising population, sprawling lawns are not something of which many households there get to enjoy. Busy city dwellers live in apartments with not a lot of spare space, and most people are too busy working to worry about lawn mowing and gardens.  

The United States

The US lawn care industry is big business, with a market size of $98 billion. There are over half a million lawn care services in the United States, and over one million industry employees.

If we thought we were a nation of lawn lovers, figures from the US are putting us to shame. In 2015, they spent nearly $16 billion on lawn care and gardening services. In 2014, their retail sales of garden and lawn supplies nearly totalled $6 billion.

And while many Americans take care of their own lawns, equally as many rely on lawn care experts. According to an online survey with the National Association of Landscape Professionals Industry Growth, 40 per cent of Americans have used a lawn care professional in the last year.

Over half also needed help with tree care, and over 40 per cent hired someone for weed prevention and lawn pest control.

Australia

Australia isn’t far behind the United States regarding passion for lawn care. Their lawn care industry is worth at least $3 billion, and the average Australian homeowner takes pride in a well-maintained lawn. Some are a bit more meticulous than others.

Lawns you can be proud of

We are blessed here in New Zealand to have plenty of wide-open spaces and expansive lawns and gardens. Knowing that not every country can enjoy what we have, doesn’t it make sense to appreciate it a little more? If it has been some time since you gave your yard the TLC it deserves, consider calling in lawn care experts near you to take care of business.

On Monday, April 27, at 11.59 pm, New Zealand moved out of Alert Level 4 and went back into Alert Level 3. During the highest alert level, New Zealanders knew what was expected from them. They must stay at home, except to exercise locally and to access essential services.

However, Alert Level 3 comes with a few more grey areas, particularly for business. What truly happens after lockdown, and how must businesses and their customers prepare?

How Lawn Care Companies Have Prepared

Every business will have its own set of procedures. What they all have in common, though, is that they are designed to keep both the customer and workers safe.

Crewcut, for instance, has taken extra precautions with all in-person customer interactions. They discourage customers from communicating with their lawn care service operators in person. Calls, texts, and emails are the preferred contact method of choice. 

They have also asked that their customers prepare their yards for lawn care service providers’ return. This might include removing the kids’ toys from the lawn and providing contactless access to the areas where work needs to be carried out.

It may also take some time for a new routine and schedule to be formed, so talk with your chosen Crewcut service provider about timeframes for that initial cut, and lawn care in the weeks and months to follow. 

Operators may ask a set of questions over the phone before they arrive, and may brief you on the required health and safety measures. These include physical distancing of two metres and the use of personal protective equipment if needed.

Rest assured that Crewcut operators have risk control measures and safe work practices by which they abide.

What About Other Businesses?

All businesses that are opening at alert level 3 must have a COVID-19 safety plan in place. This plan outlines how the firm plans to operate safely. Fortunately, businesses who are not sure how to create such a plan can make use of WorkSafe’s extensive template. This can be customised to suit unique business practices.

Business owners must:

• Support people to self-isolate if they have flu-like symptoms

• Keep separation distances

• Disinfect surfaces

• Maintain good hygiene and cough/sneeze etiquette

• Keep records for contact tracing

Other important questions to ask yourself, as outlined by WorkSafe, are:

1. Are there any risks arising from restarting your business or a business activity that has been shut down during Alert Level 4, and how will you manage these?

2. How will you ensure all workers know how and are able to keep themselves safe from exposure to COVID-19?

3. How will you gather information on the wellness of your workers to ensure that they are safe and well to work?

4. How will you operate your business in a way that keeps workers and others safe from exposure to COVID-19?

5. How will you manage an exposure or suspected exposure to COVID-19?

6. How will you evaluate, and continuously review, whether your work processes or risk controls are effective?

7. How do any changes impact on the risks of the work you do?

What Happens After Lockdown for the General Public?

Business owners have an integral part to play in keeping everyone safe. However, the general public must also do their part. So, what rules apply for people during Alert Level 3?

There are very few differences between alert levels 3 and 4 when it comes to keeping yourself safe. Staying home is still firmly encouraged, as is staying in your bubble.

However, contactless purchases can be made from local businesses that have safety measures in place. You may also drive to local areas for recreational activities such as surfing, fishing from wharves, and day walks. 

Distance learning is required for students from years 11 to 13 and is encouraged for children below year 11. All play centres and playgroups will be closed.

Workers from all businesses are also encouraged to work from home where possible. If they can’t, then strict health and safety measures, such as those mentioned above, are put into place.

The goal of all measures put in place for alert level 3 is to keep everyone safe. The fewer chances of transmission, the sooner our country can get back on track!

Doing Your Part

Now’s the time to start preparing for what happens after lockdown. Remember, staying at home as much as possible is still encouraged.

Regularly disinfect surfaces in your home, stay home if you are sick, and wash and dry your hands thoroughly. Refrain from touching your face, too! If you have flu-like symptoms, call your GP or Healthline.

New Zealand, we’re not only flattening the curve, but we’re also smashing it. So, let’s keep going. 

Not everyone is a lawn and garden expert, and that’s okay! That’s why you hire them so that you don’t have to brush up on skills that don’t interest you! However, if you have decided to take a more “hands-on” approach to your lawn and garden, then it’s helpful if you’re up with the lingo. Otherwise, when it comes time to sink or swim, you’re more likely to sink.

Before you become bogged down in endless terms and definitions that bear no relevance, let us walk you through the more common ones. These may appear in everyday garden and lawn maintenance and can be the lifeline you need to tackle that backyard wilderness with ease.

Common Plant Growth Terms

When you start reading the tags on any plants you buy, you start wondering whether you should have a botany and plant science degree. After all, some of the most common plant terms are hard enough to say, let alone understand. Fortunately, when you hire someone for garden maintenance and lawn mowing, you don’t have to worry about a thing. But wouldn’t it be helpful if you knew the basics?

• Annual – a plant that undertakes a full life cycle in a whole year

• Biennial – a plant that undertakes a full life cycle in two years

• Bolting – when sun and heat causes plants to produce seeds and flowers prematurely

• Companion Planting – mutual benefits gained from planting two plant types close together

• Everblooming – a plant that blooms continuously throughout its full growth season

• Germinate – a seed’s growth from a seed to sprout

• Perennial – plants that live throughout multiple seasons of growth

• Seedling – a seed that has grown its first root, stem, and leaves 

Common Plant Maintenance Terms

Understanding common plant maintenance terms can be more helpful than you might think. While you can rely on experts to take care of hedge trimming, gardening, lawn mowing, and more, you can also understand what is being done to keep your property in tip-top shape. 

• Bareroot – when a gardener removes dormant plants from the ground, removes the soil, and preserves them

• Cutting – a method of plant propagation to grow a new plant from a previously grown plant

• Deadheading – cutting off or removing old flower heads

• Direct Sowing – rather than growing plants inside before transplanting them to your garden, direct sowing is planting them directly where you want them to stay

• Hybrid – crossing two plants to create a new variety

• Pinching Off – removing leaves to promote new growth

• Pollinating – taking pollen from the male part of the flower (stamen) and putting it into the female part of the flower (pistil) to form a seed

• Self-Pollinating – a plant that produces fruit without pollen from another plant

• Open Pollination – natural pollination through insects, wind, and non-human action

• Pruning – cutting leaves or branches to get rid of dead, damaged, or diseased growth

• Staking – supporting a plant’s growth by driving a stake into the ground next to it

• Thinning – removing excess seedlings for better foliage, light, and air circulation for those that remain

• Transplanting – Taking plants from one place and replanting them in another 

Common Soil and Fertilisation Terms

The act of fertilising can be quite complicated, which is why thousands of New Zealanders leave such tasks in the capable hands of local lawn care experts. While you could neglect fertiliser, there are disadvantages of doing so.  A fertilised lawn and garden benefits from premium growth, health, and colour, not to mention robustness when faced with the genuine risk of pests, weeds, and disease.

• Acidic Soil – soil with a pH lower than 7

• Alkaline Soil – also known as basic soil, it has a pH of higher than 7

• Compost – decaying, organic materials for mulching, fertilising, and soil amending

• Herbicide – a type of chemical that kills or stunts plants

• Humus – decomposed plant material that forms part of the soil

• Loam – the best soil for agriculture and gardening that is made up of one-quarter clay, half silt, and less than half sand

• Organic – a type of plant food, pesticide, or fertiliser that’s from plants or animals, not synthetic chemicals

• Pesticide – an organic or synthetic chemical to kill weeds, microbes, and pests

• Side Dressing – the fertilisation process of adding fertiliser into soil near a mature plant

• Sludge – an industrial wastewater treatment plant leftover sediment commonly used for fertiliser due to its high nutrient levels

• Waterlogged – water-saturated soil

Very Nearly an Expert…

You’re now familiar with a huge range of common lawn and garden terms in NZ. As they say, knowledge is power. What are you going to do with this newfound information? Are you going to tackle your gardens and lawns yourself? Or, are you going to have more confidence to call in the experts who can keep your properties in tip-top shape?

If you’re not considered an ‘essential’ worker during Alert Level 4 lockdown in New Zealand, then chances are you’re wondering what to do with yourself. There is only so much Netflix binging and bread baking you can do before you head back to twiddling your thumbs.

But how are your gardens looking? And what about those essential house chores you’ve been “too busy” for? Well, now’s time the time to get stuck in. Add these tasks to your list, and lockdown will be over before you know it!

Decks, patios, and porches

We’re now in Autumn, which means we’re waving goodbye to summer nights entertaining on the deck. Before the autumn weather truly takes hold, why not give these areas a clean-up? Haul out the pressure washer to remove built-up dirt and debris, and even give your outdoor furniture a bit of TLC.

Given that the temperatures are now dropping and wet weather is on its way, consider storing your outdoor furniture out of the elements for the next few months. By doing so, you can ensure it’s in tip-top shape when summer arrives once more.

Get that green thumb

In most regions, green waste is not considered an essential service. Therefore, if you’re usually one to throw away all your trimmings, consider getting into composting. You can reduce your green waste by mulching woody debris and lawn clippings. You can even leave your grass clippings on the lawn to deliver nutrients back into the soil.

Composting can also prove convenient for reducing food scraps in your home. Tea and coffee grounds, tissues, paper, vacuum dust, garden waste, cardboard, and most foods (excluding oil, bones, and meat), can all find their place in your newly formed compost area. By doing so, you can also reduce how much waste you are sending to landfill regularly. 

Lawn and garden maintenance

Many people rely on lawn care companies in New Zealand to handle their lawns and gardens. However, during the lockdown period, these are not considered essential. Fortunately, many people now have plenty of time on their hands to tackle them on their own.

Now is the perfect time to be taking care of those tasks you’ve been putting on hold. Edge the gardens and lawn, tackle those weeds and pull out any plants that haven’t survived summer. 

Now’s also a good time to think about what to plant in autumn, such as beans, broccoli, lettuce, and carrots. If your childhood wasn’t scarred by boiled brussels sprouts, then these may be on the menu, too.

Besides, it will be easier for your lawn and garden crew to bring your backyard back to life if there’s no overgrowth or unkept grass.

DIY tasks

Properties don’t stay looking pristine on their own. Paint can peel from fences, grass can grow in gutters, and paving stones can become lost to unwanted weeds. Now that you’re at home, there are no excuses not to tackle those tasks.

If you have leftover paint stored away in your garage, bring it out to give those fences a new lease on life. Use organic weed killers to bring those pavers back to life. And grab a loved one in your bubble to help safely remove grass from your gutters.

However, even though we’re a DIY nation, it’s a good idea to leave those power tools safely stowed away. Remember, we need to be limiting activities that could see the need for outside assistance. A trip to the emergency room for a power tool accident can be dangerous for you and others.

Garage sale preparedness

Have you been turning a blind eye to the mess in your home, or the mass of items taking up space in your garage? Take this opportunity to have a clean-out and prepare for a garage sale. While you won’t be able to hold a garage sale right now, there’s no harm in getting ready for one.

Start separating goods into four piles: keep, sell, donate, and throw away. Adopt this approach both inside your home and outside it. You can then hit the ground running once COVID-19 is a distant memory.

Come up with seasonal solutions

Autumn is a beautiful season. After all, there’s nothing quite like jumping in piles of crunchy leaves when you’re a child! However, it can bring about some seasonal issues. So, what do you do with seasonal issues? You come up with seasonal solutions!

One of the more common problems is moisture. Moisture can cause a lot of issues in your yard, so be proactive and minimise its impact. Pick up any rotten or old fruit that has been lying on the ground. Clear away leaves and plant debris that could rot and become a slip hazard.

You may even like to use your organic fungicide now and make sure that mildew and black spot are not a problem in the months to come.

Turn off the TV

Binge-watching streaming services during the lockdown period is sure to make the time fly by, but don’t you want to be productive while you can, too? It’s time to tackle those home and garden chores you’ve been putting off. You can then enjoy a sense of achievement when it’s time to get back out into the workforce once more.

As New Zealand went into Alert Level 4 lockdown on March 26, 2020, families began scratching their heads and wondering how they were going to make it through. Sure, essential services like grocery stores were open, but staying at home for a minimum of four weeks brought its own set of challenges. How are you supposed to amuse the kids and yourself when you’re stuck at home?

Firstly, it’s important to understand that you’re safe at home, not stuck at home. New Zealanders have to work together (but apart) to stop COVID-19 in its tracks. Remember, the virus doesn’t move; the people who carry it do. Stay home and save lives.

Aside from taking care of your own lawn mowing and gardens during the lockdown period, there are plenty of other things you can be doing to keep yourself and your loved ones in your bubble entertained. Read on to learn how to get through the lockdown period with your sanity intact.

We’re going on a bear hunt (and we’re not scared)

It can be hard to entertain young children at the best of times, but now that you must come up with something solely at home, it’s even more difficult. Fortunately, a New Zealand-wide initiative is now in play that allows kids to get outside while still social distancing.

The NZ Bear Hunt encourages all New Zealanders to put a teddy bear in their window facing the road. They can then pin their address to the map and watch as excited children pass their home and notice the bear.

While New Zealand must stay at home to stomp out the virus, local walks while maintaining a two-metre distance from others is permitted. Fresh air, exercise, and a bear hunt, could it get any better?

Clap for our champions

While the majority of us get to stay at home and protect our families, the essential workers of New Zealand must continue to work. They are our health workers, supermarket staff, port workers, waste collectors, and truckers, just to name a few.

While kindness and gratitude is one way to say thanks, another is through the event set up throughout the country called Clap for Our Champions. At 7 pm on a specified day in your region, everyone is encouraged to stand outside their home and clap for those who are making sure we can access our essential products and services throughout the lockdown period.

Online shopping

It can be a scary thing to think about how easy it is to catch and pass on COVID-19. The more vulnerable the people are in your community, the higher the risk. Therefore, if there’s something fun and essential you can do at home, it’s online shopping.

Given that non-essential services are now shut, you may be wondering what you can access during this time. Fortunately, there are several local, regional, and national businesses classed as essential that can deliver to your door.

Start with local businesses to support those closest to you during this trying time. However, you can also access a directory of independent Kiwi companies through delivereat. More are added daily, so be on the lookout for things you might need that these businesses can supply with contactless delivery.

Indoor and backyard Olympics

With news that the Tokyo Olympics have been postponed until 2021, sports fans may now feel like they have nothing to look forward to – at least not for some time. But why not create an Olympic event in your own home? 

Indoor Olympics can be fun for the whole family! You can set up fun sports games in your backyard, like swingball or backyard cricket. You can even incorporate digital sports on game consoles. 

Some families can also get creative with the creation of a mini-golf area in their yard, making use of obstacles on their property to make things interesting. Activities inside and outside your home can come with points rewards, with the highest points earner deemed the Olympic champion.

If you’d like to play games in your backyard, check out these exciting suggestions we’ve listed down for you.

TV show re-enactments

There is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now. Still, if there’s one thing for sure, it’s that most Kiwis are spending a lot more time watching TV. Why watch TV shows, though, when you can be on them? That’s right, to keep the whole family entertained, why not carry out activities that you see on your favourite shows? 

For example, the foodies might enjoy a MasterChef or My Kitchen Rules scenario, where the household is split into two and has to prepare meals over two evenings. You may or may not even choose to film the exercise.

Stay home, save lives

As a country, we have an essential job to do. Most of us may not be able to do our regular job, but that doesn’t make our current one any less crucial. That job is to stay at home and save lives.

We need to protect the most vulnerable members of our community and flatten the curve. There is plenty we can do in the comfort of our own properties to make this lockdown period fly by.

Most people know what kind of lawns they want to have. The green, plush, squishy-under-foot type, right? Wanting them and knowing how to get them are two different things. However, with a little bit of knowledge, and maybe even a helping hand from lawn care experts, you can have those gorgeous green lawns you’ve been dreaming of.

Read on to learn the type of fertiliser you need in your lawn and garden. The whole process is easier than you might think!

Time for testing

Before you purchase any random type of garden and lawn fertiliser and hope for the best, it’s crucial to establish what you need to achieve. Why does your yard not look at its best right now? Grass can’t talk, and while it would be helpful if it did, there are other ways to work out why it’s so sad. Primarily, a soil test. 

A soil test can work out what your lawn is lacking so that you can give it more of what it needs. You might be mowing, gardening, and doing everything else right, but you can’t achieve healthy grass growth when your soil is not at its best.

A soil test measures the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels of your lawn, which are displayed as N-P-K.

Nitrogen is responsible for your garden and lawn’s growth and colour, phosphorus for root and flower growth, and potassium for a plant’s ability to make use of the nitrogen. Not enough of all three, or even one, can result in a pretty sad-looking lawn!

Once you carry out the soil test, you can then match the results to a fertiliser that will provide the best results for your unique situation. 

What fertiliser types are there?

Some people see that their lawn looks miserable, then pop along to their local garden store to find the magic cure. Once they see shelf after shelf of options, they quickly realise that there’s no single product to make everything all better. There are many. To throw a spanner in the works, some of those products can kill your lawn, and others can make it thrive. It’s like playing Russian Roulette with your back yard.

Let’s first separate the fertiliser types into two varieties: organic and synthetic. Organic fertiliser comes from once-living organisms and their byproducts. They are safe for use around animals and children and can make a homeowner feel far better about their use.

The other option is synthetic fertilisers. These are chemical-based and work fast to make your lawns appear far greener and more vibrant.

You can then further break down those two varieties into granular and liquid/water-soluble fertilisers. Granular fertilisers can be slow-release or time-release, and they are fast and easy for people to apply themselves. However, you can still call in lawn mowing and gardening businesses to take care of the process for you.

Liquid fertilisers are easy to apply with a hose and allow nutrients to quickly enter the grass with minimal effort and hassle.

What about more natural options?

It can be quite tricky trying to find a fertiliser that works for your property, particularly if you haven’t previously paid much attention to how it all works. If you lack the time or inclination to read labels, or even pick up the phone to call in the lawn care experts, then what else can you do? Do less than what you’re doing now. 

Believe it or not, by not picking up your lawn clippings or raking the leaves after heavy winds, you could be doing your lawn a world of good. Make sure the clippings are spread evenly after a short cut. The less there are, the quicker the time it will take for them to compost and add nutrients into your lawn.

The leaves and clippings add both carbon and nitrogen, and your lawn will thank you for it. The best part is, this process doesn’t cost you a cent. 

How to tell if your lawn or garden needs fertiliser

Unless you spend a lot of time outside, you probably don’t notice whether your lawns and gardens are at their best or not. However, upon closer inspection, it’s easier than you might think. Lawns that require fertiliser are probably pale and with a yellow tinge. If you notice a brown lawn, then it’s more likely to be a fungus problem, rather than a lack of nutrients.

And what about the gardens? If your gardens aren’t producing the growth you would have liked or expected, then there’s every reason to believe they are not getting enough nutrients. Once again, purchase a soil test and establish what’s missing before you act.

Fuss-free fertilisation

Fertiliser application is a lot easier than you might think. Still, a lack of knowledge or willpower can see it fall by the wayside. If your lawns and gardens are looking dismal at best, then why not call in the big guns? Look for lawn care and garden experts near you to have your grounds looking in tip-top shape once more.

It’s part of Kiwi culture to be able to wander down to the local football or rugby field and play a game with friends. If you didn’t spend half your childhood kicking a ball around until the street lights went on, then were you really a Kiwi kid? Now, however, times are changing.

The local sports field is even further away than it used to be, and traffic is making it harder to access on foot. Then, there’s the parental supervision. Not all parents want to spend countless hours at a local park when they could be getting dinner ready or catching up on household chores.

This is why it’s a good idea to start looking at sports that you and the kids can play in your backyard. You might have to look at lawn mowing and a garden tidy-up first, but now’s the perfect time to start looking at some options.

Cricket

Two words: backyard cricket. It’s in our DNA. If you’ve got plenty of space and understanding neighbours, then it’s time to get ready for some intense family competition. You’ll need a few tennis balls (which are far softer and less damaging than the real deal), two sets of stumps, and a cricket bat. Two or more players are also necessary to release your inner competitive streak.

Set the stumps up around ten metres apart on your grass, with the batter’s stump against a fence if possible. Choose your batter and bowler and get everyone else in position around your lawn. There is no need to replicate a real cricket pitch, but near enough will be more than satisfactory.

Backyard cricket is an ideal sport to play in the backyard, but make sure you hit the ball in the safest direction and away from fragile objects.

Swingball

Many a Christmas and festive season have been spent around the base of a swingball set. If you haven’t run to mum and dad crying that you’ve been hit in the face, then you’ve never put your ‘all’ into the game. If there’s any competitive sport worth setting up in your backyard, it’s swingball.

You will need to clear a bit of space, but a small yard is okay. Push the swingball stake into the ground and have enough room for one person to stand on either side with a paddle. Remove any obstacles from the area, and use your downtime after or before the game to improve your hand-eye coordination.

Golf

Many families have had to say goodbye to the quarter-acre dream, which means any game of golf you play in your yard is definitely not going to be conventional. While you won’t be partaking in 18 holes with your golf cart, you will be able to produce a mini version that will be both fun to play and to set up with the kids.

Find buckets, containers, and other unique items you can use as “holes” for the ball. You can then work your way around the yard, hitting golf balls into each hole. Such a sport will keep the whole family entertained for hours.

Badminton

If you only have a little bit of lawn area or merely a courtyard, then badminton is going to be a firm favourite in your household. All you will need is something to resemble a net (or actually buy a net), a minimum of two racquets, and a shuttlecock.

This is a game that doesn’t require you to play by the rules, which is perfect for families with kids who normally ignore them anyway. Simply hit the shuttlecock over the net. If your opponent doesn’t return a serve, you get the point.

Badminton is an affordable and fun pastime for anyone in the family. Both adults and kids can play together, or the kids can gang up on the adults! Whether it’s a special event or something fun to do on the weekend, it’s a worthwhile addition to your backyard.

How to prepare your backyard for sports

You now know what you can play in your backyard, but how do you make it so your yard is up to scratch? The first thing to tackle is your lawns. A short lawn can make it easier to partake in all manner of sports – from golf through to cricket. You can either mow the lawns yourself or hire a lawn mowing expert nearby to take care of them for you.

While you’re at it, it’s also a good idea to take care of hedge trimming. A stray shuttlecock in an overgrown hedge would take hours to find – if you ever managed to find it at all. The same rule applies to your gardens. The less wild they are, the easier it will be to find tennis balls from your game of cricket or a paddle thrown in anger during a game of swingball.

It’s your time to shine

The sun is still shining so why not make the most of it? Your backyard can become your very own sports field with just a little bit of effort and maintenance. Call upon your local lawn care expert for help to tame the wilderness, then pop to the shops for all the sports equipment you’ll need. Let the games begin!

While thousands of people load the kids into the car and set off on summer adventures around Christmas, others prefer to stay at home. After all, if you live somewhere balmy and warm, why escape to somewhere that may not be as nice?  You can avoid traffic, spending money, and the holiday crowds.  

Therefore, equally as many people prefer to dust off the sun umbrella at home, wipe the cobwebs off of the patio furniture, and bask in the rays of their own property. The problem is, you can only enjoy that sunshine for so long until you’re gasping for shade and cloud cover.

While spending your summer holidays at home is an excellent idea for your sanity and wallet, how are you supposed to cool off when New Zealand turns up the heat to an unbearable level? Read on to find out.

Plant more trees

New Zealand loves trees. We love them that much that we’ve even got a tree-planting mission. If you think your yard is severely lacking on the tree front, then what’s stopping you from planting some?

Not only can they prevent soil erosion, provide oxygen, and enhance the appeal of your yard, but they can also offer much-needed shelter in the heat of the summer months. It’s worth checking in with your local lawn care expert to see what you should plant, how to care for it, and which species will likely offer the most significant benefits.

You might be thinking that planting trees is all well and good for the future, but what if you need shelter now? Tree saplings are a popular option, but they aren’t the only option. There are plenty of tree businesses in New Zealand that offer established trees for effortless installation into your landscape.

Shady entertainment areas

Reading a book and relaxing with a beverage in the sunshine is a favourite pastime of many, but it’s not sustainable with damaging UV rays literally breathing down your neck. While you could (and should) lather on the sunscreen, not all available products will measure up for long-term sunbathing.

If you already have an entertainment area, consider flexing those DIY muscles to bring some much-needed shade components into it. Add a shade sail, a roof section (may be subject to council permits), or add plant-life that adds a barrier between you and the intense rays. There are some simple solutions out there, but you have to be willing to look for them.

Water features and fun

Nothing says serene oasis better than a water feature in your backyard. You can be relaxing with a book, listening to the gentle babble of water on rocks in the background. A water feature can offer the illusion of a cool environment while also balancing out your Christmas-related stresses. Talk to your local gardening or landscaping expert about your options.

If you want something a little less permanent, then have you thought about a swimming pool? Easy-erect swimming pools are available from most large retailers in New Zealand and tend to be priced to sell as summer heats up. Don’t forget to purchase a pump, pool cleaning chemicals, and a cover. Even more importantly, practice water safety with the kids to keep everyone safe.

Those who don’t have a pool, or have space for one can also keep cool with water balloons, water guns, water slides, and general water fights. Don’t forget to check your local council’s website to see if any water restrictions are in place before you haul the hose out.

Icy delights

If the kids have had a blast in the backyard with swimming and water fights, then the natural next step is a cold treat. Make homemade ice blocks with fruit and fruit juice, or pop to the local dairy to see what they have hidden in the depths of their desserts freezer. Nothing says summer in New Zealand like sticky chins from dripping popsicles in the sunshine.

Easy fruit ice blocks

Get the kids involved in the creation of their own ice blocks while also curbing that summertime holiday boredom.

You will need:

• 410g can of Wattie’s Peaches Sliced in Light Syrup (drained)

• 425g can of Golden Circle Pineapple Crushed in Juice

• zest of an orange

Place the contents of both cans into a food processor with the zest. Blend until smooth, then pour into ice block moulds. Place in the freezer until firm.

See the full recipe here.

Cooling off at home this summer made easy

Christmas can be a stressful time of year, especially as the rising mercury puts pressure on families to travel. There is no reason why your own home can’t become your holiday destination. Cool off in comfort with trees, a revitalised entertainment area, and plenty of fun games and sweet treats for the kids.