Outdoor entertaining is a huge part of who we are. If we’re not setting up quaint patio areas for enjoying cups of tea and good books, we’re building expansive decks with room for a barbecue, a spa pool, and plenty of tables and chairs for family and friends.

However, when you just move into a property and need to create a barbecue area from scratch, it’s not always easy to know where to begin. When planning gets underway in earnest, consider some of the following backyard setup ideas.

A Paved Patio Area

If you’re a fan of how easy-care paved patio areas can be, consider one as the foundation for your new entertainment area. Concrete is easy to clean through water blasting, suits both contemporary and classic homes, and can be an affordable alternative to decking timber in many cases.

Paved patio areas can also be separated from your home on another part of your property, or they can lead seamlessly from it. The latter allows for indoor-outdoor flow for complete enjoyment.

A Large Deck

Entertaining friends and family can be challenging without an outdoor space like a deck. Not everyone feels comfortable being crowded inside, and it can seem like a waste of good weather.

An expansive deck that wraps around your home’s exterior can be an exciting way to take full advantage of your property. You can open your doors leading to the deck for indoor-outdoor flow and invest in outdoor furniture to invite friends and family over for dinner.

All that’s left to do now is brush up on your decking consent requirements, and you can be on your way to a brand new deck.

Softscapes

Softscapes are the horticultural features of a landscape, such as trees, flowers, and plants. Along the same lines, softscaping would refer to their maintenance, such as mowing, trimming, spraying, and planting.

When you’re trying to come up with the perfect setup for your next BBQ party, creating a brand new softscape may be worth your consideration. Create a defined lawn area, invest in some new plants, and create a peaceful, private sanctuary that will be the envy of all your friends and neighbours.

Hardscapes

While many people love opening their curtains in the morning to see bees buzzing around their vibrant flower beds, some prefer a more low-maintenance yard. Therefore, when the time comes to spruce up your property, consider which hardscape elements can be both perfect for entertaining and easy-care.

You might invest in paving stones, defined concrete entertainment areas, and even raised flower boxes rather than dedicated gardens.

A Focal Point

Sometimes, the most challenging part of creating the perfect backyard setup for entertaining is establishing your central element. What’s the one thing that all other features can tie in with?

For some, it’s a fire pit surrounded by chairs for those late-night smores sessions. For others, it’s a large barbecue. You might even decide to make your focal point a spa pool, a swimming pool, or a beautiful pergola.

When you lack creativity, you may find that establishing the most exciting part of your entertainment area will allow you to get your creative juices flowing to complete the project.

A Games Area

Who doesn’t love a fun game outside on a warm summer’s day? You can invite your friends and family around, cook a feast on the barbecue, and dust off your petanque set or cricket bat.

While you’re in the early stages of planning your new backyard setup, consider dedicating a small grass area to games. You can then stock up on a few different options that the younger and older members of your family and friends circle can enjoy.

A Sheltered Space

When you picture an outdoor entertainment area, you might imagine a quaint but open patio or an unsheltered deck with the sunshine beaming down on every inch of it. However, winter can be cruel in some parts of Aotearoa, leaving many entertainment areas unusable.

That doesn’t have to be the case. If you consider the four seasons early on in your project, you might end up with a space you can enjoy year-round.

Some people install shade sails as an affordable form of basic shelter, while others go all out with permanent roofing over their outdoor space. If you’re unsure what options might suit your space the best, you may see the value in contacting a construction expert for help.

Comfortable Furniture

Choosing outdoor furniture can be as challenging as choosing indoor furniture. You know what you like, but you also have to factor in its longevity when spending a lot of time outside in the elements.

All materials have their pros and cons in this regard. Timber furniture can last for several years, but only if you keep up with maintenance. In contrast, wicker furniture can look spectacular but can be harmed by our intense UV rays.

Even plastic, which is robust and long-lasting, can become brittle, faded, and cracked when exposed to too much sunshine.

It’s Time to Build

Now that you’ve got a wide range of ideas to consider, it’s time to start building. Before long, you might end up with an outdoor entertainment space that you can’t get enough of.

Your yard is likely the picture of perfection during spring and summer. The lawns are mowed, the gardens look tidy, and all the weeds have been taken care of. With the sun shining and no rain to impact your efforts, you can spend as much time as you need outside.

That can change with the adverse weather conditions of autumn and winter, but you don’t have to put up with a sad-looking property for those six months of the year. Consider jazzing up your backyard with some of the following tips.

Install Fairy Lights

We are fortunate to have long sunshine hours here in New Zealand, even in winter. However, the nights do still draw to a close quicker over autumn and winter than in spring and summer. Make your property as pretty as a picture, even once night falls, with the addition of fairy lights.

While you may have to put up with grey days and dark evenings, your yard can become much more aesthetically pleasing when you’ve got beautiful coloured bulbs lighting up your private space.

Fairy lights are affordable and available in a wide range of colours and styles. The majority are also now solar-powered, which means there’s no need to worry about using extra electricity.

Add Shelter

One of the hardest parts about waving goodbye to summer is having to venture back inside. Rainfall, snow, and hail are all too common in autumn and winter, which means you aren’t able to sit out on your deck and enjoy a book and a cold beverage as often as you once did.

However, you may be able to enjoy your yard year-round if you include some form of shelter. There are plenty of options to choose from, such as pergolas, canopies, awnings, shade sails, and arbours. What you choose may depend on your budget and home layout, but all may provide a form of shelter and protection from the elements so that you can enjoy spending time outside in your yard any time you like.

Install Outdoor Heaters

Many parts of the North Island of New Zealand have mild winters, which means you may be able to enjoy your backyard more often than people living further south. However, that’s not to say that you won’t experience the cold.

Fortunately, many companies manufacture outdoor heaters that you can set up in your outdoor space for extra heat. This means that instead of having to head inside once the mercury plummets, you can switch on your outdoor heater and make the most of your evening.

Choose Plants Carefully

Watching plants that once thrived look like mere shells of their former selves can be disheartening. While they’ll bounce back in spring, you have to put up with a bare-looking garden for at least three months of the year.

If you’re worried about the aesthetics of your property over winter, consider plants that bloom and look at their best year-round. Some hot contenders for your garden slice of paradise include lemon myrtle, Alberic Barbier (an evergreen rambler rose), and the snowflake variety of oakleaf hydrangea. Your local garden store or lawn mowing expert may be able to offer some advice and other options.

Install An Outdoor Fire

On those chilly, clear evenings, there’s nothing quite like wrapping up in your winter woollies and sitting around a fire. If your local council permits it, install an outdoor fire that you can use for ambience and warmth while spending time outside.

You may even like to cook or toast marshmallows on this fire to give your family and friends something to look forward to on those colder, quieter evenings.

Create Indoor-Outdoor Spaces

With the right construction experts, you may be able to create indoor-outdoor spaces that you can use year-round. Generally, they are small patio areas that connect to your home but aren’t entirely enclosed.

You can perform outdoor tasks like cooking on the BBQ and firing up the pizza oven, but without having to be mindful of heat and odour as you would indoors. The best part is, you can enjoy summer-like vibes with heat, lighting, and comfort – but in the dead of winter.

Such spaces are quite common with new builds, and homeowners generally decorate them with outdoor furniture and soft furnishings like rugs and cushions.

Request Expert Help

If you generally get a case of the winter blues each year, your yard may not be doing anything to help. You might be tired of staring at all the dead leaves on the lawn or the gardens looking sad with dead plants.

Without the motivation or inclination to take care of it yourself, you might decide to bring in the experts. Many lawn mowing service providers offer winter and autumn tidy-up services. They may even be able to assist with other seasonal tasks like de-thatching, fertilising, and repairing your dead and dying grass.

Sometimes, it’s not until you have to pass up a social gathering with friends to mow your lawns that you realise your yard maintenance is taking over. All your free time can be taken up by lawn mowing, gardening, hedge trimming, and other tasks, just to make sure you’re still able to use your yard and keep it tidy.

There is more to homeownership than trimming shrubs and edging lawns. Take back control of your weekends by following these steps to achieve a more relaxing, low-maintenance yard.

Step 1: Outsource Maintenance

Your time is precious, and the last thing most people want to be doing after spending 40 hours in the office is spending even more time tending to their properties. If you’d prefer to spend more time enjoying your space rather than maintaining it, outsource as many outdoor-related tasks as possible.

Hire someone to mow your lawns, get rid of garden waste, and trim your trees. You can even outsource the task of fruit tree care, hedge trimming, water blasting, and gardening. More and more people are seeing the value in hiring people to help with their homes, and now might be the right time for you to take the same action.

Step 2: Downsize the Gardens

Property trends are changing all the time, and one of the more recent ones relates to the size of your gardens. While extensive, sprawling gardens are beautiful to look at, they take a lot of time and effort to maintain.

Rather than sitting on your deck relaxing with a beverage and a book, you have to be ankle-deep in soil, pulling out weeds and making sure your prized peonies are growing perfectly. You deserve a more relaxing, low-maintenance yard, and reducing the size of your garden may be how you do that.

Turning gardens back into grass can require a significant amount of effort, but it’s a one-off amount of effort. You then only have to worry about lawn mowing, which is a task you can pay someone to do for you, anyway.

Step 3: Focus On Hardscapes

Hardscapes are built environment structures incorporated into a landscape. They include retaining walls, stairs, walkways, paved areas, and similar, and often contain materials like concrete, stone, and wood.

While you may like to welcome nature with open arms, having a balance of hardscapes can mean you don’t have to undertake as much weeding, gardening, and lawn mowing, as you would if you didn’t incorporate these hardscape features.

Install large patio areas, pathways, and retaining walls that can function as controlled gardens. More and more people are seeing the value in hardscapes, particularly holiday homeowners who can’t shoot away to their holiday destination to mow lawns and pull up weeds each week.

Step 4: Choose Your Plants Carefully

Whether you purchased your property as a blank slate or you inherited the gardens of a previous owner, it’s worth putting a lot of thought into the plants you keep on your property. Some are more low maintenance than others.  

Flaxes and grasses tend to be among the most popular options, particularly as they grow in the toughest of environments and require minimal care. Succulents are also preferred for their beauty and basic needs. 

You might also decide to choose a variety of ground cover plants. These can prevent water loss and erosion while also covering bare soil that may otherwise give weeds somewhere to grow. Some of the most popular varieties include New Zealand Daphne that grows in clay soil, Tinkerbell that grows in clumps, and Star Jasmine that can provide dense coverage in a dedicated part of your garden.

Step 5: Make Small Changes

Making drastic changes to your property for the sake of more relaxation and less maintenance can be overwhelming. Rather than getting started, you may be tempted to do nothing at all and just put up with your predicament.

However, small changes may make a world of difference. For example, you might add weed mat material to a garden bed to prevent weed growth, or replace a small garden bed with potted plants, instead. Ripping out high-maintenance plants and replacing them with lower maintenance varieties may also be something you consider.

Over time, these tiny changes may make a noticeable difference, especially when you have one less item on your list of chores to do on the weekend.

Enjoy Your Yard Sooner Rather Than Later

By hiring lawn care experts, adding more hardscapes, and downsizing your gardens, you may be in a much better position to enjoy your garden rather than seeing it as a labour-intensive chore. Take these five steps above, and you may be surprised by how much free time on weekends and evenings you and your loved ones end up having.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and couples across the motu are frantically racking their brains trying to come up with the perfect gift to symbolise their love for their significant other.

While you can’t go wrong with a traditional box of choccies and a few red roses, you can certainly afford to lift your game if you start planning for the big day in advance. If you have a lawn-loving partner and believe they’re deserving of a pleasant surprise, consider any of these romantic gestures below.

Ask Your Lawn Mowing Pro to Make it Personal

While your lawn care service provider may already provide a lawn mowing service to make your life easier, why not have them go the extra mile so that your significant other can have a yard of which they’re proud?

On the week of Valentine’s Day, you may like to change your service up a little bit by adding hedge trimming, tree pruning, or garden edging to your requirements. To someone who appreciates a neatly manicured yard, it can be even more perfect than a box of chocolates that you’ll likely make them share.

Hire a Lawn Mowing Service Provider

If you haven’t already hired someone to visit your property on a regular schedule and keep your yard looking as pretty as a picture, then your Valentine’s Gift to your partner might be this very thing. Having someone taking care of yard maintenance allows you to spend your spare time doing more of the things you love.

You may decide to opt for a one-off lawn mowing service as a kind gesture or set up a regular contract so that you never have to concern yourself with lawn mowing again.

Be a Sweetheart to Your Lawn

Many couples divide their chores between themselves. One partner might take care of inside chores like dishes, vacuuming, and laundry, while the other might manage the yard work, such as lawn mowing and gardening.

Rather than purchasing a gift this year, why not take on their share of yard maintenance for the week? You might treat your lawn to a much-needed haircut, spray the weeds, cut the edges, and even tidy up the gardens. When your yard-proud partner comes home, they’re bound to be impressed with what you’ve achieved.

Purchase a Lawn Mowing Franchise

While making any significant purchases generally requires discussion with your significant other, you may decide to broach the idea of purchasing a lawn mowing franchise. Alternatively, if they’ve already considered it, use Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to give your blessing for it to happen.

Service is the love language of lawn mowing operators, and a lawn mowing franchise might be the very opportunity you and your partner have been looking for.

Create An Outdoor Oasis

Most people love coming home from work and relaxing in the sunshine while admiring their private backyard. Unfortunately, not everyone has an idyllic spot in their backyard to enjoy to its full potential.

This Valentine’s Day, you might be able to change that. While it’s possibly too late to call in the builders for an expansive deck, pergola, or concreted patio area, you’ve still options galore.

You may like to purchase paving stones to create a small area for relaxing, then tie the look together with outdoor furniture, lighting, and even a barbecue. Not only can this be an incredible surprise for the love of your life, but it may even increase your property value.

Purchase New Lawn Equipment

Lawnmowers, edgers, trimmers, and other lawn equipment, don’t last forever. Over time, they can become worn out and cause no end of frustration for the user.

If you’ve noticed that your partner is spending more time berating your lawn equipment than actually using it, visit your local garden shop and see if an upgrade could be on the cards. A simple bow wrapped around the handle of a brand new lawnmower may just make your partner’s day.

Buy Outdoor-Related Gifts

A lot of people don’t buy into the whole idea of Valentine’s Day because they don’t like the thought of gifting heart-shaped boxes of chocolates or purchasing overpriced red roses by the dozen. Fortunately, those aren’t the only gift options you have.

For your lawn-loving partner, an outdoor-related gift will likely be well-received, and there are plenty of options to choose from. You might decide to purchase a lawn ornament like a birdbath or fountain, or even something sensible but practical like outdoor seating.

Even a new barbecue, pizza oven, or spa pool is likely to be adored, especially when they are gifts you can enjoy together. Think long and hard about what your yard is lacking so that you can claim the title of having the best Valentine’s Day gift ever.

Contact Crewcut to get started in your search of the perfect gift to give your lawn-loving partner!

It’s easy to assume that using a leaf blower is as easy as turning it on and blowing some leaves, but there’s so much more to this versatile piece of lawn equipment than meets the eye.

If you’re ready to purchase a new leaf blower and give your autumnal leaves their marching orders, take a moment to read through our list of helpful tips first. You can then have all the information you need to make an informed purchasing decision.

#1 Do Your Homework On Leaf Blower Types

Just as you would research lawnmowers to see which is the most suitable for your lawn, it pays to do the same when purchasing a new leaf blower. You can buy battery-electric cordless leaf blowers, petrol leaf blowers, and mains-electric leaf blowers.

These all have their pros and cons based on the size of your yard and what you are using the leaf blower for. You may also like to compare different brands, read reviews, and consider noise and safety features.

It doesn’t pay to rush the research process as you may end up with a brand or type of leaf blower that doesn’t suit your needs.

#2 Consider What You’ll Use a Leaf Blower For

Sometimes, what you’ll use your leaf blower for can dictate what you buy and how you use your new leaf blower. While leaf blowing is, of course, what many people buy them for, that’s not all they’re capable of.

You can also use them to dry wet areas and even move debris and grass clippings. Many shop owners invest in them to move general dust, dirt, and debris away from their storefronts without having to resort to an ineffective and time-intensive broom.

#3 Purchase Safety Gear

Next to a lawnmower that has a blade moving around at 3,000 revs per minute, a leaf blower can seem like a harmless power tool. However, it’s not as harmless as you might think. Blower operators can hear up to 115 dB when operating a leaf blower, which means hearing protection can be crucial to prevent hearing loss.  

Earplugs or earmuffs are a worthwhile purchase, along with goggles for eye protection and heavy-duty work gloves. When you visit your local hardware store to buy a new leaf blower, they will be able to point you in the direction of the most appropriate safety equipment.

#4 Use With Dry Debris

Most people will know that dry debris moves better with air than wet debris, but there’s no harm in giving you a reminder. Even if you have a lot of leaves smothering your lawn to move, you’ll need to wait until any rain has passed and the leaves have had a chance to dry before putting your leaf blower to work.

This isn’t so much a safety tip as it is a labour-savings one. If you decide to blow wet debris, your leaves will likely remain in place and you’ll waste your time.

#5 Master Your Leaf-Blowing Technique

If you’ve never used a leaf blower before, then there’s no guarantee that you’ll be a natural right away – and that’s okay! Master your technique, and you’ll show those leaves who’s boss in no time.

Rather than approaching your pile of leaves and blasting them with air, stand back a little bit and push air towards the leaves, not on top of them. This allows you to move the leaves where you want them to go.  

It may also pay to have a fair idea of where you’ll want your pile to be before you get leaf blowing underway. For example, if you’ll be putting leaves in your compost bin, blow them in that general direction, or to a green waste bin if you have one.

#6 Don’t Annoy Your Neighbours

Many people have found themselves rudely awoken in the early hours of the morning, cursing whoever hasn’t yet banned leaf blowers. You don’t want to be an insensitive neighbour who starts up power equipment bright and early on the weekend.

You may not realise it, but we’re not allowed to make excessive noise under our Resource Management Act. This could be anything from leaf blowing to chainsaw use or listening to your music too loudly over the weekend. 

Wait until a reasonable hour of the morning, such as after 9am, and consider powering down your leaf blower before 10pm. After that time, your neighbours may decide to call your local council’s noise control line and make a complaint.

Let Us Leaf Blow

Leaf blowing can be a satisfying household chore, but not everyone wants to go through the arduous process of buying one, learning how to use it, and making sure they don’t annoy their neighbours in the process. 

If you have already hired the experts to mow your lawns, why not ask your lawn mowing contractor if they also provide a leaf blowing service? You may be able to free up even more of your time.

It’s the age-old question for any less-than-savvy gardener who decides to get stuck in on a sunny Saturday: is that a flower or a weed? Technically, it could be both because there are plenty of flowers that are weeds in NZ.

But for the sake of making sure you’re not letting a potentially invasive plant take over your flower garden or ripping out something completely innocent, let’s take a look at what those flower weeds look like. You can then pull out the right plants with complete confidence.

#1 Agapanthus (Lily of the Nile)

Agapanthus is a plant that many gardeners would be happy to welcome into their garden. They have lovely leaves and an abundance of small purple-blue or white flowers that bloom from December to February.

However, agapanthus is actually a perennial weed from South Africa. It’s a prolific seeder, lives a long time, and thrives in nearly any climate. They also have no problem dispersing their seeds far and wide and can spread through wind and water.

This weed flower can cause considerable biodiversity loss and tends to be the dominant species no matter where it grows. You can get rid of this plant by digging it out and using garden centre-recommended spraying products.

#2 Blue Morning Glory

Blue morning glory is a national pest plant that thrives in tropical areas. It’s a high climbing vine with tough stems, fibrous roots, and silky, hairy leaves. Blue morning glory has an incredibly fast growth rate and can smother anything trying to grow around it.  

It can also be particularly devastating in forest areas where it can replace the floor with itself and kill everything in its path.

As pretty as it is, it’s not going to be good news for other plants next to it in your garden. You can pull it out, dig out the roots, and dispose of them at your local refuse transfer station.

#3 Boneseed

As pretty as boneseed can be with its gorgeous yellow daisy-like flowers, this is generally not a flower you want to have in your garden. Just a single boneseed bush can create up to 50,000 seeds annually and remain dormant in the soil for a decade.

Boneseed can quickly take over any garden and replace the delicate native plant species you were trying to grow. It’s best to hand-pull out the largest plants when they aren’t in seed and spray them with a weed-killing solution your local garden centre recommends.

#4 Elder (Elderberry)

Elder bushes are deciduous shrubs with green leaves and round fruits that can be black or green. As aesthetically pleasing as elder bushes can be, they are an incredibly invasive plant that likes to make itself at home among your other flowers.

Eventually, it will take over, disperse seeds, and become an ongoing problem that you have to tackle regularly. Fortunately, you can give elder bushes their marching orders by digging out the small plants and seedlings and mulching year-round.

#5 Formosa Lily

Formosa lily, originally from Taiwan, is a herbaceous plant with underground bulbs that produce annual shoots. They have smooth, long leaves and funnel-shaped flowers and are actually quite an attractive addition to most gardens.

However, it’s in your best interests not to welcome these flowers onto your property if you can avoid it. They spread easily, thrive in most environments, and win fights for space against native plants. You will see this play out in many settings like sand dunes, on the sides of roads, and in disturbed areas.

To get rid of Formosa lily, you’ll need to dig out the plants and remove the bulbs. Spraying with a garden-centre recommended solution may also be a wise idea.

#6 Mexican Daisy

Many gardeners have a soft spot for daisies, but the Mexican daisy is one you won’t want to be too welcoming for. This perennial daisy with narrow leaves and white or pink daisy-like flowers is a genuine pest.

They form dense mats wherever you grow them and produce seeds that can travel for miles. As they thrive in most environments, it can seem like there’s no stopping them once they start growing. A combination of spray and hand-digging while avoiding disturbing the soil is one of the best ways to get rid of Mexican daisies.

#7 Nasturtium

Nasturtium is a scrambling plant with vibrant green leaves and scarlet orange or yellow flowers. This plant is deceiving because it’s an attractive addition to any garden. Yet, it’s one we really don’t want.

Nasturtium can take over and smother low-growing habitats and can even prevent native plant seedlings from thriving. If you end up with nasturtium in your garden, pull up all the plants you can find and spray the area.

Take Care of Business

As beautiful as some flowers in your garden are, they aren’t all innocent. Some can be responsible for devastating a garden full of native plants in just days. Take action today! Talk to our Crewcut team to take care of your gardening needs.

Owning a home these days is certainly not a walk in the park. Most first home buyers often don’t know the work required to keep their newly purchased homes in shape and avoid costly repair and maintenance charges in the future.

They also focus more on improvements inside the house and often forget the outdoors, not realizing they complement each other and make a huge difference in the overall look and feel of your property.

We understand that you may be clueless about starting an outdoor maintenance routine, especially if you have never had to care for a space or property before.

This article will guide you through the things you need to do to maintain your home’s outer areas.

1.   Know When to Call in The Pros

You have already invested a lot to get here, so it wouldn’t be worth it to let all your efforts go to waste. At times, DIY methods may not be the most effective to take care of your outdoor maintenance needs. You may also be too busy or exhausted to take care of your outdoor space. This is no cause for alarm. If need be, leave the more challenging tasks like pest control, hardscaping, decluttering the garage, or tree removal to a pro.

Besides saving you time and energy, it also ensures that problems are detected and fixed early enough to give your outdoor space the look and care it deserves. Ensure that you do your research to hire the right person for the job.

2.   Take Care of Your Outdoor Lighting

It’s natural to depend on natural lighting during the day to showcase the beauty of the outdoors. However, when it gets dark, do you pick up your flashlight when you need to head out? First, you wouldn’t even feel secure heading out no matter how well you’ve fenced your yard and the darkness also increases chances of tripping. Just like taking care of your car’s headlights, you should handle your outdoor lighting with the same care and seriousness.

You can invest in energy-saving lighting to keep your utility bills low. You can install a porch light or a spotlight on your house that will cast light into the yard at night, as well as string lights on any fence or fixture for practical and aesthetic appeal. Conduct a light checkup every six months to ensure that the wiring is in place and that all the lighting systems are in place to enable the lights to function as they should. 

3.   Take Care of Your Lawn

Different regions experience different climate conditions, and you’re also dealing with different grass types depending on where you are. Also, does your yard get sufficient sunlight? Do your research to give your yard the level of care it needs. With this in mind, here’s how to do it:

• Invest in a good lawnmower

• Trim the grass regularly especially during high growth months to keep your lawn healthy

• Use fertilizers to replenish lost nutrients and boost your lawn

• Find a suitable provider in your area for regular lawn maintenance (like Crewcut!) if you can’t do it yourself

4.   Protect Your Outdoors from Invading Pests

Pests can be a real menace to any outdoor space. It can be easy to ignore the pests invading your outdoors until the day you need to enjoy your space and then realise that you can’t! Well, there could be several things attracting them to your grounds, some including; vegetation, standing water, rubbish, clogged gutters, woodpiles, etc.  

You must identify what is attracting them to your yard and deal with them as soon as possible before they build up. It’s wise to conduct a routine pest control check with the help of professionals to give the best treatment methods for them.

5.   Seal Gaps and Cracks

Your outdoor home space is susceptible to frequent changes in weather that can easily damage essential surfaces. Of course, the durability of the caulking or sealing solely depends on how old the building is, but still, you should inspect these at least once a year. Sealing those gaps certainly saves you extra utility costs, shields your interiors from pests, and can extend the life of your home’s internal structure.

Pay close attention, particularly to your windows and doors, and seal any holes or cracks that may have developed over time. One way of dealing with the cracks on your windows is by fitting blinds inside glass. This clever move will undoubtedly deal with those gaps, prevent your windows from wear and tear, keep your house cool, and perhaps increase your property’s value.

6.   Clear the Gutters

Clogged gutters are another big menace to your home. They can lead to severe home damage, especially to the foundation, structure, and an environment for mould in the basement, breeding ground for pests, etc. Clogged gutters can easily let in water into your home if not dealt with from time to time. Therefore, it’s essential to do a periodical routine clean-up and more so during autumn because of the fallen leaves. Remember that there are health and safety protocols involved in gutter cleaning at a certain height so make sure to check. Better yet, contact professional gutter cleaners to do it for you.

7.   Clean the Exteriors

Everyone sees and feels the freshness of a clean space. We mainly focus on indoor cleanliness and forget that the outdoors need the same attention. The outdoors don’t need frequent cleaning though. A more suitable alternative would be to break down the cleaning tasks into smaller tasks and tackle each after 1-2 weeks.

Cleaning up your stuff also includes decluttering your garage. The garage is where almost everything that’s not needed gets thrown to, and with time, it gets that unpleasant and cluttered look. So, don’t forget about it. Here are additional to do’s to clean up your home’s outdoors:

• Clean the rubbish bin to get rid of unwanted foul smells

• Give your siding a power wash, preferably with a pressure washer

• Clean your outdoor furniture, BBQ grill, and entertainment spots

• Give your fencing a regular cleanup

8.   Do an Exterior Repaint

Every home is different, and painting needs may vary, but certain aspects may help you know when it’s time to do an exterior repaint like:

• Home colour fade

• Cracked paint and caulk

• Colour choice

• Time factor

You’re advised to do a house repaint every 5-10 years since it also involves a lot of work. The ideal weather to repaint would also be in early summer and early fall to ensure the paint dries up properly with no surprises from a drizzle or a thunderstorm.

Anyone can be a homeowner, but how well you maintain your home tells a lot about you as an individual. It sure can be overwhelming to make that perfect, so don’t hesitate to call in the professionals to help you out once in a while. It’s your home, and you will be happy that you did it.

About the Guest Author

Jenn Walker is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey.

While apartments are popular in some of New Zealand’s largest cities, you still won’t find many Kiwis who would say no to having a yard to call their own.

However, with the sheer amount of maintenance they can often require, you might be tempted to rip up your lawn in favour of something more low maintenance, such as paving stones or concrete. Before you get stuck in, take a moment to consider whether having a lawn could be important – not only for you but the environment.

Rainwater Filtering

The next time your town or city experiences rainfall, and you shouldn’t have long to wait, take notice of what happens to rain on your lawn and paved areas. On a lush, well cared for lawn, water is absorbed into the soil and grass roots.

Unless the rainfall is particularly heavy, that’s where it generally remains. However, rain on pavement tends to react much differently. It pushes dirt, debris, stones, and other materials into your storm drain and beyond. With enough muck, storm drains can become blocked.

That’s not to say that having grass stops your storm drains from becoming blocked, but it gives the rainfall somewhere to go to be filtered of all those nasties, which is often its final destination.   

Air Filtering

If lawn wasn’t helpful enough in being able to filter your rainwater, it can also filter your air. Grass, like all plants, absorbs airborne pollutants like carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide. It then replaces them with oxygen which, of course, we use to breathe.

Lawn also filters the air by trapping dust, dirt, and smoke particles. Without it, you may be seeing all that dust and dirt scattered over your concrete areas, your home, and even on your windows.

Cooling Properties

In the heat of the summer sun, there’s something quite satisfying about tip-toeing across your concrete pathway to the soothing coolness of the lawn. The temperature difference can be significant and is definitely noticeable when you compare rural areas to cities.

Grass, plants, and trees all have the ability to cool down an area, whereas hard surfaces like concrete retain heat. If you live in a particularly warm part of the country, it may not be in your best interests to replace grass with hardscapes.

Soil Structure Improvement

For many homeowners, dealing with soil compaction can be frustrating. When it rains, water can pool on the surface, and it can also look quite unsightly. Growing lawn may prevent this from becoming a problem.

As grass grows through pores in the soil, it’s helping it to remain loose and crumbly. This allows the soil to absorb more water while providing a healthier foundation for the grass to grow. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship with the earth helping the lawn and the lawn helping the earth.

Wildlife Benefits

While not everyone likes sharing their lawn with insects and birds, you can be doing your local wildlife a favour. The more lawn area you have, the wider the variety of delicious snacks for birds that can be present, like worms. You then get to enjoy knowing you’ve done your part for the wildlife in your area.

Noise Pollution Reduction

It’s not hard to see how grass could function as a form of noise insulation. Compare the sounds of children playing happily in a fully concrete schoolyard between buildings and a grass play area between buildings. Noises can bounce off all-concrete surfaces, whereas adding grass in the mix allows for some of that sound to be absorbed.

How Much Do Lawns Cost in NZ?

If your property doesn’t have a lawn, but you’d like one, you might be wondering how much they cost. That depends on how quickly you want to see results and whether you want to manage the entire growing process yourself.

A cost-effective option like hydroseeding works out at around $15+ a metre, with a small garden costing as much as $400. However, all the hard work is done for you, and grass growth can happen in as little as a week.

Otherwise, you might look at ready-lawn, which is around $30+ a metre and is pre-grown before it reaches your property.

Worried About Lawn Maintenance?

You might already understand just how many benefits are associated with having a lawn, but there might be one niggling thought at the back of your mind: the sheer amount of work that goes into maintaining it.

Grass is a lot easier to maintain than you might think, but it’s okay not to want to spend your free time mowing, de-thatching, and making sure it’s in optimum health. In that case, you can hire lawn care experts to take care of your lawn’s general care instead.

You get to enjoy all the benefits of having a lawn, like soil health, water and air filtering, and wildlife, but without worrying about cranking up the lawnmower on a Saturday morning. Why not check out lawn care experts near you?

Wouldn’t it be nice to come home to a beautiful backyard that offers somewhere for you and the family to relax? Sometimes, you have the space for such a backyard, but you lack the inspiration to create something magical that becomes the envy of all your neighbours. 

If you’re asking yourself: how can I make my backyard better? Then you’re in the right place. Keep reading to learn about some of the most effective ways to turn an ordinary yard into something extraordinary.

1. Plant a New Tree in Your Backyard

Unless you’ve purchased a well-established home with a backyard bursting with flora, you may not have a tree. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have one.

Trees bring so much value to any property while providing shelter, shade, privacy, and even oxygen. Did you know one tree can provide a full day of oxygen for a family of four?

While trees can take many years to grow from seedlings, you can also purchase reasonably well-established ones to speed up the process. You could have that dream tyre swing in no time.

2. Add Outdoor Furniture

When your backyard is a blank canvas, there are opportunities galore for improvement. Why not start with outdoor furniture, and maybe even a hammock or swing?

The best part is, when you ask: how can I make my backyard beautiful on a low budget? Outdoor furniture appears as a solution more often than not.

While purchasing a brand new outdoor furniture set is an option, you can also pick up many high-quality sets secondhand. Once you decide where to put it, an entire backyard theme can be realised, allowing for an easier landscaping journey.

3. Put Up a Fence

Without a fence, it’s not always easy to know where your property boundary ends, and your neighbour’s begins. However, this isn’t the only reason to consider putting up a fence.

Fences and hedges can help you build a better backyard or front yard by offering an incredible amount of security and privacy. You can entertain friends and family in the comfort of your property without having to worry about being your neighbours’ form of entertainment.

Best of all, there’s no shortage of options to suit the style of your home. There’s something for everyone, from white picket fences and corrugated iron, to wood panels, concrete block, and brick.

4. Create an Outdoor Living Space

There’s something quite refreshing about having bare grass from which to create your perfectly landscaped yard. However, it’s not always easy to come up with ideas and bring them to life.

Starting with your outdoor living space may be one of the best decisions you can make. When you purchase outdoor furniture, you can begin to form an area with outdoor lighting, art pieces, pavers, gravel, low-care plants, and even a cooking station like an outdoor kitchen or barbecue.

5. Install a Water Feature

One of the best things we can do for ourselves and our families is prioritising our mental health. That’s why many homeowners are starting to see the value in building a backyard that can become a retreat for rest and relaxation.

To assist with this process, consider installing a water feature in your backyard. Studies have already shown that nature, including the trickling of water, can impact stress regulation while slowing down our stress response and promoting feelings of calm.

You can also pair a water feature with ponds, water lilies, a seating area, and lighting. When you’re having a particularly stressful day, you’ve then got a nice spot to sit and destress.

6. Put Thought into Plants

With plenty of options for outdoor living and entertainment, it’s now time to focus on the plants you’d like to use to tie the entire look together.

Many homeowners prefer easy-care and low-maintenance plants like grasses and tussocks. When paired with stones, they can be both contemporary and aesthetically pleasing. Before you venture into your local garden store, consider sketching out a plan.

Calculate how many plants you’ll need, the volume of landscaping materials like gravel and mulch, and whether you’ll use garden boxes, your ground, or pots. The more you plan, the easier it can be to know what you need to shop for and remain within your budget.

7. Ask for Help

As much as Aotearoa is a nation of DIYers, that doesn’t mean we all are. Sometimes, we’ve got great ideas but not the skills to bring them to life. Fortunately, no matter where you live in NZ, you’ll likely find someone to help.

Lawn care experts can help with hedge trimming, garden clean-ups, lawn mowing, and more, while builders will likely be more than happy to lend a helping hand with building a fence. As daunting as the prospect might be of creating your dream low-cost backyard, it can be entirely achievable with a few wise ideas and the right people for the job.

Not everyone has the time and, let’s face it, the desire to hit the gym. We all know that experts recommend two and a half hours of moderate exercise throughout the week, but the thought of working up a sweat on a treadmill in a crowded gym is many people’s idea of torture.

While exercise is necessary, there are plenty of ways to get it, and one such way is lawn mowing. Who knew that by doing something many of us have to do, we’re burning calories?

Burn Calories While Mowing the Lawns

The average person can burn between 350 and 450 calories pushing a mower for a single hour. Even using a ride-on mower can help you reach your goals, allowing you to burn between 175 and 225 calories an hour.

So, if you were to get into the lawn mowing business and mow for an hour each day, you would be able to burn up to 3,150 calories in a single week!

Summer is also one of the best times to mow the lawn, but it’s also when we like to be socialising, indulging in cheeseboards, and drinking our favourite summer beverages. Offset some of those caloric gains by setting time aside for lawn mowing and other garden tasks.  

You’re probably thinking that you can’t mow your lawns every day if you’re not a lawn mowing business owner, and you’d be right. However, there are other ways to burn calories by pottering around your garden.

You can burn 107 calories by simply watering your lawn or garden and up to 272 by raking your lawn or leaves, using a moderate amount of effort. Those who like to use a push applicator to apply fertilizer or lawn seed can also burn up to 179 calories.

Walking with a hand mower allows you to burn the most calories out of all garden tasks at 430, while general garden tasks come in second at up to 394. Sacking leaves and using a power mower might also allow you to work off the equivalent of an English muffin breakfast, which is up to about 400 calories.

And What About the Mental Benefits?

Gardening for mental health has appeared in countless studies, so you’re reaping more than just the physical rewards when you venture out into your yard and get stuck into some chores.

Hospital studies of 79 patients found that people felt more relaxed, calmer, stronger, and more refreshed when spending time with plants. Other studies showed that gardening is an ideal stress relief option while also potentially improving your attention span.

Take Care With Summer Mowing

Knowing that accelerated grass growth is expected during the warmer months of the year, you might find yourself behind the handle of a mower more often than not during summer. Even though enjoying a nice-looking lawn and burning calories can be your main priorities, it’s essential to focus on how the heat of the day might be affecting your physical health.

Take frequent breaks to avoid overheating, particularly if you have a large area to mow. Make sure you drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen to avoid getting sunburnt.

If you are using lawn mowing as a weight-loss tool, consult your doctor before beginning any exercise or diet programme. Mowing your own lawn once a week may not see the need for medical intervention, but mowing everyone else’s in a lawn care business role might require a doctor’s approval, depending on any health conditions you may have.

Be Comfortable While Burning Calories

Exercise isn’t always going to be comfortable, but using lawn mowing as a way to burn calories doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. Before you get started, make sure you and your mower are fit for the job.

Make sure you have proper posture and techniques while mowing to avoid injuries and make the task easier. When using any gardening tools, like mowers, weed eaters, line trimmers, and similar, choose ones to suit your height. The more suited they are to your body, the more comfortable you can be.

Finally, if you’re keen to burn calories but also get out of the summer sunshine as quickly as possible, pay attention to your mowing habits. Start on one side of your property and work your way to the other. The same goes for other gardening tasks like hedge trimming, weeding, and general garden tidy-ups.

Or, Burn Calories Doing Something Fun

Let’s face it; property maintenance is not everyone’s idea of fun. You can burn calories mowing lawns, but you can also burn them swimming at a pool or sauntering down your local beach. There is always the option to leave all yard maintenance tasks in the capable hands of lawn care experts. They not only love burning calories but seeing a job well done.

One of the most infamous tools in the avid gardener’s toolkit is the leaf blower.

This mighty, noisy, and dirty piece of equipment was the genius solution to the labour-intensive rake and broom, but could we be due to make a move back to them?

Is the leaf blower really as bad as people make it out to be? Well, you’re about to find out.

What is a Leaf Blower?

A leaf blower is a gardening tool that uses an electric or gas motor to move debris, such as dust, dirt, grass cuttings, and leaves, away from where you don’t want it to be.

Rather than spending a long time spreading dust around your yard with a broom, you can move it with speed and accuracy with one blast of this handy tool. Within just a few years of its invention, hundreds of thousands of models were flying off hardware store shelves.

Why Do People Hate Leaf Blowers?

People hate leaf blowers for a number of reasons, which we’ll cover in a small amount of detail below. However, to put it into just one statement: because they’re considered noisy, dirty, and downright annoying.

The Noise

Some people are so fed up with the noise made by leaf blowers that they have even created petitions for them to be banned. In a Change.org petition destined for the Departments of Agriculture in Australia, 812 people signed in solidarity with someone who was tired of being exposed to noise (and air) pollution created by leaf blowers.

According to the petition starter, Karina Bright, residents in densely populated areas were frequently being woken up to the sound of leaf blowers and the smell of petrol exhausts to start their day. While the operators were using earmuffs and masks, everyone else around them was left to listen to their horrendous noise.

Leaf blowers are also banned in several towns and cities throughout the United States due to how much they disturb the peace.

However, where there’s a problem, there’s a solution. Any keen gardener with no time to rake up every individual leaf may feel better when they learn manufacturers have been working hard on the noise problem.

Both gas and electric leaf blowers are up to about 75% quieter than their older counterparts, with some producing as little as 65dBA. That’s about as loud as a normal conversation, a business office, or slightly louder than a household refrigerator.

The Air Pollution

It’s true that leaf blowers are not as clean as a broom or rake, but that doesn’t mean they are as dirty as they used to be when they first hit the market. Technology has come a long way. Modern leaf blowers have to meet exhaust emission requirements, so there’s simply no room for the ‘dirty’ garden implements of days gone by.

What’s more, many people are swapping heavy, maintenance-intensive gas leaf blowers for electric and battery-powered models. While not as powerful, they are cleaner, easier to maintain, and suitable for residential property owners and business owners who don’t want to spend hours on the end of a broom each day.

How to Buy the Best Leaf Blower

With your neighbours potentially getting ready to storm your yard with their pitchforks, it’s essential to do your research before purchasing a new leaf blower.  

Considering people are petitioning to have them banned, it’s worth making sure the model you buy mitigates some of the most common problems people have with them. Alternatively, you can always hire lawn care experts who can manage all your lawn care tasks for you.

Choose Battery or Electric

Even though petrol-powered leaf blowers can be far more powerful than many battery and electric models, there are plenty of reasons why battery and electric models may be a better choice. You can typically enjoy up to around half an hour of battery life with a battery-powered blower or endless electricity if you purchase an electric corded model.

Battery and electric blowers also tend to be cleaner, quieter, and easier to maintain, solving many problems typically associated with the gruntier gas models.

Consider Noise Levels

Modern-day blower manufacturers are going above and beyond to ensure their new leaf blowers are at an acceptable noise level. While you will never come across a quiet leaf blower, you will find models that are much quieter than others. Don’t forget to purchase ear and eye protection, especially ear protection for models over 85dBA.

Look At Accessories

Even though the leaf blower is the essential part of the package, there’s no harm in considering which accessories come with it. Typically, you can purchase leaf blowers with narrow nozzles that boost blowing power and hooked tubes that allow you to clean gutters. You might even be able to buy blowers with hoses that will enable you to blow your debris directly into a bin.

Leave Lawn Care to the Experts

Whether you want to avoid a battle with your neighbours, or you’d rather not worry about lawn care at all, hire lawn mowing companies to help. They can take care of annoying autumn leaves, lawn mowing, gardening, tree trimming, and more. All you need to focus on is enjoying the fruits of their labour.

Few yard additions are as convenient and versatile as garden sheds. They are useful for homeowners without garaging, provide protection for outdoor equipment, and don’t cost the earth.

But even if you know you could benefit from a garden shed, you might still have a few questions. We’ll attempt to answer some of the most common ones below so that you can be ready to make a garden shed purchase with complete confidence.

Why Do You Need a Garden Shed?

A common misconception is that you would only need a garden shed if you’re an avid gardener. After all, you need somewhere to store your hedge trimming equipment and potting supplies.

The truth is, due to the sheer number of options on the market, you can buy a garden shed for almost everything. Clear clutter out of the yard by buying one for the kids’ outdoor toys and bikes. You might even purchase a purpose-built motorbike shed if you want to keep your dirt bikes out of the elements.

Some homeowners like storing their lawn mowers in garden sheds, or even buying them to keep firewood dry, to protect swimming pool pumps, and to cook food on a grill without stinking the house out. You might even want one just because everyone has one, and that’s okay too.

Do Garden Sheds Need a Base?

As most garden sheds for sale don’t come with bases, you may be wondering if you need one. It’s easy to assume that you don’t since they aren’t included in the purchase price.

However, a base is necessary for a number of reasons. Your grass or soil may not be level, which means your shed may not sit straight or even stable on the ground. Without a base, you may also find that water seeps underneath, potentially damaging whatever you’re trying to protect inside.

Most kitset garden sheds in NZ won’t come with bases because all homeowners have different preferences. Some people would prefer something more permanent to sit their shed on, such as concrete, while others might be satisfied with cobblestones or pavers.  

You can also purchase timber flooring, which can be suitable for storing ride-on mowers, landscaping equipment, gardening tools, and more. If you want something easy to keep clean in case of fuel or oil leakage, you may opt for a smooth concrete pad that you can water blast.

What’s the Cheapest Type of Shed?

When you’re on a budget, being able to buy a cheap shed is a priority. If you’re only going to be housing a few bits and pieces in it, you may not see the need to purchase anything too fancy. 

You can generally find the most cost-effective options tend at hardware stores and large retailers. They keep costs low by buying in bulk quantities, then pass their savings onto customers. You may also find some incredible deals through small local businesses. 

It’s worth keeping in mind that some of the most affordable sheds may not be suitable for your area or needs. For example, a steel garden shed with no steel protection may succumb to the elements in a coastal area, while a thin steel shed may not withstand adverse weather conditions in high-wind regions. 

The cost of a garden shed can also depend on its size and locking mechanisms. The larger and more robust it is, the more you can expect to pay. Keep this in mind when you start shopping because, ultimately, you get what you pay for.

What Size Shed Am I Allowed?

Council rules and regulations have changed in recent years, which means you may not be sure how big your garden shed can be before you start to break the rules. Most councils in New Zealand will allow you to build basic structures like sheds and sleepouts of up to 30m2 without the need for a permit.

However, your garden shed or structure must still be compliant with New Zealand rules, such as having electricians and plumbers for specialist work. You must also make sure your structure complies with the NZ Building Code.

Fortunately, when you’re buying a kitset garden shed, you don’t often need to pore through pages and pages of building code rules. You simply need to follow the provided instructions and ensure where you’re placing the shed is in an appropriate place.  

Any shed, garage, or sleepout, must be its own height away from neighbouring properties. For example, if your shed is two metres tall, it must be two metres from your boundary.

Time to Go Shopping

Lawnmowers, garden tools, and even the kids’ toys all need a place to live once you’re finished using them outside. If you don’t have a garage or lack storage space, now might be the right time to measure out a place in your yard for a new garage shed and go shopping.

Most of us are beginning to understand the importance of reducing our carbon footprint. Alongside using battery-powered power tools and lawn mowers and driving electric cars, there’s more we can be doing in our own backyard.

Did you know you can make smart choices with your outdoor waste to benefit nature and your property? Make your yard waste greener with some of these techniques below.

Start Composting

Nutrient-rich soil is something we can purchase from our local garden stores with ease. Although, it’s also something we can be making at home, purely with what nature has already given us. Dedicate a section of your yard to composting or purchase composting containers that can assist with the process.

Once you have an area to create your nutrient-rich soil, you can get to work. Fill it with grass clippings, leaves, food scraps, and other compostable materials that can break down over time. Even a worm farm can be a worthwhile addition as you start your new composting journey.

Alongside providing you with healthy soil for your plants, composting also provides a myriad of other benefits, such as lower methane emissions from landfills, suppressed plant diseases, less rubbish going to landfill, a reduced need for chemical fertiliser, and more.

Use Water With Care

Access to clean water is a necessity, yet many people go without. Here in Aotearoa, we’re fortunate to have access to an abundance of fresh, clean drinking water. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t face shortages from time to time.

Use water with care by watering your plants with rainwater rather than water from the tap. You can even create a rain garden to filter stormwater runoff and stop it from entering lakes, streams, and rivers.

Fortunately, it’s easy to create a barrel water collection system, with many tank kits available from places like The Warehouse and Mitre 10. You can then position this in the most convenient part of your yard for easy plant watering.

Plant Drought-Resistant Plants

It’s only natural to want a beautiful garden filled with vibrant flowers that put a smile on your face. However, some varieties are only suitable for some climates. Rather than watering your plants year-round with precious drinking water, consider planting drought-resistant plants that require less care.

Several varieties can liven up your landscape, which means you don’t have to resort to other less hardy varieties. Succulents, agapanthus, flaxes, grasses, and even libertia may all be plant options you consider.

Cut Down on Chemicals

You might think that the only way to achieve a healthy, thriving lawn and garden is by investing in chemicals. While these might help, they are not always the best choice for the environment. Fortunately, you can enjoy green lawns with green lawn care techniques.

Natural is the way to go

Switch to organic fertilisers that only need annual or semi-annual application. Improving your soil can also lay an excellent foundation for plant growth, potentially doing away with the need for chemical additions to improve its health.

There are plenty of small things you can do to promote soil health, such as:

• Using organic mulch

• Encouraging earthworms

• Making your own compost

Use Mulch

Mulch can be a magical material when it comes to your property’s overall health. It can improve soil fertility, health, and even the aesthetic appeal of your garden. However, it can also assist with moisture retention in your soil. This benefit alone can save a significant amount of water. Given its ability to suppress weed growth, you may also be able to save yourself hours of weeding in the garden.

Attract Wildlife

With deforestation and a loss of flora, our wildlife is running out of places to call home. If you’re able to do so, consider replacing turf grass with native plants. These plants not only look beautiful but give creatures a much-needed place to call theirs.

Plant Trees

Trees have many benefits, such as producing oxygen, reducing stormwater runoff, and reducing erosion. They also give wildlife the food, protection, and shelter they need to survive and thrive. Even you can benefit when you plant trees at home.

They can be a source of privacy while also providing much-needed shelter on those hot summer days. If you’re unsure about upkeep, you can hire professionals to assist with their health and trimming needs.

Hire Crewcut for Green Waste Removal

If you don’t have somewhere satisfactory to store your green waste, and you’re already doing all you can to make your yard waste greener, there’s no harm in calling in the experts.  

Crewcut provides a garden bag and green waste service in many regions across the country to make your life just that little bit easier. Crewcut is committed to environmental sustainability, which means they are able to turn your green waste into compost on your behalf. Why not find out more about their green waste service today?

It’s not hard to see why water features NZ-wide are becoming a more common sight. They enhance your local ecosystem, attract wildlife, require minimal maintenance, and bring the sound of nature directly to your doorstep.

Although, as desirable as water features can be in the average Kiwi backyard, not everyone knows how to go from simply admiring them in public places to having one themselves. Sometimes, it can be as simple as doing your homework and considering some of this information below.

What Are Water Features?

Water features are essentially a customisable landscaping feature that can become a focal point in the average backyard. They can be either a pond or fountain, or even a waterfall or stream, with a range of materials like rocks, stones, and plants, to tie the entire look together.

You can also purchase fountain kits with submersible water feature pumps to ensure the water circulates and remains fresh and clean. It’s not necessarily challenging to make your own water feature, but it can require a significant amount of research to determine the style, type, and size of the water feature you prefer.

Best Water Features

You can’t walk into your local garden centre and ask to purchase the best water feature they have available. The ‘best’ is a subjective term. Some people utilise what they have in their natural environment, while others purchase ready-made water features and incorporate them into their backyard.

Tanks and Troughs

If you have old tanks or troughs lying around your property, you may like to put them to good use by making a vibrant water feature. You can fill them with pebbles and plant beautiful flowers around the outside for a touch of softness.

Garden Ponds

Garden ponds are also a popular option. You can make them yourself or call in your local landscaping experts. Making a garden pond can be as simple as cutting out a shape in the earth, lining it with plastic, adding a pump, and beautifying it with plants and rocks. You may even like to incorporate a fountain or rill for both visual and audio benefits. 

Water Fountains

If you’re not one to carve up your backyard or install complicated technology, you can still have a beautiful water fountain. You can purchase ready-made ones, and these often have a variety of attractive materials incorporated into their design, like stone monoliths and metal spheres.

Pebble Piles

In recent years, homeowners looking for simple water features in NZ have been building simple pebble piles. Purchase or acquire stones and pebbles and conceal a pump underneath them. Water shoots up through the rocks, then artfully makes its way down to the bottom of the pebble pile again.

Plants For Water Features

No water feature is complete without gorgeous plants in or around it. Fortunately, there are so many beautiful options at your disposal. You can opt for a more traditional water feature plant, like lotuses, or go for that more contemporary vibe with Acorus Gramineus or water lilies.

Some garden centres specialise in water feature plants, so you’ll likely always have expert help available when you need it.

Best Rocks For Water Features

Just like plants and the water feature style itself, the best rocks for your water feature is a personal choice. What suits your preferences and property may not suit someone else’s. Fortunately, your water feature can be unique.

You can purchase ready-made water features with rocks incorporated into the design or purchase the rocks separately to form yourself. From alpine schist and quarry rock to grit and chip, decorative glass, and walking stones like Paradise and Waitaha, you’re spoilt for choice.

How to Choose the Best Water Feature For You

Given the sheer volume of options on the market, not to mention your customisation options, you may not know how to choose the best water feature for you. In most situations, you just have to factor a few different things into the equation, such as these below.

Available Space

You may have dreams of a water feature just like the iconic Friends fountain, but does your space allow? Self-contained fountains are ideal for courtyards and patio areas, while large ponds and pools could work in wide, open spaces.

Style Preferences

Some people prefer the elegance of traditional and classic water features, while others prefer the crisp, cleanness of modern ones. You can significantly narrow down your options by thinking about which you prefer.

Budget

If you’re undertaking a complete landscaping renovation, you may not want to spend huge amounts on a water feature. Your budget can determine the size, scale, and even whether you buy a ready-made one or build one yourself.

Garden water feature goals

Where to Put a Water Feature

Where you put your water feature can depend on your property type, why you want one in the first place, and whether it requires electricity. If you’re running an electric pump, you will need to have it close to an electricity point and consider how much excavation you will need to do.

If your whole reason for having a water feature is to have it be a focal point, then position it somewhere it can be viewed and enjoyed. A front or back garden, encircling entertainment areas or plants may be a suitable choice. Landscaping experts can also advise on the best locations if you are unsure.

Time for a Water Feature?

Water features like ponds and fountains can elevate any small or large yard. If you’re looking for creative landscaping ideas, now might be an excellent time to consider this information above and start looking for a beautiful water feature that stands out from the crowd.  

Every time you step foot in your garden, you’ll see different insects wiggling, crawling, and scrambling across the soil. Although, one little critter you will probably see every time you start pulling out weeds is spiders.

We’re fortunate here in New Zealand to avoid some of the more deadly creatures like snakes, but spiders are still something many of us would rather not see. However, if we knew a bit more about them, we may be more inclined to leave them to their own devices. Read on for some interesting spider facts you may not have known.

What spiders are in New Zealand gardens?

Off the top of your head, how many spiders can you name? Probably not as many are actually present in New Zealand and our average gardens. According to HealthEd, there are approximately 2,500 known spider species in New Zealand. Fortunately, most of them are harmless.

Out of all 2,500, there are perhaps three that are cause for concern: the Redback, White-tailed Spider, and Katipo. 

Both the Redback and Katipo come from the same genus as the American black widow spider. They are both venomous, with the female of each type being capable of biting humans. Bites are rare, but there is an antivenom available for Redback and Katipo bites if they occur. 

White-tailed spiders are identifiable by the white tips at the ends of their abdomens. When they bite, they can cause itchiness, swelling, and pain. In some rare situations, they have also caused nausea, vomiting, and headaches.

White-tailed spider bites tend to resolve on their own over time. Although, if you are concerned, speak to your GP for advice.

Outside of those top three feared spiders, our gardens are home to various harmless species like slater spiders, jumping spiders, and vagrant spiders.

Why do we have spiders in our gardens?

While many spiders prefer to take up residence in our homes and local forests, some choose our gardens as their whares. You may have realised this accidentally when disturbing mulch in the garden or taking care of weeding.

Spiders, like many animals in the ecosystem, are essential. They become more active from around springtime onward and arrive just in time to take care of pests that attempt to wreak havoc on your plants.

They’re not fussy about what they eat, which is good news when you’re trying to find vegetables that critters haven’t ravaged. If you want to put as much distance between you and the spiders as possible, here are some of their most popular hangouts:

• Underneath pavers, pots, rocks, and garden ornaments like birdbaths

• Underneath dense scrub and garden logs

• In trees

• Near drain pipes

• Inside fencing

Should I worry about spiders in my backyard?

Unless you have an infestation of venomous spiders in your backyard, they don’t tend to be creatures to fear. In saying that, a tiny spider here and there is very different from large infestations that are beginning to take over your home. 

If your local spider population is no longer content hanging out in your backyard and, instead, are making themselves comfortable in your home, then it could be in your best interests to look for a solution. We’ll cover what that solution might be below.

Should I get rid of spiders in my garden?

If you want to strike a balance between pest insects and spiders, it may not be wise to get rid of all the spiders in your garden. Although, if you’ve noticed dozens of them while performing garden tidy-ups, there are things you can do to give as many of them their marching orders as possible.

Outside your home, you can apply a bug or spider spray that you purchased from your local garden store. You can use it around exterior walls, window frames, pergolas, vents, door frames, and essentially anywhere that spiders and other pest insects may be outside.

You can then wait around two days before removing all of their webs and enjoying a surprise-free gardening experience. You may also like to make some changes to your home environment to ensure your property is not as desirable as it was before.

Remove spider webs regularly, and refrain from leaving items outside for spiders to make webs in, such as helmets, shoes, and sports gear. When the colder weather hits, move outdoor furniture inside.

Signs that you might have a spider infestation

It’s not always easy to know whether you’ve just been unlucky in seeing spiders or if you’ve genuinely got an infestation. Although, these signs below can point to the latter:  

• Lots of spider webs

• Living or dead adult and spiderlings (babies)

• Egg sacs

• Grey or brown faeces that stain surfaces

• Cast skins of adults and spiderlings

Tips on keeping your children safe around spiders

Even though we have very few dangerous spiders in Aotearoa, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth having a few safety measures in place to keep your whanau safe. Always:

• Check indoor, outdoor, and lawn areas before using (especially with children)

• Wear closed-toe shoes and gloves when gardening

• Check underneath furniture before moving it with your hands

• Move pavers, pots, and other garden ornaments with care

• Avoid going into the garden at night when spiders are most active

Live happily with spiders

As long as they aren’t infesting your home, taking over your garden, or are venomous, there’s every reason to believe you can live happily with spiders.

As terrifying as they can be, most spider varieties can take good care of your plants by eating all your pest insects. You don’t have to welcome them into your home, but accepting they’re always going to be there is how you can warm up to the idea of sharing your property with these eight-legged critters.

Privacy is one of the earliest considerations many of us make when purchasing or building a new home. After all, we want to enjoy our backyards without the whole neighbourhood watching.   

With that in mind, you may start to wonder whether a hedge for privacy is a worthwhile consideration. While there is nothing wrong with a fence, those who are not in a hurry for property privacy may ponder a more natural solution.

Read on to learn about the most common plant types to use as hedges in NZ. You can then be on your way to a more private and peaceful backyard paradise.

Eugenia Ventenati – Lilly Pilly Variety

One of the most popular hedge types in NZ is the eugenia ventenati, also known as a form of Lilly Pilly. This hedge type is not only vibrant in its colouring but grows tall to provide an immense amount of privacy.

It’s fast-growing so that you can benefit from privacy sooner rather than later, and it thrives in full sun with free-draining soil. When your Lilly Pilly hedge is young, and even as it grows, it will require some care.

Don’t forget to keep it well-watered in the summer while it’s young and prune it regularly. If you’re not sure how to undertake hedge trimming to help your hedge form a dense screen, consult a lawn care company for assistance.

Mountain Green Pittosporum Tenuifolum

If you’re on the fence, pardon the pun, about choosing a fence or hedge, the Mountain Green Pittosporum Tenuifolum may help you decide. This beautiful New Zealand native hybrid is all about natural beauty and privacy.

In the right conditions, meaning full sun and well-drained soil, it can grow up to around two metres, if not higher. You also only need to carry out hedge trimming in spring to keep it looking at its best.

Griselinia Littoralis Broadway Mint

Suppose you live somewhere coastal or with minimal annual rainfall. In that case, set your sights on the Griselinia Littoralis. This beautiful New Zealand native oozes appeal while also offering the added advantage of growing fast for privacy. 

It can grow up to around 4 x 2 metres and thrives in full sun. While it can be a little fussy about soil types, you can’t go wrong with free-draining soil packed full of organic matter.

There can be quite a lot involved in planting and maintaining hedges, so don’t be afraid to contact hedge trimming experts to lend a hand if you need help with your Broadway Mint.  

Pittosporum Tenuifolium Wrinkle Blue

Anyone looking for the best plant type in NZ to use as a hedge will likely see Wrinkle Blue at the top of their wish list. This Pittosporum Tenuifolium is an ideal option for hedging and shrub borders.

It grows beautifully in full sun with a striking blue-green glossy foliage, and it requires minimal care to thrive. Simply plant it in well-drained soil, water it until it’s well-established, and ask your local gardening expert about nutrients it may need.

Once it’s fully established, Blue Wrinkle can grow up to around 2.5 x 1.5 metres – the perfect height and width for backyard privacy.

Chilean Guava

Not everyone needs a hedge for privacy in NZ. Sometimes, they want something that functions as a property border while adding to their yard’s aesthetic appeal. In that case, turn your attention to the Chilean Guava.

This stunning plant used to be popular in England in the 1800s and has started taking off here in Aotearoa. You can grow it as a shrub but turn it into a formal hedge akin to box hedging with care and training. 

Unlike many of the most popular hedge types in New Zealand, Chilean Guava is a giver. Not only does it spruce up your property, but it produces tangy and tasty fruit the kids are bound to love.

The best time to prune your Chilean Guava is after it has fruited. You can then work towards a more formal shape as it thrives. Once it’s mature, it can reach a height of around 0.6 metres.

Corokia Geentys Ghost  

A hard frost, high winds, and arid summers can bring the hardiest hedge to its knees. But not the Corokia Geentys Ghost. This sturdy all-around hedge thrives in the most challenging climates, making it suitable for growth in many parts of New Zealand.

While it does love full sun, it’s more than satisfied with your average, everyday garden soil in whatever weather conditions. You can also use it as a shrub or grow it into a full hedge that reaches heights of around two metres.

Get Stuck In

It’s not always easy to decide whether you prefer a fence or hedge for your new home. However, what might make it easier is knowing that there are plenty of suitable options out there.

Even the care of your hedge can be managed with the help of experts. What’s holding you back? Start shopping for the perfect hedge plants today and get that new property border underway.

If you’ve started ticking off renovation projects around your yard, you may find yourself eventually hitting your gardens. If they aren’t in the best shape, it’s only natural to begin looking at different landscaping materials to establish which one is going to offer the most attractive finish. 

Although, aside from the aesthetics, there can be much more to consider. If you’re tossing up between bark, stones, wood chips, or something else, here is what you need to know.

Bark Mulch

There’s something quite charming about bark mulch in a garden, with beautiful plants gently nestled in between. Although, before you decide that this is the right landscaping product for you, it’s worth being aware of bark mulch pros and cons.

Many people love bark because it aids in moisture retention. If you’re trying to make sure your plants can thrive, bark can undoubtedly help. It’s also available in various types to suit the look of your property while also helping with drainage and weed reduction.

In saying that, there are a few disadvantages of bark mulch. Birds love it. They will happily carry away small pieces of bark until you have to top up your garden beds. Light bark can also blow away in the wind, and it can eventually break down.

In saying that, if you went for a combination of stone and mulch landscaping materials, you might be able to cut down how many of the disadvantages you experience for yourself.

Wood chips as mulch in a garden

Wood Chips

Many people ask the question, “are pine wood chips good for mulch?” and the answer is yes, they are. Pine mulch chips, and even pine needles and shredded pine can benefit your plants’ health and performance. They help with erosion, weed control, soil moisture, and the general aesthetics of your garden.

Although, if you’re wondering is it OK to put mulch next to your house, then we recommend that you don’t. In normal landscape conditions and especially during hot, dry summers, pinewood chips can be combustible. 

If your heart is set on using wood chips, you can set it up within five to 30 feet of structures or in small areas separated by non-combustible materials. Look up rock and mulch landscape pictures, and you may find something that will suit the look of your property.  

Rock as mulch for your garden

Stones and Rocks

If you have a drip irrigation system installed in your garden, or your plants don’t require a lot of water, you may consider stone mulch for your property. Stones are attractive and, with the help of a weed mat, can assist in keeping those pesky weeds at bay.  

Even if you’re not used to seeing stones in your garden, flower beds with rocks instead of mulch can look quite attractive. You can also get creative with your plants, opting for succulents rather than common annuals and perennials. 

If you are still on the fence about whether you’ll opt for bark or stones for your garden, know that they both have pros and cons. Stones may not help with moisture retention as much, but they don’t blow away in the wind or pose a fire hazard.

What Are My Other Options?

After reading through landscaping pros and cons of rocks vs. mulch, you may decide that neither option appeals. Fortunately, you can also make your own mulch. Not only is it more affordable than rocks and bark, but it can offer much-needed nutrients that your soil may be lacking.

Can you identify these mulch options?

Some of the best ingredients for mulch, many of which you’ll have around the home, include:

• Compost

• Sawdust

• Newspaper

• Lawn clippings

• Pea straw

Note: Organic materials break down. You may need to create new mulch for each growing season.

How to Calculate How Much Landscaping Materials You Need

Working out how much bark or stones you require for your gardens can be hard work. You could hazard a guess, but there’s always a risk that you’ll purchase too much or not enough.

Fortunately, there are plenty of online calculators that can help. All you need to do is type “how do you calculate landscaping material?” into Google or another search engine. 

With most online calculation tools, you simply need to find out the length of the area you require bark or stones for, its width, and the depth. These figures will help you establish the area, perimeter, and volume.

It’s Time to Start Landscaping

There is no single winner when it comes to the best landscaping materials in NZ. Bark is, of course, an aesthetically pleasing option, but so are rocks. Even pine wood chips have their place, as long as homeowners take care to use them wisely.

Remember, you can also ask a landscaping and lawn care expert for their opinion. They will be only too happy to share their advice. Happy landscaping, everyone!

People are all looking to save a little extra money on bills and expenses. At the same time, many are also looking to reduce our environmental footprint. One of the easiest yet most impactful ways to make this happen is by reducing water consumption. With drought issues cropping up in New Zealand and beyond, homeowners are continuously looking for ways to save water in their homes.

Thankfully, technology comes to the rescue, and there are plenty of feature-packed devices and tools you can get for the home that will allow you to conserve water in a breeze. 

Low-Flow Plumbing Hardware

When it comes to your faucets and showerheads, you tend to waste a lot of water without even realising it. Opting for low-flow options helps you instantly reduce the amount of water flowing through your home. Typically, you can expect to save a few bucks on your water bill as most models reduce usage up to 40% without impacting the way you would usually shower or wash your hands. Many low-flow models have the capabilities to be paired with sensors and in-home technology that reduces even more usage or touch-sensitive controls to regulate water usage. 

Detecting Leaks Before They Happen

Not only is a leak detector an excellent idea for any home to prevent significant and costly damage, but it helps prevent a lot of unnecessarily wasted water. Since most homeowners are not plumbers, some devices help immediately identify leaks before they become major concerns. Smart tech leak detectors can alert homeowners at the first signs of extra condensation, small leaks, drips, or flooding. They are handy if you don’t spend a lot of time in your basement or attic, which are locations where it’s likely to occur. 

Energy-Efficient Appliances

If you are the proud owner of older appliances, washers, and dishwashers, you may be wasting a lot of water without realising it. Replacing your old ones with new appliances with a high Water Rating (the more stars the more water efficient) can save you a significant amount of money. These impressive machines can almost 4,000 gallons of water during their lifespan. You can expect to see some savings on your water bill from this one upgrade. 

So when acquiring new appliances that use water, just follow the stars!

Shower Timers

Daily showering is a part of life, and if you have a large family, they’re likely a constant occurrence in your home. Especially if you’re prone to taking longer showers, you could be wasting a significant amount of water. There are plenty of smart shower timers on the market that help reduce the amount of time you’re spending every morning. It may take some getting used to, as you’ll have to be mindful of how fast you’re going, but installing this will save you time and money. 

Irrigation Systems

As a homeowner, taking care of lawns may be a chore you love to do or something you automatically turn over to your lawn and garden expert (hint: it’s called Crewcut). Either way, investing in an irrigation system is commonly suggested in lawn care guides and is an excellent option for those who don’t have the energy and time to do it on their own. The common problem, however, is that some people would turn on their sprinklers and completely forget about them, which leads to wastage of plenty of water.

Smart irrigation controls allow for in-ground sprinklers to turn on at a designated time, respond to the water concentration in the soil, and turn off when it’s done. You’ll never forget to water the lawn or accidentally leave your sprinkler running for an hour again.

Surely, your home’s external appeal can depend on your grass looking its best, and it can cost a fortune to restore an improperly maintained one. It’s just as important not to overwater or waste a lot of water, and it’s hard to judge just by looking at your grass if it’s been appropriately watered. 

In conclusion, there are plenty of easy and affordable smart home tools and practices you can choose to implement that will save you money in the long run while reducing your water usage and impact on the environment. 

Sources:

https://www.homeselfe.com/save-water-using-smart-home-technology/
https://www.maketecheasier.com/smart-home/best-smart-water-saving-devices/

This article was contributed by Richard Frankel, a real estate agent from Ontario, Canada.

Buxus or box hedges are slow-growing, evergreen shrubs that look beautiful as low hedging and topiary. Kiwis who either plant this hedge variety or inherit it with a property purchase may find themselves with one burning question: when should you prune a Buxus hedge?  

We could give you a single answer, but if you’re trying to find out when is the best time to prune your box hedging, you may also be wondering how to care for them in general. We’ve got all the answers below.

When to Prune Box/Buxus Hedges

Ask any hedge trimming expert, and they’ll ponder the many variables before giving you the answer to how often you need to prune your box hedges – or any hedges. At a minimum, aim for twice a year. With twice-yearly pruning, you should be able to benefit from a tidy, beautifully-manicured hedge.

In saying that, proud hedge owners don’t always stick with that golden rule. They trim them up to four times per year because there’s a general understanding that the more regularly you trim your Buxus, the lusher it can become.

When you undertake your pruning can depend on the weather you experience at different parts of the year. Some people carry out their primary pruning task in August before spring growth starts to take off. They may then carry out their second necessary hedge haircut after Christmas once the new growth has had a chance to harden.

In between these times, you may decide to take care of your hedge’s shape and trim to allow airflow for pest and disease reduction.

How to Care for Buxus Hedges

Even though you may only have been wondering when you should prune your box hedging, it doesn’t hurt to learn a bit about their general care, as well. Even though they are typically low maintenance, they do require a bit of attention to keep them in tip-top shape.

Make a point of clearing away leaf litter that tends to sit just below your Buxus. Some leaf litter may harbour disease, and it’s not a risk you’ll want to take if you can avoid it.  

During the hedge’s growing seasons of spring and autumn, consider a specialised Buxus food product, and only water the hedge’s roots, rather than the foliage.  

Even your tools of the trade require some care. Wash any cutting equipment, then sterilise them with diluted bleach or methylated spirits before allowing them to dry.

Trimming Tips for Box Hedging

Whether you’re new to Buxus hedge care or simply want to learn some best practices, we’ve got a few additional tips that may assist in the process.

Refrain from trimming in the hot sun, which may negatively impact the foliage. Once you have finished cutting, run a leaf rake lightly over the hedge to dislodge any clippings that haven’t fallen out. Remove as much of the clippings from in and around the hedge as possible.

If you’re new to the world of hedge pruning, start small. Begin with a dwarf hedge, then consider adding more width and height as the hedge becomes denser. Slow and steady wins the race.  

Buxus Hedge Pests and Diseases to Watch Out For

Even if you’ve been incredibly meticulous with washing your cutting equipment, removing leaf litter, and watering the roots, you may still find your Buxus succumbs to pests and disease.  

One of the most prominent diseases is called Buxus blight, which causes considerable dieback. It tends to be more prevalent in warm, damp environments.

Fortunately, there are products on the market that can assist with both prevention and cure. However, it’s essential to follow up any treatments with pruning dead areas, removing excess leaf litter, and trimming to promote airflow.

You may also notice what looks like a fungal disease on the Buxus hedge stems. This may instead be scale insects. Visit your local garden store for oil products designed to suffocate the insects and give them their marching orders. While some insects are beneficial to have in your garden, these aren’t some of them.

Fun Facts About Boxwood Hedging

Many people plant Buxus because it’s a beautiful, tidy, low hedge that looks stunning on any property. However, there are many other reasons why it’s a firm favourite around the world.

• Parts of this shrub have been used for a variety of medical reasons. It has been used for rheumatism, and, in some parts of history, a tincture would be made from the wood for use as a bitter tonic.

• Hippocrates, Pliny, and Dioscorides all once recommended boxwood for diarrhoea.

• In France, it was once used as a hops substitute in beer.

• It’s one of the oldest ornamental plants.

• People used to boil the leaves and sawdust in lye for auburn-coloured hair dye.

• Perfumes have been made with their leaves and bark.

Is It Time to Prune Your Hedges?

It can seem like there is a lot involved in Buxus hedge trimming. While it’s true that they require a meticulous level of care, they are not overwhelmingly high-maintenance. Though, whether you lack the time, patience, or green fingers, there’s always the option to outsource this task to a team of experts. You can then sit back, relax, and enjoy a picture-perfect box hedge.  

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.