Lawns & Garden Tips
Growing strong, growing native
"Tiaki i te whenua – Care for the land. Here are some simple lawn and garden tips to keep your whenua looking lush and healthy year round."
🌱Seasonal Lawn Care Tips
🌱 Seasonal Care – Ngā Wāo te Tau
- Spring (Kōanga): Sow new seed, fertilize, and tidy overgrowth.
- Summer (Raumati): Water wisely in the mornings/evenings, mow regularly, and mulch gardens to protect roots.
- Autumn (Ngahuru): collect fallen leaves for compost and prepare soil for winter. Prepare soil for planting natives.
- Winter (Hotoke): rest your lawn, plan planting, prune trees, and plan for spring planting
🌿Native Planting & Care
Caring for native plants not only keeps your garden looking beautiful, but also helps protect Aotearoa’s unique environment. Here are some favourites to add to your whenua:
🌼 Kōwhai
(Sophora microphylla)
Care: Prefers well-drained soil, plant in a sunny spot. Water regularly while young.
Why plant it: Bright yellow flowers feed tūī and kererū in spring. A symbol of growth and renewal.
🍃 Kawakawa
(Macropiper excelsum)
Care: Grows best in partial shade, prune lightly to encourage fresh growth.
Why plant it: Known as a rongoā (medicinal) plant – leaves are used traditionally for teas, balms, and healing.
🌿 Harakeke
(Flax – Phormium tenax)
Care: Plant in open, sunny spots with damp soil. Cut flower stalks at the base once finished.
Why plant it: Used traditionally for weaving (raranga) and as shelter for wildlife. Nectar-rich flowers attract tūī and korimako (bellbirds).
✨ Tip: Grouping native plants together creates a mini-ecosystem, supporting birds, insects, and healthy soil.
🛠️ Simple DIY Lawn & Garden Tips
Ngā Tohutohu Māmā mō te Māra me te Pāmu Karetao
1. Mow Smart
Tapahi Mārohirohi
Keep mower blades sharp and avoid cutting grass too short.
2. Water Wisely
Whakamākū Tōtika
Water deeply in the early morning to strengthen roots and save water.
3. Feed Naturally
Whāngai Ā-Taiao
Leave clippings as mulch or use organic fertiliser to return goodness to the whenua.
4. Weed Control
Whakahaere Taru Kino
Pull weeds when the soil is damp, or plant groundcovers to naturally shade them out.
5. Prune & Mulch
Tapahi me te Whakapuru
Trim plants lightly and add mulch to keep moisture in and weeds down.
6. Compost & Recycle
Pūtake Para Kai me te Hangarua
Turn food scraps and garden waste into compost to feed your garden for free.
7. Plant Natives
Whakatō Rākau Taketake
Mix in natives like kōwhai, kawakawa, and harakeke to attract birds, insects, and pollinators.
💧 Water Care – Waiora
- Encourage rainwater collection.
- Water early morning or late evening to respect the natural flow.
“He taonga te wai – Water is a treasure.”
Eco-Friendly Practices
Collect rainwater for watering.
Compost green waste.
Use organic fertilisers where possible.
Encourage pollinators (bees, birds) with flowering natives.
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