Garden advice
Practical guides for keeping your hedges, trees and garden in good shape around central and east Auckland.
Hedges
- When to trim your hedge in AucklandAuckland's mild climate means most hedges keep growing for much of the year. Trim at the right times and your hedge stays thick, even and easy to manage.
- Best hedge plants for Auckland gardensThe best hedge for an Auckland garden depends on how tall you want it, how exposed your section is and how often you're happy to trim. These are reliable choices, including a few that handle coastal wind and salt.
- Can you cut an overgrown hedge back hard?Many hedges can be cut back hard, but not all at once and not every type. Conifers are the big exception. Here's how to bring an overgrown hedge back without losing it.
- Common hedge pests and diseases in AucklandBrown patches, pimply leaves or a black coating on your hedge usually point to a handful of common problems. Here's how to tell them apart and what helps.
Trees
- When to prune fruit trees in New ZealandPruning at the right time keeps fruit trees healthy and productive. The right time depends on the type of tree, and for some it really matters.
- Do you need council permission to remove a tree in Auckland?Usually not. No type of tree is automatically protected in Auckland, but some individual trees are, and removing one without consent can be a costly mistake. Here's how to check first.
- Your neighbour's tree is hanging over your property. What can you do?In New Zealand you can usually cut back a neighbour's overhanging branches as far as the boundary. The best first step is still a friendly chat, and there are a few rules worth knowing before anyone picks up a saw.
- When and how to prune pōhutukawaThe safest times to prune pōhutukawa are late autumn and winter, or a hot, dry spell in mid-summer. That timing reduces the risk of myrtle rust, which attacks the new growth pruning encourages.
- Signs a tree might be unsafeDead branches, cracks, fungi, a new lean or soil lifting at the base can all mean a tree is weakening. If you notice any of them, especially after a storm, get the tree looked at.
Garden and green waste
- How to get your garden ready to sellBuyers see your garden first, in the listing photos and when they walk up the path. A tidy, low-maintenance garden makes the whole property feel cared for.
- What to do with green waste in AucklandGarden waste can't go in your household rubbish bin or your food scraps bin in Auckland. Here are the options for hedge clippings, branches, weeds and lawn clippings.
- Spring and autumn garden checklist for AucklandAuckland's mild climate means gardens keep growing most of the year. These two short checklists cover the jobs that make the biggest difference in spring and autumn.