Style: November 01, 2019

STYLE | landscaping 45
a ‘planting plan’. The latter is usually
optional but worth the extra investment
for professional advice on which plants
will best suit your site’s environmental
aspects (even if you plant them
yourself). The planting plan will detail
the location, species and quantities of
trees, shrubs, ground covers and hedges.
Prepare to invest a few thousand
dollars to get to the point where
your site has been measured and a
comprehensive site plan is prepared
and presented importing your
architectural plans into the proposed
landscape design. An effective ‘design
plan’ will come up with functional
solutions and specify the materials for
hard landscaping features like paths,
driveway, decking, paving and edging
as well as fun features like a pizza
oven or fireplace, hot tub or pool and
built-in seating around a fire pit. A
comprehensive plan will also detail the
recommended planting and lawn areas,
your soft landscaping (features that do
not involve construction).
Once you’ve signed off on the design,
work proceeds to the construction
phase and your landscape architect
will prepare quotes for both hard and
soft landscaping elements. Some will
design and construct in-house, others
will outsource to sub-contractors.
Your landscape architect will handle
any consent applications and oversee
construction.
As hard and soft landscaping come
together, your vision grows into reality.
Be patient as, depending on the season,
it might be a while before your chosen
plantings thrive. Rest assured, guided
by expert design, a good landscape
plan will have you enjoying your great
outdoors in no time.
Five tips for greener landscaping
1. Recycle or upcycle unused building materials; turn hardwood
sleepers into garden bed walls, chunky steps or seating, and steel
reinforcing mesh into a metal climbing frame for plants.
2. Multitask with seating that doubles as wood storage or gabion
retaining walls for garden beds.
3. Go organic with weedmats and natural remedies, rather than
Roundup, to control pests and weeds and attract bees and native
birds; factor in a compost bin to feed and enrich your soil rather
than using synthetic fertilisers.
4. Be waterwise using seaweed or moss mulch to reduce water
evaporation; upgrade your leaky hose and install a rainwater
tank to capture water; choose natives or succulents for your soft
landscaping; select permeable surfaces (pebbles not pavers) for
hard landscaping.
5. Grow your own with an edible garden in your design.
We’re the
business
behind
Doors
Christchurch
20 Dakota Cres
03 384 1113
Timaru
4 Edward St
03 688 0544
www.iddoors.co.nz
Central Otago
8 Harvest Rd
03 445 4087