Selwyn_Times: October 05, 2023

Selwyn 

SPRING 2023 

Gardening 

guide 

published by & Selwyn Times 

YOuR guide TO CeLeBRATiNg 

SPRiNg & SuMMeR iN THe gARdeN

2 | 

selwyn gardening guide spring 2023 

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selwyn gardening guide spring 2023 | 3 

PUBLISHER 

Star Media 

A division of Allied Press Ltd 

PO Box 1467 Christchurch 8140 

AdvERtISIng 

Lynette Evans - Ph 021 222 7831 

email: lynette.evans@starmedia.kiwi 

EdItORIAL 

Isabelle teresa 

dESIgn 

denise Crawford 

Spring and the garden is calling… 

Welcome to the 2023 Gardening Guide! Here at the 

Selwyn Times we love putting this together – there’s 

such an energy in the air as Spring kicks in, and suddenly 

so much to be seeing and doing outdoors. We hope 

you enjoy our selection of gardening treats, ideas and 

inspiration. 

From veggies to flowers, lawns to irrigation, landscaping 

to trees, it’s time to get those gardening projects 

underway. Selwyn is also home to multiple expert 

suppliers and services, many with literally generations’ 

worth of experience. We thank those who have 

supported this magazine. 

This truly is a district of garden lovers. All our towns and 

villages have Garden Clubs – find contact details for 

yours on the Canterbury Horticultural Society website. 

Community Gardens are also a great opportunity to get 

your hands dirty, meet likeminded people and learn tips 

and tricks – look these up on the Canterbury Community 

Gardens Association website. And there are so many 

stunning display gardens to visit in the district, some of 

which we feature in this issue – see Selwyn.nz. 

Broadfield Garden 

treasure trove of inspiration 

Here’s just a taster of some of Selwyn’s gardeningrelated 

events coming up before Christmas, all free or 

very reasonably priced. Search the event links for full 

details. 

Wherever you are in Selwyn, the garden is calling… 

OCTOBER 

7th - Lincoln Envirotown Community Gardens “Don’t 

Treat Your Soil Like Dirt!” workshop lincolnenvirotown. 

org.nz 

8th - 14th - Ellesmere A&P Show, Leeston Huge event 

with multiple displays ellesmereshow.co.nz 

14th - Lincoln Envirotown Community Gardens 

“Starting and Maintaining a Worm Farm” workshop 

lincolnenvirotown.org.nz 

14th - Darfield Community Garden Spring Seedling 

Swap selwynlibraries.co.nz/whats-on 

23th - Hororātā Parish Spring Fair Multiple stalls 

hororata.org.nz 

NOVEMBER 

2nd - Lincoln Library Landscape Design for Beginners 

selwynlibraries.co.nz/whats-on 

5th - Terrace Station, Hororātā Open Day: early summer 

flowers terracestation.org.nz 

11th - Lincoln Envirotown Community Gardens “Veges 

101” workshop lincolnenvirotown.org.nz 

11th - West Melton Native Plants, at Nut Point Centre 

Lecture, workshop, garden tour nutpoint.org 

DECEMBER 

2nd - New Zealand Alpine Garden Society, at Lakeside 

Solders Memorial Hall, Ellesmere All day “Study Day” 

event, including speakers, garden visit, Xmas Do 

nzags.com/travellingspeaker 

Broadfield 

garden 

In the triangle of backroads between 

Rolleston, Prebbleton and Lincoln is a 

hidden gem. Although “gem” doesn’t 

fairly describe this 3.5 hectare, awardwinning 

garden – it’s more of a whole 

treasure trove. 

David Hobbs has been creating it for over 

30 years. It’s very much a personal vision. 

The beautiful visitor pamphlet available 

at the entrance at first sight looks like the 

standard garden map with suggested 

route – but read the words, and David’s 

down-to-earth individuality leaps out. 

On arrival, the impressive scale of the 

grand lawns and ponds, shaped by 

topiary hedges so precise that you could 

slice butter on them, initially triggers 

thoughts of English National Trust 

gardens – but pay good attention to the 

plantings and you’ll see that Broadfield is 

very much a contemporary NZ garden. 

Grand vistas give way to beguiling paths 

leading to smaller groves and settings, 

including the recently added and highly 

popular veggie garden. Smatterings of 

artworks of different styles add colour and 

a smile. 

You will get hundreds of ideas on garden 

design, planting and maintenance, and 

David and his team of friendly gardeners 

welcome any questions. 

There are open days every Wednesday 

and Saturday, 8–4.30, for the low cost 

of $15 (kids are free). It’s worth planning 

a whole day out – it’s picnic/pram/ 

wheelchair friendly, with ample seating, 

and also very dog friendly. 

But don’t just visit once. I’m locking 

it in to visit once a season, it’s that 

inspirational. 

250 Selwyn Road, Weedons / david@ 

broadfieldgarden.nz / 0274 334 099 / 

private tours / weddings 

A multi award winning 

garden with many design 

ideas, planting ideas and 

maintenance minimising 

systems. See plants that 

do well in Canterbury. 

20 different sections of 

varying sizes and styles. 

Visits, guided tours usually 

available, allow 1 to 1 

hour 30 minutes, picnics 

welcome, photos, wedding 

ceremonies, group visits. 

Adults 

$15 

children 

free 

Open Wednesdays & Saturdays 8 – 4.30 & by arrangement 

250 Selwyn Road M: David 027 4334 099 E: david@bel.nz

$8.20 incl. GST 





4 | 


Hadstock 

generations of connection 

Generations 5&6 at Hadstock: John & Courtney Chamberlain 

For the Outdoor Space 

of your Dreams... 

Call Aaron & the team today! 

Phone: 03 347 4422 or 021 542 402 

Email: Aaron@theoutdoorspace.co.nz 

www.theoutdoorspace.co.nz 

Paving, Irrigation, 

Lawns, Planting, 

Fences, Pergolas, 

Water-features, 

Outdoor fires, 

Raised Vege beds, 

Decks, Artificial 

grass, Garden 

maintenance & 

more... 

Daffodils from Hadstock Farm are the 

stuff of family tradition. The tradition of 

the sixth-generation Chamberlain family 

who grow them, but also of families 

across Selwyn who have woven them into 

their own Spring celebrations. 

Their Open Weekend, usually the first 

weekend in September, has officially 

kickstarted Spring for families across the 

region since the 1970s! BYO bucket and 

pick as many daffodils as you can handle 

– it’s a joyous outing, with selfies and 

family portraits galore. 

A measure of how much this event is 

loved was the outpouring of messages 

when, this year, Hadstock had to 

announce that the unusual weather plus 

other factors meant that they did not 

have enough fields of daffodils to satisfy 

the hundreds of regular attendees. Only 

Covid had affected this event previously. 

People said how much they would miss it 

and promised to look forward even more 

to next year’s. 

That doesn’t mean the gates are closed 

though – Hadstock enables flower picking 

and bulb fundraisers for groups of all 

sorts, including schools to retirement 

homes, Rotary and Lions. 

Hadstock is so embedded in the local 

community because it too is a family 

tradition. I’m shown around by John 

Chamberlain, who with his wife Cynthia 

is the current owner, and their daughter 

Courtney. In 1878, John’s great-greatgrandmother 

and her four sons came out 

from England and brought vast areas of 

land around the area we now know as 

Chamberlain’s Ford. John’s grandfather, 

the youngest of nine, started planting 

tulips in the 1930s during the Great 

Depression. John’s father brought daffodil 

bulbs out from Holland in the 1950s to 

expand the range. 

Courtney and her sisters, Jessica and 

Hannah, are the latest young’uns putting 

their energy into the business. Quite 

simply, they need it to keep growing, 

because, as Courtney says, “We all want 

to see a future here. We all want to come 

home and work for it.” 

You may have read that the farm recently 

experienced a large shed fire – while a 

very unfortunate setback, this family has 

the determination and know-how to dust 

themselves off and keep going. 

If you want to support them, why not 

jump on their attractive, easy-to-use 

website and order some spring and 

summer delights for your garden. You’ll 

be guaranteed the type of quality product 

that can only come from generations’ 

worth of experience. 

hadstockfarm.co.nz / 71 Corbetts Road, 

Springston / 027 429 5786 / info@ 

hadstockfarm.co.nz 

Issue 529 | June 2023 

bird photo 

competition 

win binoculars 

& more! 

Know-how in spades for every gardener 

Issue 530 | July 2023 

10 ways 

to tackle 

weeds 

without 

chemicals 


veGe 

reScueS 

Fix rogue 

onions & 

brassicas 

Issue 531 | August 2023 

BIRD PHOTO 

COmPetition 

WINNeRS! 


Issue 532 | September 2023 

Let 's 

grow 


Friends 

with benefits 

Proven companion 

herbs 

Issue 533 | October 2023 

ingfore 

The garden 

warms up 

5 tomato essentials & your 

edibles to get growing now 


spring 

festival guide 

Insiders share 

their picks & 

touring tips 

ingfore 

ingfore 

ingfore 

winTer fruiT 

What to plant 

or prune now 

aSparaGuS TipS 

How to cultivate 

a top crop in your 

home garden 

9 416770 121318 

ingfore 

Build & Bond 

Where conservation 

meets conversation 

Craving 

pomegranates 

A Te Karaka family creates an 

orchard to sate their desire 

pop of 

colour 

New plant 

arrivals to 

brighten 

ingfore 

things up 

learn To 

propaGaTe 

Hardwood cuttings 

made easy 

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Start your 

onions 

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Screen TiMe 

How to up your 

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Potato 

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how To Sow & planT now 

Tips for asparagus, cucumbers, spuds, 

spinach, 25 spring herbs & plenty more 

orchid fervour 

SeedinG Good TiMeS 

Easier to grow 

Fun ways to engage the 

than you think, 

kids in growing food 

ingfore 

say NZ’s devotees 

feaTher dileMMa 

Know Your naTive 

Choosing the best bird 

Our four magnificent 

for your backyard 

tōtara species 

Save money & charge flavour 

August edibles agenda: 

with our growing guide 

plan now, plant later 

Go the draw to WIN 

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ingfore pot 

GOLDEN FLEECE 

Nadia Lim’s wool plant pot collab shears the plastic 

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GaMe, SeT, MaTch 

Will onion sets trounce 

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preTTY aS a paeonY 

Those in the know 

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ROOMs FOR IMPROVEMENT 

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frondlY advice 

An expert sheds light 

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Art and Nature Intertwined: 

Tai Tapu 

Sculpture 

Garden 

In thirteen years, this place has been transformed from a onehectare 

pony paddock to an artfully created strolling garden of 

over 8000 native trees, shrubs, flaxes and grasses. 

Owners Peter Joyce and Annabel Menzies-Joyce are restoring 

Banks Peninsula’s natural landscape of 1000 years ago, 

recreating a podocarp forest of tōtara, mataī and kahikatea, 

with many other rare and threatened plants native to 

Canterbury. There are also rimu and beech groves, Annabel’s 

favourite trees. 

That project would be enough for most people, but a year in, 

Peter and Annabel decided to incorporate sculptures. Soon 

Melissa Reimer was brought in as Curator, and the sculpture 

aspect began in earnest. 

There are now 30+ permanent outdoor installations, with 

around 100 additional works for sale during the annual 

exhibition. The annual commissioning process and competition 

set out to support contemporary NZ sculpture practice, 

enabling artists by providing focus, funds and an outlet. 

The artists therefore usually make works directly for this garden, 

hence the intertwining. Many of the pieces are site specific. 

Many are designed to interact with the sun, wind, rain and sky. 

Many reference environmental concerns – the survival of native 

birds, the race towards climate disaster, the impermanence and 

Alison Erickson, A room of one’s own (2023) 

vulnerability of our greatest natural assets. 

The variety of the artworks is stunning, in size and material. 

They range from architectural to figurative, from heavy and 

grounded to soaring and light. Some change year-on-year as 

they weather in place. 

The care taken by the team to place each piece in a setting 

perfect for the piece’s style, texture, tone and impact, is 

inspirational and moving. 

Melissa explains: “We want people to interact with the 

sculpture and space and for that be a deeply personal 

experience. People stroll and come across sculptures tucked 

away in groves and gracing green avenues. We all see different 

things when we’re here.” 

The Annual Autumn Exhibition is always the first three 

weekends in March, 10-4pm, and $20. The garden is pram and 

wheelchair friendly, and picnickers are welcome. The garden 

also opens at other times, and by appointment. Peter will show 

you round and enthuse you with his passion for planting. 

The vision of what is being created here is extraordinary. See 

you there next Autumn! 

taitapusculpturegarden.co.nz / 199 Cossars Road, RD 2 / 03 329 

6662 / taitapusculpturegarden@gmail.com 

Peter & Alfie, with Bing Dawe’s 

Towards repair – Gorse as a nursery – 

Composition with gorse, NZ beech and 

tuna, from Hinewai (2022) 

Making your great outdoors greater 

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6 | 


meet us in 

the Country 

CEDAR PARK 

A spectacular peaceful garden set in 1.5 acres, with 

something to appeal to everyone. Discover vibrant plants, 

trees and shrubs. Parking available on site. 

101B Lowes Road, Rolleston 

$5 adults 

THE HERBAL GARDEN 

This organic, permaculture garden specialises in culinary 

and medicinal herbs which are handcrafted into herbal teas, 

skin care products and herbal salts. 

205 Jowers Road, West Melton 

$12 adults 

Garden 

open days 

Wednesday 25 October, Saturday 4 

and Saturday 11 November 

10am–4pm 

Visit Selwyn’s award-winning gardens 

opening in spring. 

Get a group of friends together and explore 

beautiful gardens and nurseries in bloom at 

one of the open days. Enjoy great walks and 

cafes nearby. 

For details visit 

selwyn.nz/spring 

DALKEITH GARDEN 

Dalkeith is full of mature rhododendrons, magnolias, maples 

and other exotic and native trees. This four-acre garden is a 

tranquil oasis of sunshine, birdsong and peacefulness. 

*4 and 11 November only 

437 Boundary Road, Rolleston 

$10 adults 

CASA ROSSA 

Once an old quarry, Casa Rossa has been transformed over 

25 years from gravel to an award-winning garden created 

by Chris Allen, with inspiration from Shakespeare’s Much 

Ado about Nothing. 

203 Jowers Road, West Melton 

$15 adults 

STONEYCROP 

Stoneycrop has been a garden in the making since 2014. 

With an interest in rhododendrons, as well as a selection of 

species and hybrids from alpines to giant leaved cultivars. 

The garden has wheelchair accessible paths and 

raised gardens. 

211 Halkett Road, West Melton 

$10 adults 

BROADFIELD GARDEN 

See how spring has brought the award-winning Broadfield 

Garden to life, through its 3.5 hectares of blossoming plants 

and flowers. This wonderfully designed garden has a huge 

array of rhododendrons, camellias, peonies and azaleas. 

250 Selwyn Road, Weedons 

$15 adults 

KNOCKDOLIAN 

See the countless rhododendrons grown in this property, 

which was once land owned by one of the Deans families. 

Now includes an established, rock, rose, vegetable, 

native and woodland garden and a number of deep 

perennial boarders. 

505 Deans Road, Darfield 

$15 adults

| 7 

The ethereal beauty of 

Te Repo 

Õrãriki 

wetland 

Te Repo Ōrāriki wetland feels other-worldly. Even the 

drive there is ethereal – heading towards the sea and 

with Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere near on one side, 

landmarks drop away until there is only sky. 

The wetland’s native plantings create a beautiful green 

space – yet at the same time, this garden is poised on 

the edge of the Southern Ocean, with the sea’s sounds 

and smells everpresent. 

Te Repo Ōrāriki wetland is also a taonga. The lower 

reaches of Te Waikēkēwai/Waikēkēwai Stream are within 

the grounds of Te Pā o Moki Marae, home to Te Ngāi 

Te Ruahikihiki ki Taumutu (Te Taumutu Rūnanga) for over 

600 years. As the surrounding landscape increasingly 

became farmland, natural wetlands disappeared and 

the water course degraded. The Rūnanga now leads 

the project to restore the lower to mid reaches of the 

catchment. 

The wetland area is beside the marae. Enter either from 

the beach (near the southern end of Kaitōrete Spit) or 

through a gate at the picturesque Hone Wetere (John 

Wesley) Church (126 Pohau Rd, Taumutu, Southbridge). 

Entering from the marae/church end, one of the first 

things you’ll see is the next area of the wetlands to be 

restored. I visited after days of rain, and natural pooling 

was very evident. 

Following on down the walkway, successions of native 

plantings since 2015, supported by Te Ara Kākāriki 

Greenway Canterbury Trust and volunteers, have 

created a beautiful mix of mature and recent plants. 

Waitaha School created the attractive and informative 

signage. 

You’re soon walking along the stream, both sides 

naturally restored. In one of those other-worldly 

moments, impact from the 2021 Canterbury flooding 

is visible – the sea burst over the narrow sandy spit 

into the gardens, leaving a scattering of beach detritus 

among the land-based plants. 

The whole area is not huge – you could stride around 

it in half an hour, but you will want to linger far longer. 

Simple landscaping elements shape the view, creating 

photo-worthy and picnic-worthy scenes. 

This wetland restoration is coordinated through 

the Whakaora Te Waikēkēwai Project, funded by 

Environment Canterbury and the Ministry for the 

Environment, led by Te Taumutu Rūnanga. 

The wetland is a place not just of beauty but of longheld 

commitment, passion and cultural history. Soak up the 

energy of this special place. 

While the wetland is on private land, visitors are 

welcome – contact Te Taumutu Rūnanga office for 

access, on 03 371 2660 or taumutu@ngaitahu.iwi.nz 

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8 | 


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your irrigation and outdoor water needs, 

from residential to commercial to lifestyle 

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They have specialist water management 

solutions to suit lawns, gardens, water 

conservation needs or landscape 

planning for existing or new homes. 

For a “Greener Today for a Greener 

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pipes with no trenches or digging, 

meaning less mess. Water-efficient 

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ensure every drop counts. 

Well received in the Selwyn community 

since the business opened in July 2022, 

Simon and Jeff service Canterbury-wide. 

Simon brings over 19 years of irrigation 

experience to the partnership. He 

previously spent twelve years working on 

golf courses, gaining a Trade certificate 

qualification in Turf Management. Jeff has 

over seven years of irrigation experience 

working alongside Simon, and brings 20 

years of experience in a customer servicebased 

industry. 

Remember, Spring is the perfect time to 

service your existing irrigation system, 

to get it all back to top performance for 

summer. 

A new service is also proving highly 

popular – residential filtration on the 

home exteriors. Water can contain 

sediment, minerals and chemicals that 

create unpleasant tastes and smells and 

negatively affect your health. Residential 

filtration removes these “nasties”, 

including removing high concentrations 

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For any questions about services or 

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selwynirrigation.co.nz to book quotes or 

services. 

Phone 0800 ADD H20 • Mon – Fri 8am – 4pm 

www.selwynirrigation.co.nz 

Spring 

has sprung! 

It might still be a little cold, windy and wet 

but the days are definitely getting longer, 

the flowers are starting to bloom, and the 

trees are putting on new leaf – Spring is 

here! 

Before too long the longer, sunnier days and 

warmer weather of Summer will arrive, and 

spending time in your garden will be part of 

your day-to-day life again. 

With high winds and large amounts of 

rain, your trees could have been damaged 

during Winter. That could put them at risk 

of disease, failing or dying. Now – before 

your trees put on their summer growth 

– is an ideal time to get them assessed 

and maintained for the coming months. 

Removing damaged, diseased or dead 

wood will help keep your trees healthy, while 

pruning will encourage new growth. 

A gloomy garden on a bright Spring day 

could mean your trees are creating too much 

shade. It may be worth considering thinning, 

topping, or even removing some trees to 

brighten up your outdoors spaces. 

Spring is also a great time to consider 

how you use your outdoor space and what 

planting might enhance your garden. Native 

trees are a great enhancement to any New 

Zealand garden and can provide year-round 

colour as well as food for birds and bees. 

However, while some natives are available as 

compact or dwarf varieties, which are great 

for smaller gardens, others can get very 

large in a very short amount of time. Check 

before you buy and plant and remember 

that regular maintenance is must for all trees 

in urban spaces! 

Spring is one of our favourite times of year 

at Beaver Tree Service, so let’s get out, enjoy 

the sun, and make the best of your outdoor 

space today! 

Bryce Robb is director/Head Arborist of 

Beaver tree Service / beavertree.co.nz / 

0800 422 328


Maramataka 

gardening according 

to the moon cycle 

For Māori, each day within the moon’s cycle has its own name and energies. For 

each day, particular activities are recommended as being most suitable to the moon’s 

energy and your immediate environment and therefore most likely to succeed. This 

includes recommendations about when to plant and harvest particular types of crops, 

based on the understanding that the gravitational pull of the moon is influencing not 

only the tides but also the water in the soil. 

This calendar is called the Maramataka (from “marama” moon, “taka” to turn). 

Different hapū and iwi have different variations of this relevant to their different 

locations and histories – at least 400 variants have been recorded across the country! 

– but the overarching themes are highly similar. 

What does this mean for you in your garden? 

1. New Moon 

The moon starts waxing (increasing). Lunar gravity pulls moisture in the soil up, and 

the moonlight is increasing. This is the best time to plant green leafy crops. Seeds 

sown during this period will also do well. 

2. First Quarter 

Although the gravitational pull becomes less, the moonlight becomes stronger, 

creating strong leaf growth and stronger sap flow. This is a great time to plant most 

seedlings, especially crops with seeds inside. 

3. Full Moon 

The energy is drawing down. Sap starts to flow downwards. The gravitation pull is 

high, creating more moisture in the soil, but the moonlight is decreasing, putting 

energy into the roots. It’s the best time to sow and plant all root vegetables. 

4. Last Quarter 

As the moon wanes into darkness, the light and gravitational pull are both at their 

lowest. This is a time for rest. Avoid seed sowing. It’s a good time to prune, transplant 

and harvest. 

TAKING IT FURTHER 

Try that for a few months and make your own observations. If you want to take 

it further, there are extensive online materials about Maramataka, that break the 

recommendations for gardening and harvesting activities down even more precisely, 

day by day. There’s also beautiful journals and resources available, and many phone 

apps, to record your observations. 

Then if you want to take it even further, start noticing how the phases of the moon 

affect you. Maramataka contains guidance for best use of your personal energies too. 

A whole world awaits…

10 | selwyn gardening guide spring 2023 

Lichen: 

friend or foe? 

Lichen grows on any undisturbed surface, so it’s 

commonly seen on slow-growing trees. There’s a – let’s 

not call it an “old wives’ tale”, because old wives are 

often right – it’s more of a gardening myth, that lichen 

on a tree means that the tree is dying. 

The tree may in fact be dying, but the causality is the 

other way round. Lichens love sunlight, so if the tree 

is unwell, its canopy is decreasing, letting more light 

through. 

You may see light-loving lichen on the sunny side of a 

branch with shade-loving moss on the other side – both 

beautiful, and neither harming the plant. 

In fact, the presence of lichen is a positive indicator of 

the health of your garden. This is because of its unique 

physical makeup and structure. Lichens are a symbiosis 

of fungi with algae. The fungus gives it its body, 

while the algae gives it its ability to get nutrients by 

photosynthesis. 

This all means that the lichen cannot do anything bad to 

your plant – it is living on it, but not penetrating, drying 

or consuming it. Lichens are self-sufficient, feeding from 

clean air and sunlight. So if they’re doing this in your 

garden, your air quality is healthy and unpolluted. 

Lichens are the dominant vegetation on as much as 8% 

of the Earth’s land, able to survive in every climate and 

altitude. This is because of some remarkable attributes. 

1) If they don’t like the weather, they can shut down their 

metabolism until their environment suits them again. 

This is how they survive the planet’s extremes of heat, 

cold and drought, living in Antarctic winters at -70°C 

and deserts at 70°C. 

2) They can live for hundreds, perhaps thousands of 

years. 

3) They can release hundreds of different sorts of 

biochemical compound substances to defend against 

specific threats, for example to control light and 

ultraviolet exposure, repel herbivores, fend off grazing 

slugs and insects and kill attacking microbes and 

bacteria. 

New Zealand has at least 2,000 lichen species, with up 

to 40% being unique to this country. You probably have 

some of those in your garden, adding a beautiful sense 

of aging and grace. Relax and feel honoured – they are 

friend, not foe. 

Trees 

are the Kiwi dream 

We Kiwis love being outside whenever the weather 

allows. We’re gardening, BBQing, playing and 

relaxing, enjoying quiet reflection and sharing time 

with loved ones – and we love doing all this in the 

presence of beautiful trees. 

Most kiwi gardens have a feature tree – the one that 

enchants and uplifts us, and represents home. 

Canterbury company The Tree People understands 

this, and shares our passion. Their main promise: 

“The trees we care for look perfect and healthy… 

because they are.” 

“We combine the science and art of tree care with 

technical experience, passion, advanced equipment 

and sustainable practices,” says Co-Owner Raoni 

Hammer. 

Shade in outdoor space is critical once that 

temperature creeps up. There are several benefits of 

using tree canopy for shelter: a deciduous tree will 

let the light and warmth you want into the house as 

the canopy thins for autumn. In the hot months, the 

transpiration of trees cools the air around them. 

A row of trees will shade a paved area, cooling the 

ground itself for bare feet, plus minimising heat 

radiation upwards. 

As you prepare your summer garden, consider 

water conservation as a top priority. Select 

environmentally suitable plant species. Enhance soil 

quality by mulching, composting or using Biochar, 

while leaving healthy leaf litter in place. Opt for 

early morning or evening watering and explore the 

benefits of rainwater collection systems. 

At our arborist company, we’re committed to 

helping you create a sustainable and thriving garden 

for the summer months. The team also trims trees 

for powerline safety and offers emergency services. 

Whether your trees are native, ornamental or 

fruiting, The Tree People are the experts. 

Book a free consultation today. 

www.thetreepeople.nz | Ph 03 384 9630 

email: info@thetreepeople.nz 

Since 2004, The Tree People are your Canterburyowned 

tree experts. Our team is focused on 

sustainability, and we care about what we do. 

You can trust us to take care of your tree needs 

South Island wide. 

Our services include all aspects of tree work: 

• Pruning 

• Storm damage 

• Removals 

• Planting 

• Tree transplanting 

• Vista management 

• Hedge trimming 

• Environmental services 

Call us for a 

FREE quote 

03 384 9630 

www.thetreepeople.nz


SPOT THE 

DIFFERENCES! 

TO GO IN THE DRAW 

Colour in the pictures 

and circle the differences. 

There are eleven to find. 

HAVE FUN! 

Free printable courtesy of PrintitFree.net 

Your organics bin is only 

for the following items... 

It’s organic 

collection time 

Garden prunings, 

clippings and leaves 

Fruit and vegetables 

Meat, bones 

and fish 

Spring is the perfect time to get back 

into the garden and start filling up your 

organics bin again. 

The Selwyn District Council’s green 

organics bins can be utilised for garden 

prunings, weeds, leaves and grass 

clippings. 

Food items such as bread, dairy products, 

fruit, vegetables fish, meat, bones and 

coffee grinds can also be placed in the 

green bin. 

Here are some useful tips to ensure your 

bin is fully emptied every week: 

· Keep the bin weight under 60kg. If 

you find it difficult to move the bin, then 

you may find it exceeds the truck lifting 

limits. 

· Keep the bin contents loose. Don’t 

compact your material by standing on 

it (it may not come out when tipped by 

the truck). 

· Place weeds, branches or newspaper 

at the bottom of the bin before filling 

with grass clippings. This reduces the 

likelihood of the grass clippings getting 

stuck. 

· Organics only! No plastic bags 

(including those labelled as 

compostable, degradable or 

biodegradable), metals, timber, sawdust, 

glass, rocks, stones or bricks as these 

cause considerable damage to the 

organics shredder. 

· Flax and cabbage leaves need to go 

in your red rubbish bin (as these get 

caught up in the shredder). 

· Make sure your bin is not overflowing – 

the lid needs to close. 

For townships with organic collection; 

why not swap your 240-litre rubbish bin 

for a 240-litre organic bin and an 80-litre 

rubbish bin? You’ll save money and the 

environment! 

Unsure about an item? Check out selwyn. 

govt.nz/organics. 

Tips to ensure your bin is fully emptied: 

· Keep items loose. 

· Keep the bin weight reasonable. 

· Place weeds, branches or newspaper 

at the bottom of the bin before filling 

with grass clippings (to avoid contents 

getting stuck). 

selwyn.govt.nz/organics 

Bread, pastries 

and dairy products 

Coffee grinds 

· No plastic bags (including compostable 

or biodegradable), metals, glass, rocks, 

stones, bricks or rubbish. 

· Flax and cabbage tree leaves should go 

in the red bin. 

· Make sure the lid closes.

12 | selwyn gardening guide spring 2023


Introducing... 

intelligro 

landscape 

recycle Centre 

Did you know… your trusted garden and landscaping 

supplier, Intelligro, now offers a new service that’s super 

handy for their customers AND good news for the 

planet… Introducing the Intelligro Landscape Recycle 

Centre! 

In a nutshell, here’s how it works: 

1. Drop off your waste: green waste, clean soil, clean fill, 

hard fill and general waste. 

2. Intelligro goes through a whole bunch of processes to 

recycle as much of this as they can. 

3. The recycled product becomes part of their amazing 

range of products, including screened soils, barks, 

mulches, woodchips, planting mixes, builders’ mix and 

crusher dust. 

The fees to drop off materials are very low and 

reasonable – Intelligro wants to make this work for 

everyone. 

There are charges per car boot or rear hatch, small ute 

or low-sided single axle trailer, van or standard low-sided 

tandem trailer and large trailer, caged trailer or truck. 

To keep things sensible, there may be an extra charge if 

your delivery is overloaded, dense or highly compacted. 

This structure is for household volumes, but they also 

accept larger quantities – just discuss with the team. 

As with all recycling, it’s crucial to handle the waste 

separations accurately – to help you manage this, 

Intelligro will inspect all loads before accepting them 

and advise if you need to separate out mixed loads. 

What’s amazing is that most of this waste will be sorted, 

recycled and re-used. This is part of Intelligro’s ongoing 

commitment to sustainability, and a major step up in 

the range of services that they provide to their gardenloving 

customers. 

And they know that Selwyn’s up for it. This is a threegeneration 

family business after all – they’ve been 

discussing and advising locals on their gardening and 

landscaping projects for years, and have really listened 

to our needs and priorities. 

What could be more environmentally satisfying – and 

convenient – than doing a garden clearout and dropping 

off the waste at the same place where you’re purchasing 

the next steps in your exciting project! 

Check out the Landscape Recycle Centre, along with 

the in-house shop and extensive yard facilities, at 

261 Manion Road, Rolleston, 7:30–5:30 Mon–Sat, 

and Sundays 8–4:30. You can also browse and order 

Intelligro’s full range of products through www.intelligro. 

co.nz 

Win a 

$200 

Intelligro 

Garden Club 

voucher 

Sign up to our Intelligro Garden Club by 

the end of Oct and go in the draw to win 

a $200 store voucher 

GETTING THE BALL ROLLEN’ 

Plenty of space! 

With more than enough space to stock all the materials needed to 

take a project from concept to completion, the showroom will be 

583m2 with a drive-through area of over 1,000m2. 

“It’s a big site,” explains Rob. “We also have a gravelled area that 

we’ll use for product storage and that’s roughly 3,000m2. 

PlaceMakers Rolleston is now open at 35 Hoskyns Road 

The branch, which has been in development since September 

2021, joins seven other PlaceMakers stores in the region to improve 

access to building materials for tradespeople working in 

surrounding areas such as Selwyn. 

“We’ve left no stone unturned in the construction of this store and 

researching the customer base it’ll serve,” says Christchurch Hub 

Operations Manager Rob Payne. 

“We identified a lack of service to builders out here and wanted to 

expand our reach to better meet their needs.” 

“We’re anticipating it could save some builders a 40-minute round 

trip to restock on supplies – and that’s with good traffic!” 

The new store’s branch manager Scott Morton has been working 

with PlaceMakers for 14 years. He started off part-time at a young 

age, working after school in the showroom, before progressing 

through telesales and account management, as well as spending 

some time as a commercial account manager. 

Scott says he’s confident the knowledge and experience of the 10 

staff working at Rolleston will help fill a gap that was previously 

missing for builders in the area. “We’ll ensure we meet their needs 

by providing the most enjoyable and efficient in-store experience, 

the best range of merchandise in the area and a comprehensive 

delivery service. We’ll ensure all key products are available. A real 

advantage for us is that we can bring stock in from other areas of 

Canterbury if we’re missing something.” 

PlaceMakers Rolleston - 35 Hoskyns Road, Rolleston 

ROLLESTON


Encouraging 

bees 

into your garden 

Bee-friendly planting 

Honeybees are struggling right now in early spring, 

and will again in autumn, when there are fewer flowers 

around unless humans help. Bumble bees need support 

from midwinter to early spring. Native bees are better 

off, being active from late spring through summer, to 

match Aotearoa’s peak native flowering diversity. 

To help these little hard workers, plan for early, midseason 

and late season blooming, providing food 

throughout the year. 

Bees especially love blue and yellow, and flowers that 

make good landing platforms or are tubular with nectar 

at the base. 

Trees and shrubs can provide pollen and nectar early in 

the season before other plants have emerged. The NZ 

Trees for Bees Research Trust has downloadable regional 

planting guides. Good news for Cantabrians is that 

many of our favourites are already on there, including 

cabbage trees, flaxes, hebe, and pear and apple trees. 

Top tip – plant clusters of each species together – 

this type of display attracts bees while also looking 

awesome. 

Sometimes it’s a matter of re-framing your opinion about 

what’s already happening naturally in your garden. 

Lawn purists will tell you that clover and dandelions are 

weeds. But bees love them, and let’s face it, once these 

plants are in your lawn they’re pretty hard to get rid of, 

so – let them flower. Their presence will help the bees 

and therefore all your other plants. 

Easy on the sprays 

Extensive scientific studies have concluded that 

Roundup, although heavily used in NZ domestically 

and commercially, is toxic to bees. Glyphosate, its key 

ingredient, disrupts their digestive bacteria, making 

them weaker and prone to infection. It has also been 

proved that surfactants, or spray-enhancing agents, 

smother the bee. 

So if you must spray, do extensive research from 

independent sources, not from the manufacturer. Also 

consider the many natural products that are highly 

effective, including vinegars, salt, lemon juice and 

boiling water. 

The timing is also crucial – bees forage in daylight, so 

spray at dawn, or dusk and into the evening. 

Here’s a great job for the kids 

Bees need fresh, shallow water available every day. They 

can’t swim, so choose a container with gently sloping 

edges, or add small stones or floating bits of wood. 

Bees are a gardener’s best friend, so let’s be theirs too. 

Bring your dreams 

to reality 

Adding a pool to your outdoor area remains a 

popular option for many Selwyn homes and local 

company Lagoon Pools continues to be busy looking 

after residents’ needs. 

They not only install the pools in a range of sizes but 

can help with organising pavers, pool surrounds and 

fencing. 

With sizes and shapes ranging from three metres 

to 12 metres, there really is a pool for every site in a 

range of colours. Other additional features include 

fountains, spa jets and swim jets and they can even 

add pool lighting. 

“It is best for anyone looking at installing a pool to 

work ahead and get it locked in early,” says Lagoon 

Pools owner Julie who runs the business with her 

husband Warren. 

It takes around five days to install a pool and then 

the finishing touches takes from around 6 weeks 

depending upon the design. 

Lagoon Pools is the Leisure Pools dealer for most of 

the South Island. Leisure Pools feature 100% per cent 

composite fibreglass and, with patented innovations, 

every swimming pool is supported by their lifetime 

structural warranty and a lifetime osmosis warranty. 

Contact Lagoon Pools by phoning Julie or Warren on 

0800 927 282. You can also visit their website www. 

lagoonpools.co.nz to find out more about their range 

of pools and other services they offer. 

www.lagoonpools.co.nz 

03 349 2160 or 0800 92 72 82


H 

AM 310 II 

Working Area: 1,000m 2 - Cutting Capacity: 60m 2 /h 

Max Incline: 40% (22°) 

An excellent entry level, user friendly robotic mower for 

a small to medium lawns up to 1,000m 2 , handling slopes 

up to 22°. Control from your smartphone via Bluetooth 

connectivity. 

FREE 

Install Kit 

H 

AM 405X 

Working Area: 600m 2 - Cutting Capacity: 63m 2 /h 


High-performance model ideal for small, intricate lawns. 

Handles slopes and narrow passages effortlessly, 

delivering flawless results. Features GPS assisted 

navigation, smart home integration, premium 

security, personalised zone control and 

cellular connectivity. 

FREE 

BONUS 

Install Offer Kit 

H 

AM 415X 



The perfect choice for mid-sized and complex lawns, 

handles narrow passages and slopes. Features GPS 

assisted navigation, smart home integration, premium 

security, personalised zone control and cellular 

connectivity. 

FREE 

BONUS 


$ 

2,790 Includes medium installation kit^ 

L 

AM 430X 



Smart enough to navigate large and complex lawns, 

multiple narrow passages, obstacles, tough terrain and 

slopes with superior control thanks to the GPS-assisted 

navigation. Features smart home integration, 

premium security and cellular connectivity. 

FREE 

BONUS 


$ 

3,490 

L 

AM 450X 



The ultimate model for large properties, adept at handling 

tough terrains, obstacle, and slopes with GPS navigation. 

Features smart home integration, premium security, 

object detection and cellular connectivity. 

FREE 

BONUS 


$ 

4,490 

L 

AM 435X AWD 



An all-wheel-drive model that makes light work of large 

lawns, obstacles, rough terrain and slopes. 

Features ultrasonic collision detection, X-line design with 

LED headlights and equipped with Automower® 

Connect including GPS theft tracking. 

FREE 

BONUS 


$ 

5,690 

$ 

6,990 

$ 

8,490 

H 

Homeowner 

Medium Duty, seasonal or occasional use. 

L 

Landowner 

Heavy Duty, Frequent or demanding use. 

Prices refer to units only. Installation kits sold separately: Small $219 RRP, 

Medium $309 RRP. Large $479 RRP. Installation costs are optional and are in 

addition to all Automower unit pricing shown above. 

SHANDS HuSqVARNA 706 Main South Road 

Phone 03 349 8955 | www.shands.co.nz 

*Buy a residential Husqvarna Automower® X-Line series (AM430X, AM450X, AM435X AWD) unit and SAVE up to $400 

(including GST) off cost of Husqvarna professional installation. *Buy a residential Husqvarna Automower® X-Line series 

(AM405X, AM415X) unit and SAVE up to $300 (including GST) off cost of Husqvarna professional installation. 

^Buy a residential Husqvarna Automower® 305/310 MKII unit and receive a FREE installation kit. Installation costs not 

included, to be quoted separately by local Husqvarna dealer. See husqvarna.com for full terms and conditions.


Your local 

spring planting 

specialists. 

Southern Woods, proudly part of the Selwyn 

community for over a generation. 

Southern Woods Nursery is the place to go for all things 

plant related. 

Trends towards edible gardens and sustainable living 

are evergrowing, and Southern Woods is well positioned 

to support Selwyn residents with their sustainability 

goals. Their range includes a wide range of nut and fruit 

trees, alongside New Zealand natives, specimen trees, 

landscape shrubs, specialist forestry species, and plenty 

more. 

Millions of plants are grown on-site and looked after by a 

team of 50 dedicated staff, who are on hand to help and 

provide great advice based on their many years in the 

business. 

In fact, Southern Woods prides itself on its local and highly 

knowledgeable team – their advice can make all the 

difference to the success of your projects. 

“Selwyn is a diverse district, with plenty of tricky planting 

sites”, explains Business Development Manager Rico 

Mannall. “Many of our staff live nearby, which means that 

they have hands-on understanding of which plants will suit 

your property’s location, soil type and aspect.” 

If you are unsure exactly what you are looking for, 

Southern Woods’ team of landscape architects can 

help make your selection even easier with on-site 

consultations and planting plans. Another option is to take 

in your existing landscape plan and they can help source 

species suitable for your section. 

The purpose-built retail store is filled with a huge range 

of options for ground cover, hedging, deciduous trees, 

bushes, grasses, along with spots of colour. They also 

stock a great selection of products to refresh your garden, 

including premium tools. Check out the demonstration 

display of Winter Gardenz architectural glasshouses, a 

great New Zealand-made option for frost tender species. 

Ever supporting local, they are proud to support their 

neighbour Intelligro, stocking their premium barks, 

fertilisers, composts, and mixes. 

Delivery can be arranged across New Zealand and is a 

popular option for many customers. 

Selwyn homeowners are lucky to have virtually everything 

they need to beautify and extend their gardens right on 

their doorstep. 

Check out southernwoods.co.nz, give the friendly team 

a call on 0800 800 352, or, even better, pop in to 1002 

Robinsons Road, Rolleston to get inspired. 

/ southernwoodsnursery 

Congrats Lydia! NZ Young Plant Producer of the Year. 

Visit our 

Great Plant Centre 

Child and Dog friendly 

Open 7 days 

Spring planting tips 

Spring is the one of the best planting seasons. This time 

of year is an ideal time to plant most species. 

Preparation is everything 

Remember to prepare your soil before planting. You may 

need to dig out marginal soils and bring in extra nutrition. 

Mix in plenty of compost and gypsum for best results. 

Protect from pests and diseases 

Pests and diseases thrive as your garden grows. 

Use Neem granules and oil to help ward off any nasties. 

It’s the perfect time to mulch 

Keeps the moisture in and the weeds out. See our friends at 

Intelligro for great advice and mulch supply. 

A great time to fertilise 

As plants re-enter their growth phase, they need lots of 

nutrition. We recommend Grotabs slow release fertiliser and 

Yates Thrive Liquid Fish & Seaweed. 

Need help? 

See our expert team for free quotes, plant sourcing 

landscape design, consultations and much more. 

Open 7 Days - 1002 Robinsons Road, Between Templeton & Rolleston - Phone 0800 800 352 - Order Online New Zealand Wide southernwoods.co.nz

Selwyn_Times: October 05, 2023

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