With weather disasters becoming more frequent, overheating, flooding and growing stresses in everyday life, can the design of our homes and communities provide relief? Research shows the answer is a resounding 'yes'! We’re not making them anymore, but the old quarter-acre sections with big back lawns, feijoa and plum trees and a veggie garden still hold a special place in our hearts. They gave us a lot: the practical advantages of space for leisure and home-grown food, room t

Earthworks compact soil so much that it sucks the air out of it, making it little better than paving at soaking up water in severe weather. University of Auckland Engineering and Design PHD student Sue Ira explains Walk down almost any new Auckland subdivision and you’ll notice the tidy strips of grass, freshly planted shrubs and young trees along the berms. They look green, healthy and good for the environment. But dig a little deeper, literally, and you’ll find that the so

Traditionally, the provision of play (especially for children) has been limited to specific zones, such as parks, playgrounds and sports facilities. But these are not the only – nor always the preferred – places people play in. There is growing awareness of the need to better provide time, space and freedom for play in our cities. Dr. Damien Puddle, Local Play Advocate, Invercargill City Council, explores how landscapes can create play opportunities through design Traditional

Property boundaries can be contentious. It can be difficult to work out where an actual boundary is, particularly when it may have been...

Resource efficiency is all about using materials, energy, time and money more effectively. In this guide, produced by BRANZ, we look at...

Strict regulations ensure the safety of children around swimming pools by requiring the installation of suitable barriers and restricting...

Many new-build and land packages focus on maximising build space, while reducing planting space, which can result in small, impersonal...

Fences, screens and walls are fundamental aspects of landscape design and construction, defining borders, creating spaces and providing...

While we can’t change New Zealand’s gusty climate, there’s plenty we can do to minimise its impact. Clever siting of buildings, modifying...

Our growing urban population increasingly lives on sections that are radically shrinking in size. Green space is often lost at the...

Landscapers are coming under increased pressure to consider the environmental implications of their work – whether that’s from regulation...

Some retaining walls are exempt from consent, while others are not. Read more about when a consent is required, what to consider from a...

New Zealand’s hilly landscape can present both challenges and opportunities for landscapers. In this article, expert Jon Muller discusses...

Wildfires can be a major threat during hotter, drier months, but with smarter planting, you can help reduce the risk to your client’s...

Maybe you just enjoy working with trees – but, like caring for pets, they need to be selected and treated differently according to their...

Readylawn’s Roger Morgan explores some heat-resistant grass types that  will keep lawns looking great throughout the summer months It...

Putting the right plant in the right site is vitally important for hot and dry areas. In this article, Rebecca Hughes from Blue Mountain...

Recently, while I was at my local outdoor pool, I couldn’t help noticing that the whole 40 or so minutes I was swimming, the attendant...

A classic white garden is perfect if your clients want you to create solace in the space. Horticulture expert Rebecca Hughes details...

If you live in New Zealand, the chances are you’ll need to manage a garden influenced by coastal conditions. In this article,...