We’re lucky when it comes to landscaping because we inherited a very unique and mature setting. It’s these natural assets that attracted us to the section in the first place. They’re also the reason why we needed to employ a landscape architect to complete our Resource Consent application.

Fortunately I found the details of Lance Millward, owner of landscaping business Verdant Green, on the original subdivision documents for our section, and asked him if he could help us bring our vision to life. It was an invitation Lance jumped at, designing a methodology for rejuvenating the stream along with a supporting planting plan.

Thanks to Lance’s expertise, our plans sailed through Council and we’ve been slowly implementing his blueprint ever since. It’s been a labour of love, including 30 tonnes of rock placed by hand to line the stream channel, but it’s been immensely rewarding to watch our bubbling brook transform from a dirty ditch into a natural waterway. We’re especially fond of the grasses, flaxes and other natives cascading down the lower banks, which were planted by the Verdant Green team last year.

 I’ve been chomping at the bit to finish the rest of the planting, but it’s only been the past couple of weeks that the site has become clear enough to enable this to happen. However my thumbs aren’t the greenest, so once again we called on Lance’s skills to help us navigate the complexities of the botanical realm.

 The first thing we did was work through a new plant order, taking into account the species that had already flourished along the stream, as well as choosing some new flora that would be better suited to the more shady areas we were about to plant in. We decided on a mix of 200 natives from Kauri Park Nurseries and arranged for them to be delivered to site.

Before planting could begin, Lance prescribed a healthy dose of ground preparation. Firstly we dug up the compacted earth, before mixing some blood & bone and gypsum through it to assist in the recondition of our clay-based soil. Then we called in the reinforcements, in the form of Kylie and her family, to help us spread 12 cubic metres of mulch around the section.

Eventually after two days of groundwork we were able to start on the fun bit. It didn’t take long at all to plant everything, adding a scoop of garden mix around the roots of each shrub. And wow, what a transformation. The previously unfinished upper reaches of the stream now look complete, blending seamlessly into the bush and it’ll only get better as everything grows and fills out.