Wellington Gardens. Successful gardening for Wellington, Kapiti coast and Wairarapa, by Jon Muller .

General garden information for the Wellington region ... excerpts

Wind .........excerpt
Wind affects plant growth in many ways. Strong winds can damage plants, or distort their growth. Trees deformed on their windward side is an all too familiar sight in Wellington. Wind also increases water loss from the plant and from the soil by evaporation.
Wellington's windy reputation is not entirely fair. Other parts of New Zealand also experience strong winds, but the capital's position close to the wind funnel of Cook Strait makes it a prime candidate. As we shall see there are areas in Wellington that are more sheltered than others from the prevailing north-westerlies and southerlies.
The more elevated your section the greater the likelihood of wind exposure: those living in Newlands, for example, and in Lower Hutt's western hills, can experience very strong north-westerlies.

Temperature normals (1961-1990)

Sunlight .........excerpt
Light is essential because plants require the sun's energy to photsynthsise and produce food. Some plants need full sunlight for optimum growth, while others have adapted to grow successfully in lower light conditions. Plants such as tomatoes need full sunlight to ripen successfully. The number of sunlight hours per year is an indication of how 'sunny' a place is, but the hiding effect of hills and ranges will effectively reduce the sunlight hours.
You need to look at the areas in your garden at different times of the year. As the sun is lower in the horizon in winter the shading effects will be greater. A large hill, building or tree can mean a sunny spot in summer can be shaded for much of winter. This can have a big influence on what can be grown in your garden. See Fig 2. This is also why even though the sunshine figures shown can give you a general picture for your area, the position of your section has to be looked at on its own merits.

Rainfall .........excerpt
Wellingtonians are lucky: the region doesn't get the extremes of rainfall as often as some South Island areas ( recent droughts in Otago, for example) or places further north (recent flooding in Northland). It tends to be a more even, fairly reliable spread over the year, though it varies across the region. The actual amount of rainfall that falls on your patch will affect your plant selection. If you live in an area prone to dry spells, such as in parts of the Wairarapa, you will need to select drought-tolerant plants, unless you have an irrigation system.

Reducing the effects of topography .........excerpt
Gardening on a slope is always a challenge. There are a number of options for those of us living on slopes.

1. Decks
   If space is limited, or the section very steep, then a deck can provide an extension of the living space of the house. Decks, like courtyards, are ideal for growing container plants.
2. Terracing
   There is an unlimited market in Wellington City for the building of retaining walls. Creating a flat space on a slope can be an expensive operation. It is better to create a series of terraces that involve the minimum of cutting and filling. The higher the wall, and the greater the amount of soil to be shifted, the greater the cost.
   Retaining walls should always be built correctly - a wall that falls over is not just a sorry sight, it is very expensive to fix. It is wise to employ professionals if you don't know how to do it yourself. Collapse is usually due to either inadequate drainage behind the wall or the posts not being in deep enough. Once walls get over a certain height they need a building consent permit, resource consent and an engineer's plan. Check with your local council first.
3. Planting
   In some cases, the best idea for a steep bank is to plant it in suitable plants for that location, especially if there is flat space elsewhere. Once a dense cover is created, little maintenance will be required. Native plants are often ideal.

Compost .........excerpt
Clay soils and sandy soils can be improved by adding good quality compost. Compost will improve the structure of clay soils, making it easier to cultivate and work with. Adding compost to a sandy soil will improve the water-holding capacity and its ability of the soil to retain and supply nutrients to the plant.
There are two ways to add compost:

1. Compost can be dug into the soil before planting. However, if the soil is of a clay type do not dig in if it is too wet or too dry -wait until the conditions are more favourable. You should aim to get a 50:50 mix of soil to compost. This method is ideal for growing perennials. If planting over a large area or on steep sections, simply add compost around each plant, a method more appropriate if planting trees.
2. The alternative method for perennials and shrubs is to simply add the compost to the top of the soil, and not dig it in. This method is known as the 'no dig' gardening method. Then, when planting, the compost will blend with the soil. If your soil is a compacted clay, it's a good idea to loosen up the soil before adding the compost; this will help the two layers to blend. Perennial weeds, like couch, should be controlled before adding the compost.

Weeds .........excerpt
In addition to the weeds listed by the Wellington Regional Council, there are a number of other weeds that gardeners are likely to come across.

The Wellington Regional Council Biosecurity Department can help you with pest plant identification and advice. (Upper Hutt 04-526-5325 or Masterton 06-378-2484)

Lawns .........excerpt
One of the common problems with lawns laid on new sections is the topsoil layer being too thin. Any new lawn should have at least 10 cm of topsoil to provide adequate root growth.
Lawn maintenance means regular mowing, but it is very important not too cut the grass too low. Remove only the top third. If the grass is cut too low it stresses the plant. It also exposes the soil, making the lawn more prone to weeds.
Regular lawn fertiliser applications in the growing season will encourage grass growth and discourage weeds. Slow-release fertilisers are a better choice as they are less likely to burn the lawn. Make sure that the lawns are well watered when applying the fertiliser.

Using Professionals .........excerpt
A number of the gardens featured in this book have been designed by landscape professionals. Like most work in and around the home, it is advisable to use professionals when designing or installing your garden.
This book will provide the basics to develop a garden in your part of Wellington. However, if you require extra help, you could use one of the following:

1. Landscape designer or architect:
   They will design your garden, including the plants and hard surfaces, such as paved areas or decks. A scaled plan will detail construction as well as plant layout. They can also arrange to get the plan implemented.
2. Landscape contractor:
   A contractor will do the work according to the plan. The two main types of landscape work are:
   (a) Hard construction - this involves hard surfaces, and many would say hard work! You can get specialists in paving, block & bricklaying, and timber construction such as fences. For work like block walls, you should use a block layer. Don't forget that if your wall is over a certain height you will need an engineer.
   (b) Soft construction - this involves the planting, and addition of topsoil, compost or mulch. It is important to obtain healthy, hardy plants for your garden. For larger quantities of plants it is better to source your plants from a wholesale nursery.
   It is usual for the contractor to provide replacement plants for a short period after planting as long as the reason wasn't negligence by the owner, or vandalism. If you are unable to maintain your garden, you could get a maintenance contract with the contractor who built the garden. It is very important to ensure that the new development is managed for weed control, watering, fertiliser addition, staking and pruning.
3. Arborist:
   Good arborists are trained in every facet of tree care; they can prune, shape and remove shrubs and trees as your needs arise.
4. Turf specialist:
   There are specialists in turf construction that can lay turf or sow turf seed, or maintain your lawn. A good quality lawn takes time and effort, so it pays to use good quality seed, soil and advice.
   As with most professionals, it pays to check their credentials. Contractors and arborists should have public liability insurance to cover any possible damage to your property.
   Professionals should provide written quotes for work. They are usually listed in the Yellow Pages, and may be a member of a related association such as the NZ Arboricultural Association.
   The best reference you can get is from a satisfied friend who has used these professionals.

Excerpts

A successful Maungaraki Garden analysed

21 gardens
Photos and comments

Wellington's
Ecological zones
Map & Suitable plants

Praise for Wellington Gardens

Introduction
Contents
How to use this book

Buy books

General garden information
· Wind - Temperature - Sunlight · Rainfall · Topography · Compost · Weeds · Lawns
· Using professionals

Acknowledgements