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

Introduction

Wellingtonians are often the butt of endless jokes about their windy climate and their hilly suburbs. In reality the Wellington region has a diverse range of climates, topography and soils. From a gardening perspective, to know the characteristics of your own area means you will know how to best utilise them. Each area has limiting factors that determine what can be grown successfully. For example, if you live near the coast salt-laden winds will restrict your choice; plants such as maples, which are sensitive to the salt, will not grow well.

Climate-change - always a topical subject -is evident in long-term fluctuations over many years. For example, the overall New Zealand mean temperature for the last thirty years is 12.7C, compared to 11.8C back in the 1920s. Over the same period, however, New Zealand climatologists have found decadal fluctuations for rainfall in Wellington and Wairarapa but no clear long-term trend.

The short-term climate has been more benign recently with a few warmer, more settled summer-autumn periods and fewer strong winds. While drier summers can be a challenge, strong winds can be just as threatening as both produce drought stress.

For most Wellington gardeners establishing shelter and improving the soil mean a wider range of plants can be grown. When planting it is essential that plants are matched with their proper environments. Using the correct plants for your particular location will save you a lot of heartache. Don't forget, New Zealands native plants have adapted to unique New Zealand conditions, so observing the natural world of plants provides useful information when developing a garden.

In this book we will be looking at what factors characterise Wellington, and how gardens can be successfully created in its different soils and climates.

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