Swallow gardening

Swallow gardening My focus is on sharing my knowledge and learning together. Your garden needs to suit your lifestyle and budget. Healthy soil - let’s get those earthworms busy.

What will thrive in your particular garden, and most importantly let’s have some fun!

A client’s tibouchina. Once they have flowered give them a good prune back. They come in various vibrant colours, they l...
08/06/2026

A client’s tibouchina. Once they have flowered give them a good prune back. They come in various vibrant colours, they like the sun and are hardy.

Today we used old wool carpet underlay for w**d suppression. Metal pins to secure it. Will add mulch over the top. Quite...
28/05/2026

Today we used old wool carpet underlay for w**d suppression. Metal pins to secure it. Will add mulch over the top.
Quite thick so used blade cutter and piece of wood underneath for a solid surface to cut on.

A few more pics
25/05/2026

A few more pics

Pics from our visit to Larnach Castle today. Margaret Baker is a legend. Margaret and her husband Barry bought the castl...
25/05/2026

Pics from our visit to Larnach Castle today.
Margaret Baker is a legend. Margaret and her husband Barry bought the castle in 1967. She was only 25. They have restored it and she’s developed the gardens.
She writes an article in the NZ Gardener each month.

Love Dunedin, Otago Peninsula and Pacific Ocean from Highcliff Road is magnificent.

Bit of Kiwi ingenuity - when access to a clients property means it’s too difficult to use wheelbarrows - load up the ute...
21/05/2026

Bit of Kiwi ingenuity - when access to a clients property means it’s too difficult to use wheelbarrows - load up the ute with containers for carrying upstairs and to the site.

A pulley system would have been great but we’re not that fancy!

Cardboard, bark and edging yesterday with Isaac B. Client was very happy. Need a few plants in the space is all!
29/04/2026

Cardboard, bark and edging yesterday with Isaac B. Client was very happy. Need a few plants in the space is all!

This is my biggest job so far. Still working on back yard banks. Big transformation and we work to a plan, step by step....
20/04/2026

This is my biggest job so far. Still working on back yard banks. Big transformation and we work to a plan, step by step.

Still have Manuka to plant at back of this garden. Planted bronze rambler (grevillea ground cover) at front and Nandinas, Hebes, and griselinia lucida for hedging/privacy.

Used cardboard and then bark nuggets, client wanted low maintenance. Bark nuggets with last about 4 years.
Bark mulch lasts around one year.

Still enjoying flowers in mid April. Love coming home after a busy day and picking flowers, deadheading and enjoying the...
15/04/2026

Still enjoying flowers in mid April. Love coming home after a busy day and picking flowers, deadheading and enjoying the colours - esp at dusk.

Nandinas planted today for some autumn winter colour. “Blush”.
01/04/2026

Nandinas planted today for some autumn winter colour. “Blush”.

Alstromeria seeds. Great time to fertilize your camellias.
19/03/2026

Alstromeria seeds.

Great time to fertilize your camellias.

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Porirua

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