Summer lasted quite a good part of April, and now we are still irrigating hard. But the ground is soft in most parts, and great for you to plant big trees. Not such an easy season for some species, and we confess we have lost a few, especially kowhai which is a bit temperamental till established.

Impact tree lines

The Board of a residential village in Hawkes Bay contacted us this week to ask about Maori Princess as a feature for their entrance. They were looking for a dozen or so to line their driveway. Good choice-they would be spectacular, both during blossom, and because of their conical form, for the rest of the year too. When they asked for options, we suggested kahikatea (we have these at 3 m+). Kahikatea are an underused resource. They are great for wetlands, but, as we all know from the glades covering swampy ground in farms throughout NZ, they are a beautiful colour and texture, and do well in all sorts of conditions, except really dry for extended periods. Again, the conical shape means you lose minimal lawn space and many trees are planted just for this shape. While quite brown for the first years as juveniles, they quickly shed this and turn to that delicate green in their adult form.

Kauri was another option. Again, impressive, conical, and economical on valuable ground level space. Big trees eventually, but long after you and I have passed from this coil!

Opportunity for all you landscapers!

You naturally will be looking out for the gardens and feature trees of the enterprises in your home area. It’s what we do! Where the addition of some specimen impact trees would assist that enterprise with its profile, think about how the impact could be achieved, and call in on them next time you go by! Landscapers are a revered breed to most business operators. They all want a more impressive profile to their sites! But, they don’t have available solutions to achieve this. So when you call, they are likely to be receptive to you as the expert. Give them a well considered solution, with a timeline, and we reckon you’ll get some worthwhile business. And be sure to say they need to retain you for two years to care for the new plantings-which are certainly true.

Time of year for serious tree planting!

Don’t forget, we have the complete range of natives (except pittos). Not just the widely used ones (we have more Nikau than anyone), but our signature, harder to find species like Miro, Matai, Baylisiana, Coastal Maire, Tawapou, Kawaka, Tawhero, Silver Beech and Kohekohe.

Check our new website for pictures and details!

Very sharp prices in May for trade buyers….

Well summer has finally arrived…

But the ground is damp underneath, after the wet March, and conditions are perfect for planting. Trees will get a few good weeks to settle and grow in the warm autumn, before colder weather shuts down growth for the winter.

Our radio campaign (Radio Network) promoting native trees as the perfect natural screen for inner city homes has become even more relevant with the Auckland Council Plan, which provides for 60-70% of Auckland’s population growth to live in higher density housing within the current urban limits. Much interest has been generated by our ads, and many respondents are very grateful we have given them a solution to an intrusive view into their neighbor’s property.

Talk to your clients about this! It’s a great business opportunity for landscapers.

Our Chatham Island nikau (very competitively priced) look stunning after this summer’s growth. 3m fronds, and trunks developing strongly, mean these are shooting away once planted in our clients sites.

Either as a glade or in lines, our nikau make a spectacular statement tree.

As we often say, there are natives suitable for every situation. Some are hardy by nature—and it surprises folk as to how well many of our great species will do in most conditions.

Totara can be found in all conditions except the very wettest. Puriri are found in both coastal and wetland situations. Kauri like the tougher soils and can stand wind and slopes. Pohutukawa and Ti kouka (Cabbage Tree) are also very hardy. Matipo, Mahoe and Wharangi are smaller trees that can stand most conditions.

Don’t be afraid of venturing into lesser known species too. We can help you find the right tree for the right place.

We have the full range of northern coastal species, including rarer trees with wonderful foliage like Baylisiana and Coastal Maire.

Have you visited our new website? We are adding new photos all the time.

We give hefty trade discounts!

Kia Ora…

Autumn beckons early—the prime season for planting natives.

Screen trees, and hedge rows are our current focus – we have so many wonderful natives that fit these themes, grown to strong specimen stage to make an instant impact! For screen tree natives, just what’s needed for inner city dwellers to bring back that sense of privacy, here’s a great start – Papauma and Akapuka (griselinia littoralis & lucida), Titoki, Karaka, Coastal Maire, Nikau, Puka, Totara, Wharangi, Pohutukawa and Puriri.

There’s a native for every situation—these all have different habits, so just bask us what will suit your client’s needs.

Why not suggest screens to your inner city clients, and hedges or rows of natives to your more urban or rural clients. Our trade prices, to landscapers in particular, can mean important revenue to your business.

Some of you have not yet been to visit us—next time you’re in Matakana or Omaha, drop in and have a look around the nursery, whether we are there or not. 102 Omaha Flats Rd Matakana, beside the Fire Station.

We also specialise in specimen street trees, specimens for parks and reserves and for golf courses, and native reforestation programmes.

takana trees are grown as single or central leader specimens, which minimises the amount of lawn space the tree takes—unlike a normal ground level hedge. The leaders are a slender trunk for a couple of metres before the foliage then spreads out, so you can mow right up to them.

takana has lots of interesting trees you can’t get at the nursery down the road. We are happy to support community planting projects and charities—let us know of any worthy causes which need trees donated.

Our simplified pricing for all trees including nikau is $135 for EL45s, $390 for field grown 3-5m, and $75 for PB40s (and we give big discounts for 5 or more of one species)