How to Design a Native New Zealand Garden: Where Landscaping Meets Ecology

Interest in New Zealand native garden design has grown in recent years as more people seek eco-friendly alternatives to traditional garden styles.

With extreme weather becoming more common, a garden that mirrors the natural environment can also help your outdoor areas become more resilient.

Follow our step-by-step guide to learn how to make a native garden in New Zealand. Plus, discover how high-end landscape designers can help bring your vision to life.

1. Plan your native garden

Get to know your native plants

When planning a native garden design, start by exploring the natural landscapes around you. Aucklanders are lucky to live near protected native bush. Next time you visit one, take note of the indigenous plants to gather inspiration for your own garden. The Aotearoa Species Classifier app, developed by New Zealand researchers, is an excellent tool for quickly identifying plants by taking photos on your phone. 

Canopy Trees

o    Nikau palm

o    Pohutukawa

o    Kowhai

Ground cover

o    Carex

o    Anemanthele lessoniana

Planning the design

After gathering inspiration, it's time to choose where your native garden will go. If you're redesigning your entire garden, breaking it into zones and starting with one section can make the process more manageable. Draw a plan showing existing garden features, trees, infrastructure such as powerlines, and more. Create a list of plants that correspond to specific areas and develop a timeline for when you should plant them.

Long-term planning is also essential for a successful native garden. Consider how tall or big each tree or plant will be and whether they will synergise or compete. Will they block any sun in your indoor living areas or clash with any powerlines? Thoughtful planting can create an outdoor oasis that lasts years, allowing future generations to inherit a beautiful garden that supports New Zealand's delicate ecosystem.

2. Plant your native garden

Prepare your landscape

Whether your landscape already has native elements or you're starting from scratch, the next important step is tidying and maintaining it. Trim or mow the lawn area if you have one. Add compost or rotted manure to the planting areas, aerate the soil, and keep your garden weed-free until it's time to plant. Native plants thrive in weed- and pest-free conditions.

When choosing planting times, consider that your plants will need significant water to stay alive outside of the cooler winter season. April to May is ideal as the weather cools. Ensure that your planting sites are moist but not water-saturated.

Plant your favourite native flora

Once you start planting, keep a log of what you planted, when, and where. This will help you manage garden maintenance and track what works best. Many native plants thrive in decaying vegetation, making deep litter mulch highly beneficial. In the absence of natural leaf litter, you can replicate this with wet cardboard, untreated bark chips, or other untreated paper materials. Keep mulch away from stems and spread it evenly.

Use a variety of textures to add visual intrigue to your native garden. In any native bush, diverse species with different silhouettes, shapes, and colours naturally coexist. Embracing these contrasts enhances garden design and supports plant health.

What are the benefits of professional landscaping for native garden designs?

Creating a native garden that reflects New Zealand's natural environment can be exciting, but DIY landscaping isn't always easy. If you've planned your garden but lack confidence in execution, professional residential landscaping experts can simplify the process for you. Here's how they can help:

Extensive horticultural experience

Professional landscapers bring years of planting experience to the table. Horticulturalists specialising in native garden design can identify and source the plants most suitable for your landscape, creating a thriving ecosystem that blends seamlessly with the local environment.

Time-savings

Creating a native garden requires time and effort, which not everyone can commit to. Professional landscapers streamline the journey, managing everything from site preparation and plant selection to installation and long-term maintenance.

Exceptional attention to detail

A well-designed garden should be visually striking both up close and from a distance. Professionals ensure every element complements the overall landscape, creating a cohesive and refined native garden.

Second Nature is dedicated to crafting genuine native gardens

Need help creating your dream native garden? At Second Nature, our expert horticulturalists in Auckland are experienced at creating beautiful and practical native gardens that are completed to the industry's highest standards. Contact our team for award-winning landscaping and horticultural services.