Opinion
The right hedge can bring structure, shelter and colour to a garden
OPINION: Small hedges can stop stray footballs damaging plants and help hide weeds.
Latest from Gareth Carter
Stories and analysis from The Northern Express Herald.
A guide to growing tamarillo trees
OPINION: Tamarillos can fruit from May through to Christmas.
Gareth Carter: My top tips for spring gardening
September gardening tips include protecting plants from wind, cold and frost.
Hardy vegetables to plant in spring
OPINION: Learn which crops suit cool spring soil and how to prepare garden beds.
Gareth Carter: How to prepare soil and grow a new lawn in spring or autumn
Spring is the ideal time to repair patchy, weedy lawns before summer.
Gareth Carter: Time to plant strawberries for summer harvest
Comment: Strawberries thrive in the ground or in pots when given the right conditions.
How to plant and grow dahlias from Christmas to autumn
OPINION: Now is the time to plant dahlia tubers, once the frost risk has passed.
Gareth Carter: How to plant and care for magnolia trees
Magnolia flowering season is here, with tips for choosing and growing trees.
Gareth Carter: Fruit trees to plant now for a year-round home harvest
Many fruit trees can produce for 20 to 40 years or more.
Fruit trees, microgreens and sprouts to try now
OPINION: Microgreens can be grown indoors and harvested in 10 to 14 days.
Gareth Carter: Veges to plant this winter
Comment: If you sow now in temperate areas, expect to harvest by mid-October.
Gareth Carter: Why hellebores are every gardener’s secret weapon
OPINION: New hybrid Magico, with lime and pink flowers, was launched in NZ this year.
Gareth Carter: Best apple varieties to plant this winter for perfect homemade pies
OPINION: Winter is the ideal season to plant apple trees while they are dormant.
Gareth Carter: How to get your potato crop off to the best start this season
Chitted potatoes can usually be planted from early August in temperate areas.
Gareth Carter : Why July is the best month for pruning your garden
Dry days are ideal for pruning as they limit fungal and bacterial spread.
How to fill your winter garden with colour and fragrance
Wintersweet’s waxy yellow blooms scent the air through June and July.
Gareth Carter: How to turn your garden into a year-round bird haven
Up to 12% of New Zealand’s native flora rely on birds for pollination.
Gareth Carter: How to make the most of winter soil for your garden
OPINION: Recent rainfall and cool days make ideal conditions for winter planting.
Gareth Carter: Growing strawberries at home
OPINION: Five plants per person will keep families in fruit all summer long.
Gareth Carter: From sticks to blooms – simple winter steps for stunning summer roses
OPINION: Winter is the ideal time to plant new-season roses.
Gareth Carter: Flowering shrubs add life to winter gardens
OPINION: Now is an excellent time to add plants that provide colour through winter.
Gareth Carter: How to make camellias the winter stars of your garden
OPINION: Many camellias flower from autumn through winter into early spring.
Gareth Carter: Autumn is planting time
Comment: Gardeners are urged to plant now after recent rainfall boosted soil moisture.
Gardening: The simple winter flower swap that keeps your garden bright for months
Pansies can flower for six months or more through the cooler seasons.
How to get the best from citrus trees in your garden this winter
Citrus trees planted now use cool, moist soil to establish strong roots.
Gareth Carter: Grow some green fences
OPINION: Find out about suitable species for small hedges in the home garden.
Gareth Carter: Time to plant tulips
OPINION: Tulip bulbs need to be planted while dormant in the autumn months.
Gareth Carter: What to plant now for a big winter harvest
Even tiny patios can grow beetroot, broccoli and lettuce in pots or pods.
Gareth Carter: The autumn berry that doubles as your next favourite hedge
Chilean guava forms a fast-growing hedge, outpacing traditional buxus.
Gareth Carter: Simple ways to grow your own berries
OPINION: Many raspberries, blackberries and boysenberries grow well even in small spaces.
