https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.kateandco.co.nz en-us Thu, 28 Jan 2021 10:23:47 +1300 Rocketspark https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/post/54629/Designing-for-drier-days/ With water restrictions likely to be part of the north island landscape for some time to come, the thought of investing in a new garden can be a little nerve wracking. But with a little bit of design input, you can still create a beautiful garden that will better handle drier conditions as weather patterns change. Of course there is a myriad of hardware out there to make life easier in the garden and irrigation systems with additional features like rain sensors are certainly becoming more popula... Fri, 26 Jun 2020 13:32:18 +1200 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/#post54629 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/post/52291/Tips-for-keeping-your-garden-hydrated-without-breaking-the-law/ Photo by Elizabeth Explores on UnsplashWith hose-pipe bans a week away in Auckland, we are hoping that Mother Nature will soon take over chief irrigation responsibilities but there are a few things you can do to keep your garden in good shape over the coming months. When rain is forecast, create a little catchment area using watering cans, large saucepans and bowls or any trugs, empty drums or big storage containers you have around the house.  When it does rain, pop your indoor plants outsi... Thu, 07 May 2020 16:09:11 +1200 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/#post52291 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/post/51358/Simple-steps-for-winter-ready-roses/ Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash You might notice your roses are looking a tad confused at the moment - some are choosing to flower profusely, while others have folded early and headed into winter. Although hard pruning is generally saved for the cooler winter months between July and August, there are still a few things you can do to prepare your roses for a bumper next season! Mulch around your roses generously - they are heavy feeders and like to be nurtured at root level over the cooler mont... Mon, 20 Apr 2020 15:07:51 +1200 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/#post51358 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/post/50814/Brew-up-some-Banana-Peel-Tea-for-your-garden/ Did you know that you can make a really easy, all-purpose garden fertiliser from your banana skins?  Just grab a container and soak two or three skins in around 600ml of water for a few days (or you can put about a litre of water in a bucket and just add your banana skins daily).  The minerals will leach into the water and then you can pour this liquid directly onto your plants - no need to dilute.  To complete the cycle, give the soaked peels to your worms or add it to your compo... Thu, 09 Apr 2020 11:30:38 +1200 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/#post50814 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/post/50807/Gardening-tips-for-an-Easter-staycation/ While Easter weekend often involves a mad dash to the garden store, this year we’ve come up with a few easy ways to show your garden some love, without heading out at all. Mulch & cover vegetable beds - if you have seedlings ready to go then it’s time to pop these in the ground. However, if you have been caught short, then this is not wasted time! Just remove any tired crops from your vegetable beds, then cover them in a generous layer of mulch or compost (or even just layer cardboard on top... Thu, 09 Apr 2020 10:53:44 +1200 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/#post50807 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/post/50553/5-ways-to-use-coffee-grinds-in-your-garden/ Since it is likely our home caffeine consumption is going to soar over the next little while, we thought it might be handy to have some quick tips on what to do with those used coffee grinds in the garden. Just remember to give the grinds a really loose mix in with the soil, and spread the drop-off points around your garden so you don’t over-acid one patch by accident! Specific treatments - sprinkle around the roots of acid-loving plants (blue hydrangea, azalea, camellia and roses will all enj... Fri, 03 Apr 2020 10:25:38 +1300 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/#post50553 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/post/50133/Happiness-is-pottering-in-the-garden/ We have been sharing tips with our locked-down customers who want to keep their gardens looking gorgeous until their next Kate & Co. visit! And we thought why not share some of their questions (and our advice) with you all…. Help! How do I get rid of a rat in the compost?  While it’s always nice to have a hand in the garden, a rat in the compost is a clear exception for most of us.  A combination of chilli flakes and coffee grinds mixed through the compost should do ... Wed, 25 Mar 2020 16:27:35 +1300 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/#post50133 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/post/30562/Hellebores-the-roses-of-winter/ "So are these weeds? They don’t seem to do much. Do you want to just pull them out?" That is generally how the conversation goes around Hellebores. And to be honest when they are not flowering they are certainly ‘subtle’ in colour and texture. BUT in mid winter, when everything else in the garden is looking tired, these guys take the stage.And boy do they do their bit for a winter garden! Fondly known as 'Winter Roses' Hellebores flower profusely in the garden when not much else is doing a... Mon, 23 Jul 2018 06:58:39 +1200 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/#post30562 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/post/29631/Street-frontage-that-goes-with-the-flow/ When you have a strip of plantable space out front of your home, knowing what to plant can feel overwhelming.  A wander up and down your street will give you a good feel for how your neighbours have approached things and is also a great way to get a sense of what is likely to grow well (and what isn't - usually plenty of examples there too!) Hedging is a great option for many owners as it creates a clean, uniform street frontage. Griselinia, Michelia, Bay Laurel etc can all work a treat. Bu... Tue, 26 Jun 2018 16:47:18 +1200 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/#post29631 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/post/28997/Awesome-planting-options-for-shared-spaces/ Shared spaces offer some great options for well thought through planting.  This week our team have been reworking a couple of these zones, including apartment shared walkways and school gardens.  These areas are often considered tricky for the following reasons: they are generally high foot-traffic zones shared spaces, by their nature, need to appeal to a broad range of tastes and preferences they generally need to have low maintenance care requirements these spaces are ... Sun, 10 Jun 2018 15:46:38 +1200 https://www.kateandco.co.nz/blog/#post28997