ShaferDesign Blog

General Knowledge

Liquidamber styraciflua, also known as the sweet gum tree, is a beautiful plant species with stunning autumn colours. Its best uses are in parks to provide shade or in large lawns, however we do not recommend that you plant this tree in a home garden as it requires plenty of space. This is a deciduous species that can grow up to 20m high and 8m wide. However, there is …

Mondo grass, (also known as monkey grass), is an evergreen perennial that makes an amazing ground cover grass-like plant. They will flourish in almost any soil and lighting condition. Mondo grass is slow growing, easily propagated by division and needs little care once it is established. It is a truly attractive and excellent landscape plant with a large number of uses. Learning how to grow mondo grass is worth the …

With of their bigger flower heads, hydrangeas have an old-fashioned feel to them that is difficult to resist. These beautiful plants are easy to cultivate, grow in almost any soil and produce lots of blooms in attractive colours of clear blue, vibrant pink, frosty white, lavender and rose blossoms which sometimes bloom on the same plant!

It requires following a few simple growing tips to produce healthy hydrangeas. You should be …

Roses are known around the world as beautiful and fragrant flowers that hold special meaning — especially when given to you by someone you love. If you’re interested in growing these special flowers to enjoy them for yourself, autumn is the perfect time to get started. New Zealand’s temperate climate is suitable to plant roses anytime of the year, but autumn is preferred by gardeners and rose-lovers alike because the …

Have you ever caught yourself feeling envious over a neighbour’s attractive hedge but felt the process would be too difficult? There’s a common misconception that growing a hedge is extremely difficult — but the good news is that these appealing living fences are actually quite simple to grow and maintain. While growing a thick and healthy hedge doesn’t necessarily require you to be a professional landscaper, there are actionable steps …

Plant Selection

There are four main categories of box hedges: common box (Buxus sempervirens), instant box hedging, dwarf box (B. sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’), and other varieties of box hedge plants. These are good plants to start with since they will succeed year-round. 

Plant Spacing

Determining how much spacing you need is important. To calculate this, simply multiply the length of your box garden hedge in meters by 5. For low growing hedges, under …

Photo credit: Mike Holman

Modern architecture and landscape design at its finest. This stunning cliffside home located in Auckland’s North Shore region features elegant lines and a smart, open design that offers an unbridled view of the Hauraki Gulf.

With its sleek exterior composed of black Accoya weatherboards and Monarc precast panels, this home is effortlessly chic and modern. Its open-plan design uses frameless corner glass sliding doors and allows the living …

Hibiscus plants lend colour and delight to any garden. With their large, vibrant blooms, these shrubs can give your backyard that much-needed tropical feel.

Interested in growing your own hibiscus plants? Here’s what you need to know:

Getting To Know Your Hibiscus

Hibiscus are hardy shrubs that have been cultivated around Asia and the Pacific for centuries. They come in various cultivars with flower colours ranging from the classic red, pink, and white …

Swimming pool fencing can make or break a swimming pool design.  If it is handled well, the finished result will not detract from your view of the pool or your outdoor living. Below are a few ideas, and tips for a stylish swimming pool fencing solution.

Basic Pool Fencing rules

The basic swimming pool fencing rules require a 1200mm minimum height barrier around the pool enclosure.  There …

If you want to add more privacy to your home, tune out noise from nearby traffic, or simply create an enclosed space in your yard, then planting a hedge could be your best option.

Compared to fences, living screens and hedges from native shrubs like corokia have tons of benefits and are a whole lot easier on the eyes.

Want to know the best way to plant and maintain corokia hedges? Read …