Landscaping your newly built home

Being based in Matakana and Mangawhai, we see a lot of new homes being constructed throughout the area.

The landscaping stage is a very exciting time for new home owners as the keys have usually just been handed over and the new chapter is about to begin!

So what should you be considering when landscaping your new house?

Keeping with the home aesthetic

When choosing your landscaping style and deciding on plant choice, it’s important to refer back to the style and facade of your new home. Matching the style of home to the style of garden is key to creating a cohesive look and feel. Here are some pointers for make sure the two marry up:

Modern homes - If you have a modern, minimalist style home, look at using bold shaped plants with architectural forms. Have a look at Cycad revoluta, NZ native reed (Apodasmia similis Oi Oi) and Carex, Bamboo, Rubber Tree (Ficus robusta), Mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria), and Bromeliad varieties.

When looking at the hard landscaping features, use rounded materials to soften the hard edges of the house exterior. Large round boulders, smooth river stones, gabion structures and large rounded pots to soften the entrance.

Image via HERE

Coastal homes - If you are building close to the coast then wind and sea salt are going to be factors at play in your garden. Reeds and grasses work wonderfully in coastal gardens and they also help prevent soil erosion. Houpara Cyril Watson (Pseudopanax lessonii) are striking as are, Puka (Meryta sinclairii), as are Wharangi (Melicope ternata), Karaka (Corynocarpus laevigatus) and Elingamita (Elingamita johnsonii).

Farm Style Homes - from modern to traditional, the farmhouse style is charming and full of character. This style allows more flexibility in landscaping design and is a great opportunity to showcase New Zealand natives such as Kakabeak (Clianthus puniceus), Arthropodium cirratum Renga Renga Lily, Kowhai Chathamica (Sophora chathamica) and Carex.

Timber and stone looks amazing in the hard landscaping of a modern farmhouse home. If you have a large property then a gravel driveway is ideal otherwise a short concrete driveway is practical and easy to maintain. The Little Digger guys can help with both driveway options, have a chat with us about which option best suits you!

2. Create that “always been there” look

New homes can often look a bit out of place for a while and the reason is that gardens take time to establish. You can fast track the process and give your home that “always been there” look by using clever planting choices.

Invest in one or two mature trees to plant in the front yard. They may cost a lot more than the smaller baby versions, but the impact that one or two large trees gives is amazing! People passing by will say “I swear that house was only built yesterday!”.

Here is a list of our favourite local nurseries we love to deal with:

https://takana.co.nz ,

https://www.wairere.nz

https://www.awanursery.co.nz

Plant hedging trees for instant hedging and privacy. The Little Digger with it’s Auger attachment drills all the holes for planting in no time. Helping you create that instant hedging effect, without breaking your back!

3. Tight access worries

When considering how you are going to landscape, don’t be put off by narrow gates and paths and tricky access. The Little Digger is small enough to fit just about anywhere and our team of drivers are experts in manoeuvring on even the toughest job sites.

4. Consider your hard landscaping

Retaining walls are great for maximising usable space on a property, especially if you have a sloping block. There are many materials that can be used for retaining, from treated timber to gabion cages filled with stones. Our team can help you with materials, from sourcing to delivering topsoil, pebbles, timber, culverts, big rocks / boulders and trees.

If you have a short driveway, concrete is a great option. It’s a set and forget option that requires pretty much no maintenance. Sit back and relax and we’ll organise everything for you from boxing to concrete pouring.

If you need some help with any aspect of your landscaping then why not get in touch with our team. We can come out for a free site visit and talk you through all the options!

So from Puhoi to Mangawhai, make your new build smooth with The Little Digger Company lending a helping hand!