How we work
Gardening that supports you, your garden and the wider environment.
Working alongside nature, season by season
At Wild about Weeds we work with you and your garden to create a gorgeous sanctuary for you and for wildlife. We aim to create a healthy, living ecosystem that supports plants, birds, insects and people, so you can connect with your garden and enjoy its unique qualities throughout the year.
It is well proven that connecting with nature supports wellbeing. When your garden is looked after, you benefit twice. You have peace of mind knowing the work is being done, and you get to relax and enjoy spending time in your garden without worrying about what needs attention.
Working with you and your garden
Every garden is different, and so is every client. We begin by understanding how you want to use your garden and what level of support suits you.
Some people want us to take care of everything. Others prefer to look after part of the garden themselves, maybe a vege patch, while we manage the rest. We assess how we can best work with you and tailor our gardening services to suit your needs.
We take time to get to know your garden properly. This includes the soil, microclimates, wind, sun and shade, existing plants, self seeded plants and weeds. These elements tell us what the land needs. Wherever possible, we use what is already there, such as propagating healthy plants, to save you money and reduce waste.
An ecological approach to gardening
At Wild about Weeds we focus on ecological gardening that builds healthy soil, resilient plants and thriving wildlife. Over time, this approach supports biodiversity and helps gardens cope better with Wellington’s conditions.
We work alongside nature rather than trying to control it. We observe what is happening and respond accordingly. Weeds often tell us about the soil. Self-seeding plants can become part of a healthy garden. By covering the soil and increasing plant diversity, we support birds, insects, lizards and beneficial microorganisms.
Our approach draws on ecological gardening, organic methods, no dig gardening, permaculture principles and native bush regeneration. We also garden with climate change in mind, helping reduce erosion, water and nutrient run off and planting for wind, slopes and difficult sites.
Ongoing learning and local knowledge
We’re always learning. Gardening is never static, and every garden teaches us something new. We actively build our gardening and horticulture knowledge through study, research and hands on experience, and our team includes people studying conservation and horticulture.
Right now we are studying regenerative and no dig gardening and we apply these principles where practical. This helps protect soil structure, retains moisture and supports long term garden health.
For you, this means your garden care is shaped by current thinking as well as local experience. As your garden changes and conditions shift, our approach evolves too, helping your garden stay healthy, resilient and enjoyable over time.
How we work in practice
When you work with us, you can expect a thoughtful, well-communicated approach that respects both your garden and your time. Here are some of our practices:
Communicate clearly and regularly by email, onsite conversations and photos, and by sharing customer friendly information.
Bring our skilled team to do the work, problem solve, identify and record future tasks.
Get to know your garden and what you want from it, bringing out the hidden gems.
Arrive with the right tools for the job, including hand tools, hedge trimmers, weed eaters, pole pruners, chainsaws and a van to remove green waste when required.
Use natural products where possible, ideally produced in Aotearoa and suited to local conditions. Our favourites include EM foliar feed, Fodda Fertiliser and Naturally Neem.
Make it happen, from planning and sourcing plants to straight weeding, garden tidy ups or full garden care.
Email you observations, suggestions and notes on what we have done and what is planned for the next visit.
Tend your garden with a kaitiaki approach, for example sowing pollinator seeds and planting food for butterflies and bees.
Email you observations, suggestions and notes on what we have done and what is planned for the next visit.
Relax and enjoy your garden
Our role is to take care of the gardening so you do not have to carry the mental load. Whether you need regular garden maintenance, a one-off tidy up or longer term ecological care, we do the mahi so you can relax and enjoy your garden.
