Where: Waipu Cove, Northland
Size: 1 acre of a 20-acre block
Soil and climate: Clay, wet, windy, northland humidity
Aspect: Orchard garden is a bowl facing south
Pest and Weeds: Kikuyu, thistle, juncus reeds, not any pest sign due to no other trees around

A low-maintenance orchard landscape in the middle of rural farmland with the pond as a feature and focal point. We were to provide fruit trees that were of different varieties that were produced at different times throughout the year and somewhere he could bring the children to forage and picnic under the fruit trees.

Design brief.

Our client plans to build and live on his land permanently.  The orchard site was chosen pretty quickly due to the exposure of the rest of the land. It has a beautiful amphitheater feel when you first arrive. The plan was to build a pond in the middle for water and plant fruit trees and as many as possible.  We were to provide fruit trees that were of different varieties that produced at different times throughout the year and somewhere he could bring the children to forage and picnic under the fruit trees. The patterns of these plantings were important to me, I wanted a flowing continuity of colour that looks amazing from the initial planting and for years to come. 9 new fruit trees were planted this year and 17 will be planted next year. We added in apricots and new varieties of figs, apples, peaches, and plums.