Carl 
This project in rural Matakana had a simple brief: create a fire pit courtyard to compliment the house and pool and renew patchy existing native plantings. Bespoke fire pit courtyards are somewhat tricky things to nail especially on coastal sites with prevailing SW winds and stunning views (we did not want to disturb). Effective spatial … Read more
This Ridgetop property in Scotts Landing (ongoing project) contains a number of logistical challenges including high winds, dominant clay soils and access issues. Nonetheless every problem has a solution and we set about creating functional areas for growing food using existing native bush as wind shelter. Ramped access and steps have been provided between levels … Read more
Carl was engaged in 2022 to produce the landscape design for a new house on the outskirts of Matakana Village. The house site had been cut into a hillside of poorly-drained clay, with associated difficulties in establishing planting and lawn areas. Carl and his team set about rectifying this by adding subsurface drainage and replacing … Read more
In 2024 Carl was engaged to design a low-maintenance and visually stimulating garden for a retired couple with gardening experience in Snells Beach, Auckland. A design process (in which the clients had considerable input) produced a concept with strong linear elements (paving/ louvered courtyard/ driveway) balanced by a serpentine path and soft low-maintenance planting (grasses/ … Read more
In 2015 Carl purchased 1.25 acres of land off Permaculture legend Daniel Tohill at Otamatea Ecovillage Northland. The land was an undeveloped cow paddock with large established shelter trees and a farm pond (aka irrigation pond). Carl relocated a 1950’s bungalow, set up infrastructure and planted fruit trees amongst native plants. Fruit trees planted include … Read more
Our 2010 Exhibition garden ‘Peace by Piece’ involved collecting 1664 individual thoughts on how to create a better world and hand writing them on recycled glass bottles. The bottles were placed into custom designed powder coated aluminium curved panels in the form of a six-petalled flower (flower of life sacred form). The bottles could be … Read more
In 2015 Jo and Richard engaged Carl to design their coastal lifestyle block in Paewhenua Island, Northland. Carl was bought in early to help position the house and capture stunning ocean views. Battered slopes behind the house were created to allow enough room for vehicle turning (including a boat) and these slopes were planted by … Read more
Carl Pickens designed and built the Gold winning garden ‘Take Five’ for the 2009 Ellerslie International Flower Show in Christchurch. Designed to be applicable at residential scale, the exhibition garden emphasized 5 main pillars of sustainability: 1. use water wisely, 2. source sustainable materials, 3. restore native plants, 4. go organic, 5. minimize waste. This … Read more
After studying organic growing at Canterbury Polytechnic in 2004 Carl went on to manage the organic horticulture unit at Hohepa Farm Canterbury through 2005/ 2006. Carl’s responsibilities included 4 acres of intensive and open field vegetable/ herb production, a 2 acre heritage apple/ pear orchard and associated activities such as windrow composting, organic weed and … Read more
Kelmarna City Farm is a beloved 4 acre market garden and food forest in Auckland’s Herne Bay that has been in operation for over 30 years. Carl was commissioned in 2016 by the Kelmarna gardens Trust to design a redevelopment plan for the gardens (in consultation with the local community). Over the next 3 years … Read more
This Whakatane lifestyle block presented a steep clay bank scenario that needed visual improvement by way of planting. The bank was almost vertical in places and subject to periodic frost, cold winters and drought in summer. Carl specified the hardiest of native plants including a mix of coprosma groundcovers with contrasting astelias for dramatic effect. … Read more
Carl was engaged in 2021 to design a terraced orchard and market garden on a peninsula near Langs Beach (a rather picturesque location overlooking the pacific ocean and an ideal spot for the lodge / restaurant these gardens will eventually serve). Extensive retaining and terracing has created ease of access for over 120 (Northland suitable) … Read more
This property in Matakana was steep bare paddocks and exposed to high prevailing winds when Carl got involved in 2016. The design brief was to establish shelter, create usable space / a productive landscape and retain grazing for alpacas. Carl designed a series of north-facing terraces with a mix of 1m retaining + planted batters … Read more
This subtropical food forest was designed and planted in 2022 for eventual use as an educational platform in self-reliance for Northland youth. Over 100 grafted fruit trees (fast reliable fruiting) were planted with companion species for nitrogen fixing and biomass supply. The site had established kikuyu grass which was been removed via shade using a … Read more
A productive landscape consisting of deciduous orchard, subtropical foodforest and annual + perennial vegetable gardens (with wintergardenzglasshouse). Designed and planted by the team at Carl PickensLandscapes in 2022. How can we help? Contact Carl to discuss a project CommunityPROJECTS RURAL LIFESTYLEPROJECTS ResidentialPROJECTS PermaculturePROJECTS