Takatu Rd Matakana
This rural block in Matakana was undeveloped sloped paddocks and exposed to prevailing winds when Carl got involved in 2016. The 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 combined retaining and 1 in 3 planted batters. Terraces were planted with fruit trees and wrapped in shelter planting using (mainly) hardy natives. Raised beds were built for veges and 1 in 3 slopes were planted in hardy groundcovers like Grevillea Bronze rambler.
A second stage of development was undertaken in 2022/23 to create more terraces on lower slopes. This involved additional retaining, installing drainage through terraces to help fruit trees thrive, more raised beds and a stormwater pond to take water overflow. 70 hardwood steps have been built to connect the upper and lower terraces with grazing for alpacas in-between. Over 20 fruit trees have been planted with nitrogen fixing shrubs / trees for added fertility.
From a blank canvas Carl helped us visualise and create our dream outdoor spaces; we started off with two key challenges being clay soil and a high wind zone, at times, being a trade off against a hill side property with expansive views. Carl worked with our ideas and added his mastery around spatial positioning, knowledge of trees, vegetables and building materials to deliver a stunning integrated garden and orchard over 2 levels. In the orchard he built and planted a vibrant wind shelter made up of Pittosporum, Karo and native flaxes which attract flocks of Tuis and Fantails to an area that was previously bereft of birdlife that provides protection to a thriving orchid. Carl designed our garden area to accommodate a series of raised gardens, composting system and wind tunnel with an eye to structure, earth works, retaining and steps in a way that fits in beautifully with the contours of the land and is an absolute pleasure to work in. Around other parts of the property Carl applied his seemingly endless knowledge to help us choose shrubs, trees, ground cover flaxes, fruit trees, hedges and grasses to create wonderful spaces that are pleasing to the eye and bring a smile to our faces.
We recommend Carl because he is brilliant, he knows his trade, he has strong ideas, endless knowledge and will work with you at whatever level you need, where we had firm ideas he would work with them adding his thinking where we had gaps he would plug them, he will do as little or as much as you need, he will do all the physical the work for you (with his team), let you do it or work with you together (we’ve done all three with Carl) and no job is too big or too small, from a small entrance project to a large complex engineering feat
Carl is awesome to work with – the other thing that impressed us about Carl is his genuine interest in the future of his work, years after he worked with us on and completed our first project he would periodically ring and ask to pop back and see how his work was progressing, we would reminisce and discuss how ideas “back then” are literally growing, now, I think that better than anything illustrates how invested Carl gets in his work, he starts his jobs with an eye on the future knowing he will be back at some stage to be judged, which is gold.
The Lindsays