New Zealand is blessed to be home to a range of beautiful native birds, such as Tui, Kereru, and Piwakawaka. However, not everyone gets to wake up to the sound of birdsong every morning. If you’d love for your alarm clock to be the sound of native birds awaking from their slumber, then read on. We’ve included a few helpful tips on how to encourage native birds to your backyard.

Make a Pinecone Bird Feeder 

It can be a sight to behold when sparrows and starlings grace your section. If you have nothing to offer them, however, it’s not long before they fly off somewhere else in search of food. If you want to be the “go-to” property for birds in your area, then why not make a pinecone bird feeder? According to the Department of Conservation, it’s easy!

You’ll need a pinecone, scissors, string, smooth peanut butter, lard, a butter knife, birdseed, and a plate. Cut a piece of string to hang the feeder, making sure it’s thick and long-lasting to handle weather conditions. 

 Use the string to tie a knot around the pinecone near its stalk and use this as the hanging point. You can then use your butter knife to smear lard and peanut butter in equal parts inside the pinecone and around the edges. Hold the pinecone over your plate and sprinkle the birdseed over it. 

To finish, roll the pinecone in the plate to pick up any remaining birdseed. Hang the feeder at least three metres off the ground to keep it safe from predators. To avoid rats and mice getting to it first, take it down at night. 

In springtime, when lawn care experts are out in their droves, you may not see as many birds making use of your feeder. Natural food sources are starting to become readily available again.

Plant Desirable Trees, Shrubs, Climbers, and Container Plants 

Native birds are more likely to come onto your property and say hello when you have something they want. If your plant selection caters more to what you like than what a bird does, then they often won’t have a reason to visit. Talk to your local gardening expert about what to plant and where to plant it. 

Cabbage trees, Kowhai, Broadleaf, and Mahoe, are all trees that grow over six feet high and offer an abundance of food for native birds. The Cabbage Tree, for example, boasts a cream flower, while Kowhai’s yellow flower is a treat for native birds as well. There is a range of different trees with fruits and flowers that will appeal to the native bird population.

If you don’t like the idea of a six-foot tree towering over your property, then you can look at shrub options instead. The Korokio shrub offers red fruit, while the New Zealand Iris has a lovely orange seed pod that appeals to many critters as well. Even the Corprosma is appealing, with its orange-red fruit. 

Create a Safe Environment

If native birds feel under threat in your property, then they won’t be likely to hang around for long. Try to understand what it takes to give the birds confidence, and you may find they stick around for longer.

When you plant their favourite sources of food, make sure you do so away from your home. Window reflections confuse birds, particularly the Kereru which tends to be a frequent flyer when it comes to window-related injuries. 

If you are trying to attract fantails and similar native birds, then encourage insects alongside plantlife for the larger birds. Fantails love moths, beetles, earthworms, and spiders. Talk to your local gardener about adding mulch and leaf litter to your garden to encourage insects. 

It also helps if your yard is free of animals that prey on birds, such as cats, hedgehogs, possums, weasels, and rats. 

Get to Know the Species

If there is a particular bird you want to see more of than others, then make sure you know as much about it as possible. Become an expert. By doing so, you will be able to create a paradise in your backyard that appeals to that particular bird.

For example, if you want to see more Kereru, then ensure you have an abundance of fruit and foliage. Or, if you want to see more Tui, then you will need to have insects, nectar, and fruit. The more you know about the native birds of Aotearoa, the more likely you will be able to cater to their needs.

Conclusion

As the New Zealand population increases, more houses are being built on even smaller sections than ever before. With smaller sections come smaller gardens. A postage stamp backyard, however, doesn’t mean you can’t wake up to birdsong. Find out what your favourite birds like, then give it to them. They’ll be calling your home theirs in no time.

(NZ bird miniatures courtesy of Jesika Maessen)

We are blessed here in New Zealand not to have all that many destructive, environment-destroying bugs. Biosecurity New Zealand, with our help, is doing all it can to keep it that way. However, that’s not to say we’re pest-free and that our pest management is already at its peak. 

We’ve got a significant gorse problem, and possums are eating all our fruit. We also have many different tree bugs that don’t seem to want to play nice. If you find yourself with vulnerable trees thanks to the local bug population, then read on. Below, we identify some of the more common tree bugs and insects – pests in New Zealand – and how to fight them.

Millipedes

Millipedes, in the scheme of things, aren’t as much of a major threat as what other countries are facing. However, they can take a fancy to your young seedlings, which can be devastating if you treat your plants like your children. 

Millipedes eat leaves, roots, and stems. They’re also carnivorous, feeding on spiders and insects that cross their path and look slightly delicious. One or two millipedes in your garden are no problem at all, but too many of them can be a pain.

 Fortunately, you don’t have to reach for the chemicals to give these multi-legged creatures their marching orders. Because millipedes love moist environments, you merely have to take away what they love the most. 

Identify where your millipede population is gathering. What’s there that the bugs would like? Any decaying plant matter, rotting wood, rotting leaves, or similar, is like a candy store for a millipede. Take care of the material yourself, or ask for a helping hand. Those pesky critters will be gone in no time. 

Scale Insects

If your hydrangea leaves have strange-looking blobs on them that are white in colour, then you most likely have cottony hydrangea scale bugs. Those white blobs you are looking at are egg mass! 

Scale insects hatch in mid-summer and suck the sap from the underside of your hydrangea tree’s leaves. At the end of summer, they’ll then run out of leaf sap and move onto the stems. While the occasional infestation is possibly something your tree can take in its stride, multiple attacks can weaken it. 

The next time you’re hanging out the washing, trimming trees, or mowing the lawns, wander over to your hydrangeas and inspect the leaves. If you see those dreaded masses, pick off the leaves and put them in your wheelie bin. 

If you want a more permanent solution for this type of pest control, then you can use a pyrethrum-based spray with newly-hatched scale bugs from midsummer.

Citrus Tree Borer

The name of the citrus tree borer can be deceiving. You might think you’re safe from it because it only attacks citrus trees, but this little critter doesn’t discriminate. Instead, it’s a beetle whose larvae will bore into any garden tree or shrub it takes a fancy to if it can’t find its favourite warm home – the lemon tree.

The borer can cause significant damage, taking you unawares. Adult borer will lay eggs in cut or damaged tree bark; then the larvae will bore into the living wood. They will then create holes to get rid of their frass (a nice name for waste). If you don’t take care of citrus tree borer, it can eventually make your tree its victim – killing it. 

 Take action immediately by pruning the affected limbs. You can also call an expert for help. Clean away the dead branches and leaf litter then purchase a borer injector fluid to inject into the waste holes the borer create. Once you kill the larvae, you can fill the holes with a Blu-Tack-type product. 

Native Moth Caterpillars

If you thought standard cabbage moths were a problem, then you haven’t seen what the native species of moth caterpillar is capable of! The caterpillars of native moths don’t have many predators. As it turns out, they aren’t that appetising to other insects.

As a result, they can create a lot of carnage in a short time without anything else standing in their way. Their favourite victim is the cabbage tree. They form deep notches in every leaf they can find, not stopping until the cabbage tree is a mere shell of its former self. 

There are various products you can buy to take care of these creatures, but you can also try home methods as well. Mix two cups of water with two teaspoons of garlic powder and one of dish soap. Spray the mixture onto the cabbage tree leaves, and you’ve (hopefully) seen the last of them.

Tony Wills (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Bronze Beetle

Bronze beetles are tree bugs that you want to take care of while your trees are young. Otherwise, they are a “take no prisoner” bug that can ravage a tree in no time at all. They are only small, at around four millimetres, but love leaves, apples trees, and rose flowers. 

They create substantial leaf scars, take big bites out of your apples, and shred your beautiful rose petals until they’re in tatters. When your trees or plants are young, you can shake them off the leaves into a container. Otherwise, you may need to try a spray from your local garden store.

Conclusion

We have many introduced and native tree bugs and pest species that like to make their mark on our native ecosystems. Take back control by taking preventative steps and investing in quality tree care products or experts. These will help give them their marching orders sooner rather than later.

There’s no better way to end the working week than with a catch-up with friends over dinner. For those who love to entertain, having a range of options on your property to do it properly is paramount. 

There’s nothing wrong with inviting everyone into your home and breaking bread over the dinner table. The average new home has an open plan living, dining, and kitchen area, making it more than big enough for families and friends to gather. However, what if you want to make the most of the beautiful weather? If you don’t have a well-lit outdoor entertainment area, all you’ve got is a wasted area. 

Make the most of your patios, backyards, and gardens during the day and at night by installing the best outdoor lighting. Here are some options that may appeal to you. 

Fairy Lights

One of the best garden lighting ideas is the use of fairy lights. They’re easy to install so it’s an easy D.I.Y outdoor lighting idea. They add ambience, whimsy, and light to a previously dull and poorly-lit garden. What’s more, they’re an affordable and convenient form of lighting.

In the past, you may have had to run extension cords all over your property to make it to the nearest power source. Now, many sets of fairy lights come with discrete power packs that either run on batteries or sunlight.  It’s a perfect option if you’re looking for an effortless garden that still has style.

Fairy lights are an entirely customisable option as well. You can drape them over furniture, balconies, or even hang them in trees. They come in many different sizes, shapes, and colours, and don’t break the bank either. If you need a touch of charm and a spot of light in your patio area, then it might be time to go shopping for fairy lights. 

Solar Path Lighting

Navigating your garden and entertaining friends outside can be a challenge without path lighting. All it takes is for a deceiving shadow to trip you up and cause an injury. That’s why solar path lighting is an excellent idea for your garden. 

It lights the way, provides plenty of illumination for guests, and looks stunning as well. You can either install path lighting yourself or ask your local gardening expert if they could do it while they’re tidying and weeding your garden.

Solar path lighting now comes in many different shapes and sizes, all in bulk packs for affordability. Many of them stab into the soil to tie in with your plants, while others can sit on the surface without any adhesion. If you’re looking for garden lighting ideas, solar path lighting is certainly one to consider. 

In-Stair Lighting

If you’re not only looking for garden lighting ideas but complete entertainment area construction, then in-stair lighting could be for you. While your labourers are working on the stairs, ask about the options for lighting. They can sit flush with your stairs, turn on automatically, or turn on when you switch on your outside lighting. 

In-stair lighting has many benefits. Guests who arrive after dark will have no problem handling your stairs, and it’s a form of security as well. The more lighting your property has, the less likely it will become a target of burglars.

Garden Ornaments

Cottage style gardens are a breath of fresh air. They’re full of beautiful flowers and ornaments and boast a rustic feel. However, when it comes to lighting, you may find it a challenge to find some that match that theme. Many garden lights on the market today are more on the contemporary side than classic. 

That’s why those with a classic, cottage-like garden may look at garden ornament lighting. You can buy the cute little garden gnomes, but with solar lighting inside. You get the best of both worlds – a new decoration, but a way in which to light up your quaint patio for guests to sit and converse.

Park-Style Lighting

An important part of al fresco dining is the lighting. You want to see what you’re eating and appreciate the sight and taste as one. That’s what park-style lighting can offer. Once you have your indoor-outdoor flow nailed, you can talk to your local lighting experts about how to install park lights on poles. 

They go in the ground or attach to your decking areas at various intervals, taking on the look of a vintage street light. These lighting styles are a preference for spacious dining areas with a need for plenty of lighting.  You can then link them together with fairy lighting for the ultimate appeal. 

Conclusion

Lighting is a must-have inside your home, so why do some homeowners place less importance on it outside their homes? Outdoor lighting can enhance your entertaining experience while adding value to your property. Discover the various options available, come up with your own garden lighting ideas, then get started. You’ll be ready for summer al fresco dining in no time. 

There’s nothing wrong with a standard evergreen hedge. It provides privacy, gives a lovely touch of greenery, and saves you a fortune on fencing materials as well. However, they require a lot of love and care and are a haven for wildlife as well.  

If you’d rather not have hedgehogs taking up residence on your property, then it might be time to look at alternative hedge ideas. You can still enjoy that hedge-like appeal, but you can make sure your property stands out from the crowd. Here are a few other hedge options that might appeal. 

Hedge/fence formed from grasses

 Fruit Bushes

Imagine being able to walk up your driveway, dining on delicious fruits? That could be the reality with a fruit bush hedge. Once you establish them - with or without the help of an expert- you can enjoy both privacy and something to eat. Blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, orange trees, just to name a few, could form the boundary line for your property. 

Aside from having snacks at your disposal, and being able to fill your cupboards with preserves, you also get a hedge with a difference. Instead of a solid block of green as is standard with a regular hedge, you get a kaleidoscope of colours. Each fruit tree or bush type offers different leaf shapes, textures, and colours. You’ll never tire at looking at it in full growth. 

Ornamental Grasses 

You would be surprised at what you can do with ornamental grasses. Form a planter box around the edges of your property to keep them contained, then let them grow to their heart’s content. Ornamental grasses, depending on the variety, can grow to some spectacular heights and volume. 

They also offer that privacy you desire while being a low maintenance plant. You don’t have to worry about hedge trimming, but you get all the seclusion of a traditional hedge.  

Holly Hedge

If you face weather battles on a constant basis, then you’ll need to think outside the square with your hedge variety choices. Holly could be the answer. Not only is it a tough and tolerant plant that boasts red winter berries, but it’s a form of security as well as protection. Those leaves are anything but for show. 

With the prickly foliage growing without hesitation, it can be the perfect hedge type to stop unwanted little critters from calling the area home. It also requires minimal care - even as it grows up to two metres high. It will, however, need someone to trim it from time to time. 

Bamboo

How often do you see a bamboo hedge? While it’s not your average hedge material, that doesn’t mean it won’t be suitable. Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that grows thick and plentiful. The bamboo is a useful material for staking in the gardens, while it also adds privacy to your boundary lines as well. Talk to a gardening expert and see if you have the correct climate for bamboo to thrive.

Before You Start … 

If you have your heart set on a hedge, rather than a fence, then it pays not to jump into the planting phase just yet. There are a few things to consider, such as the height, width, area mapping, the planting process, and how to train your plants. You can call upon experts for help, or you can plan out the following. 

HEIGHT

If you’re not sure how high you want your hedge to be, then find something for comparison. Use members of your family, a ladder, or other furniture in the area you’re going to plant the hedge. All your efforts from that point can be with a height goal in mind. 

WIDTH

If you don’t have a lot of room, then you need to be quite selective and careful with your plant of choice. Some like to spread out and don’t enjoy you boxing them in. Talk to a gardening expert about plants that will work within your measured area. 

MAP THE AREA

Depending on your plant of choice, you may need a helping hand to ensure your hedge is straight and conforms. To do so, insert stakes into the ground at regular intervals and tie them together with a string. You can then ensure your plants will be as straight as possible. 

PLANT AND TRAIN

If you have bare root shrubs, you can dig a straight trench and plant them directly into it. If they are in containers, dig individual holes. You now have the makings of a hedge! You will need to start training your hedge to conform by trimming the tops and sides every few months. It may take up to two seasons to see the makings of a proper hedge - no matter your plant of choice!

If you need a helping hand with hedge trimming, hedge creation, or general garden and lawn care, then get in touch with the experts. They may even be able to help you come up with some exceptional alternative hedge ideas! 

It’s that time of the year again – the time when supermarkets and retail stores pack their shelves full of delicious and delightful Easter goodies. The smell of hot cross buns is wafting out of the corner bakery, and sticky fingers eagerly unwrap caramel-filled eggs with sweet and sugary chocolate shells. It’s not Easter without boxes and boxes of eggs lining the shelves, but it’s also not Easter without an egg hunt.

If you love celebrating Easter, then now’s an excellent time to start planning an Easter egg hunt to remember. After all, the kids are only young once, and the longer you can keep the magic alive, the better it is for their imagination. You may even find it encourages them to spend more time outside. 

If you’ve been shopping and have a basket full of goodies at the ready, here are a few of the many places in your garden you can hide them. It will be surprising if the kids can even find them all! 

Up High 

When your cherubs make their way into your garden, baskets in hand, on the hunt for Easter goodies, they’ll have their focus on the ground. However, why not make it a bit of a challenge by hiding all the desirable ones up high? Place one on the top of the basketball hoop, another in their treehouse, or even dangle one precariously off your perimeter fence.  

The goal of hiding eggs up high in plain sight is to make the kids work for them. They have to work together and put their thinking caps on to figure out how to get them. An Easter egg hunt can be both an educational experience and something fun to celebrate the occasion. However, supervision for young ones should be paramount. 

Hiding in Plain Sight 

Hiding Easter eggs in your garden is not about making them invisible. It can also be about being tricky with how you hide them in plain sight. Hide eggs wrapped in silver foil among your grey rock garden, and try to match coloured eggs with different environments. 

For example, if you haven’t yet done a garden tidy up, you can arrange green coloured chocolate eggs amongst your plants. You may also see value in matching pink eggs with some of your finest pink flowers. Hiding eggs in this fashion can make the process more of a challenge than merely picking up eggs with minimal effort.

Commonly Used Areas

Kids will always gravitate to the areas they often frequent in their yard, so make sure you hide plenty of eggs in these areas. Include plenty in the vicinity of their playhouse, one on their swing and slide set, and even some under chair cushions or other play equipment. 

If you have some particularly tricky spots, then make those eggs something of value – such as boxed eggs of their favourite TV characters. It will be even more of an incentive to have eagle eyes during the hunting process. 

Hidden by Nature 

Once you’ve run out of areas to hide eggs amongst your furniture and kids’ toys, then focus on the natural hidden spots your hedges and trees provide. Secure them under the leaves of shrubs, in the base of hedges, or hollows of your trees. If your kids love to climb trees and you don’t want them to shy away from adventure, then up the trees is also an excellent hiding place for Easter eggs. Don’t be afraid to use your surroundings – all in the name of encouraging adventure and exploration. 

Best Eggs for Easter Egg Hunts

The most common type of egg for Easter egg hunts is, of course, the chocolate variety. Most people select a range of marshmallow and solid chocolate eggs that are small and inexpensive to buy in packets of a dozen or more. However, you can also do better this year.

Consider bigger eggs that you can hide in challenging locations. Such rewards can be an encouragement for kids to challenge themselves and explore different parts of their backyard. Alternatively, you can invest in plastic eggs – with the goal being for each child to collect as many as possible.  

Some of those eggs can contain a golden ticket or sweet treats. If they get a golden ticket, they can bring it to you to exchange it for a treat of their choice. Such a method cuts down on their chocolate and sugar intake, but still gives them the thrill of the adventure.  

Easter is a fun and memorable experience for the whole family. However, you can make your Easter egg hunt even more so by putting effort into the hiding process. Challenge your children, make them think about what they’re doing, and encourage teamwork as well. The hunt can be educational as well as fun. 

Soil is soil. It’s brown, you plant shrubs in it, and when you look after those plants, they use the earth to grow and thrive. However, there is more to soil than its name. Did you know that in New Zealand alone, we have 15 primary soil types? If you’ve ever struck trouble with trying to get your plants to grow, then the soil you have on your property may be to blame.

Read on to find out more about ground and soil types, and their role in your planting success. 

What Soil Types Do We Have in New Zealand? 

Around 43 percent of New Zealand has brown soils. They form our moist lowlands, hills, and mountains. In the North Island, there is a more significant percentage of Pumice soil. Much of this is around Taupo and surrounding townships. Around 1,800 years ago, a volcano erupted and sent pumice flying in all directions. 

We even have ancient soils at around 50,000 years old, and young soil that evolve with sediment every time a flood occurs. Then there are artificial soils— these form from landfill sites and earthworks, rather than thousands of years of creation.  

Every soil type plays its part in growth, but would it matter which type you had for fruit, vegetables, and other plants? It just might. 

What Soil Type Do I Have? 

Not everyone is an expert on soil. We’re more likely to take what we have and plant anything in it, hoping for the best. If you want to offer your plants the best fighting chance or match your plants to what soil you have, then read on. We can help you to work out what soil type you have.

Dig a hole that’s about twice the depth of your spade. The top, a darker layer is called topsoil. The layer beneath it which is pale and denser is subsoil. The subsoil is where all the nutrients are, but it’s structurally inferior to the other layers.

If there is red or brown soil underneath your subsoil, you have hardpan. Hardpan is compacted soil that does not allow water to drain or fine roots to take hold. If the earth in this area is grey or pungent in odour, it’s water logged. If you plant in it, nothing will grow well. You will need to break through it to change its composition over time. 

Is My Soil Full of Sand or Clay? 

Establishing whether you have clay or sandy soil is straight forward. Take some dirt in your hand and try to form a solid sausage shape. If it develops well, it’s clay-based. If it’s gritty and doesn’t create a shape, it’s sand. If it holds together, then falls apart once you touch it, it’s loamy and is the perfect soil type for a range of plants. 

How to Improve Soil Type for Vegetable Planting 

Different soil types can affect vegetable planting quite dramatically. Organic matter is going to improve almost any soil type, but you can also try different material combinations with sand-based and clay-based soil too.

With sand-based soil, incorporate as much organic matter as possible. Mulch it, add water, and use fertilisers such as blood and bone. Stay away from highly-soluble fertilisers that wash away. It can also help to keep digging the soil over. 

Clay-based soil may take a bit more hard work before you plant vegetables. If you don’t put in the hard yards, however, you might find it affects the growth of your vegetables. Add grit or sand to the soil to enhance its drainage capabilities. 

Avoid fine sand as it worsens the drainage rather than improves it. Add lime every couple of years if you’re happy to play the long game. If not, buy around 20 centimetres of topsoil to put on top so you can start planting immediately. 

 What is the Best Soil for Planting? 

So many things contribute to the best soil for planting in New Zealand. Very few people will get it 100 percent right the first time. If you are having trouble, there’s nothing wrong with calling in the gardening experts who know how to make plants thrive.  

Healthy soil has plenty of air and water. It also has soil fungi, earthworms, microbes, and bugs to promote healthy soil life. However, you need to strike a healthy balance. Too much water prevents plant roots from being able to breathe. Too much air causes acceleration of organic matter decomposition. 

Then there’s acid and alkaline soil. Acidic soils are low in phosphorous, and alkaline soils lack iron and manganese. Aim for a pH level of between 5.5 and 6.5. You can buy a testing kit to find out what yours is.  

The Right Soil

Different soils affect the growth of various plants. It can be a balancing act to put the right plants into the right soil environment. Once you establish what soil type you have, it’s about altering it to become one you can work with, or changing the plants you use. 

If you still aren’t sure how to create the most workable soil, then get in touch with other local gardeners. There are bound to be plenty of gardening experts near you who are willing to offer a helping hand.  

The best part about heading into the warmer weather is that you get to make more use of your backyard. While summer calls for more lawn care and yard maintenance, it also calls for the swing ball set to be brought out of hibernation and more time for an intensely competitive game of backyard cricket.

If you’re dabbling in lawn care to prime your backyard for summer activities, you may be wondering what on earth you can get up to you with your friends and family. Here are some of the best summer games to play out on the lawn.

Backyard Cricket

Backyard cricket has been responsible for tears of joy and sadness, arguments, and long-standing family feuds. In fact, it’s not Christmas if someone doesn’t bring out the beaten and weathered wickets, the worn-out cricket bat and the ball that every losing team swears was “tampered” with.  

Backyard cricket has become so entrenched in Kiwi summers that you can even join backyard cricket championships with a chance of being reigned the champion.

If you take a game of Christmas cricket quite seriously, then there’s also no time like the present to get lawn care preparations underway. The backyard has to be in tip-top shape for what is one of the most highly anticipated family games of the year.

Swing Ball

Can you really say you’ve experienced a Kiwi summer if your cousin hasn’t run off crying after a ball to the face? From November onwards, swing ball sets are in hot demand, as parents look to provide entertainment in the backyard for children throughout the school holidays and on Christmas day. However, swing ball is more than entertainment for the kids. Mum and dad also take great pride in hitting the ball as hard as they can to let off steam and have a few laughs with the family.  

However, swing ball can take its toll on your lawn. Not only does it create a great, gaping hole in the backyard, but it grows ever larger with each big hit. What’s more, the grass around the set also flattens with being stepped on and takes a while to come back to life. If you plan on introducing swing ball into your Christmas festivities, consider placing it somewhere where your grass can recuperate without foot traffic once celebrations are over.

Badminton

Badminton usually is a game reserved for those with a large backyard. It requires a net, a minimum of two people, a competitive nature, and a strong racquet arm! Most toy outlets begin stocking badminton sets as soon as the warmer weather hits, with enough shuttlecocks and racquets for at least four players. If you have grounds galore and plenty of players, then why not create a competitive family team sport? You never know, badminton could become a new Christmas tradition.

Slip ‘n Slide

If you’re prepared to let your backyard get a little bit messy in the name of summer fun, then it’s time to dust off the slip ‘n’ slide and get the whole family in on the action. While you are going to have to dedicate time to lawn care after the fun stops, it’s an activity that’s bound to cool everyone down - even if it does cause arguments with who gets to go down it first! When you add a water slide to your backyard, it’s also a good idea to inspect the ground for anything that could make your trip down it painful. After tree trimming, remove all sharp sticks from the lawn, and make sure you’ve left a little bit of growth on the lawns for padding.

What’s more, it might be best to leave your garden tidy up until after you’ve had your fun, as there can be nothing more uncomfortable than getting covered in mulch and dirt that remains on the lawns after digging around in the garden.

Water Fights

If you’re looking for an activity that will keep the kids in the backyard all summer, then a water fight is it. All you need to do is buy a few water guns, some water balloons, and let them loose with the outdoor tap. Once the cousins and other family members turn up, they can then spend hours running around the lawn getting soaked to the skin but having loads of fun. The best part is, summer can be quite dry in some parts of New Zealand, so the bit of water can be a welcome addition to a suffering lawn.

Sack Races

If lawn care is the least of your worries, with trying to entertain children at the forefront of your mind, then why not invite them to take part in sack races? Every child has a competitive streak, and if they can make use of their Santa sacks long after they open all their presents, then all the better. Line all the kids up on the lawn, have them get into their Santa sack, then let them run and hop to the other side. The first person to get to the other side of the lawn wins!

It’s not a Kiwi Christmas unless you spend a little time in your backyard soaking up the summer rays. If you’re short of ideas and need something to keep little minds and bodies active, then try these options above! You may also like to check out the Backyard Bash and see how you can sign up to be part of the backyard cricket championship!