Gardening

Lower Hutt is a great place for gardening. A large part of the city used to serve as market gardens, and in many places we are blessed with luscious river silt soils.

With a bit of planning, the clay rich soil on our windy hillsides can be fantastic for growing food all year round.

Why is gardening useful?

• It can take money off your food bill. Food gardening can give you access to fresh, tasty and healthy food and can also reduce your weekly shopping budget.
• It can keep you healthy. Gardening can can increase your personal resilience and ensures a healthy diet regardless of your economic circumstances.
• It keeps you fit. Gardening can provide gentle exercise and is a good activity to do outside without the cost and strain of having to go to a gym.
• It's good for the environment. Maintaining a native or decorative garden enhances biodiversity and helps look after our bird and insect populations by giving them habitats.
• It's clean. Gardening doesn't have to involve chemical sprays. See our brochures below for lots of tips on natural, chemical free gardening.
• It's cheap. You can build a garden from recycled materials, save or swap your own seeds, propagate your own plants and make your own compost and fertiliser.
• It's good for your mental health. Gardening is creative and helps you connect with nature's beauty in a peaceful environment. It gives you the satisfaction of nurturing and caring for something.
• It impresses the neighbours. A well looked after garden and vegetable plot can be the talk of the neighbourhood. Whether you want to take a stand for food self-reliance, liberate your lawn or convert the front yard to potatoes, you are sure to impress!

Learn more about gardening

Download one of our brochures:

• Nutrient recycling (PDF 215 KB)
• Herb Spirals (PDF 301 KB)
• Urban fruit trees (PDF 380 KB)
• Summer pests (PDF 522 KB)
• Make a no dig garden (PDF 422 KB)
• Fruit trees (PDF 383 KB)

Limited garden space? Check out these online resources:

• Keyhole gardens
• 20 vertical gardening ideas
• 16 vertical garden ideas for small gardens