“Gardening is a work of a lifetime: you never finish.” Oscar de la Renta
About Us
About Us
We are an arborist and gardening company based in Wellington. As a family-run business, we take care of gardens as a whole, from tree work and pruning to garden design and ongoing maintenance.
We’re a mother and son team, Crispin (the gardener / designer) and Max (the arborist). Our love of nature started early, when Max was a toddler and we spent hours outside together, me gardening, him climbing trees. That connection to gardens and trees has stayed with us, and it’s still at the heart of how we work.
Max – Arborist
Max is a qualified arborist, working across tree pruning, tree removal,crown lifting, and shaping.
He combines his love of climbing with a strong technical understanding of tree care. His work is focused on doing things properly with careful attention to safety, tree health, and the long-term structure of the tree.
Max has an eye for detail and a good sense of how trees sit within a garden. Whether it’s a reduction, a lift, or a full removal, the aim is always to enhance the tree’s natural form and complement the overall garden design. He takes a professional, considered approach to every job, making sure the work is carried out safely, efficiently, and with respect for the surrounding garden.
Supporting Max is our professional arborist team, trained to the same high standards. Together, they work efficiently and safely, whether it’s a single tree or a larger project, making sure every job is done properly and with attention to detail.
Crispin – Gardener & Designer
Crispin is the gardener, soil specialist, and designer. With over twenty years of experience, she has developed a deep understanding of plants, soil, and how gardens work over time, especially in Wellington’s conditions. With a background in design, she has a natural sense of how to shape a space so it feels good to be in. Her focus is always on creating gardens that are both beautiful and practical.
Along side Crispin is our professional, expert gardening team, trained to the same high standards. Together, they handle everything from planting and pruning to hedging, mulching, and ongoing garden maintenance, ensuring every part of your garden receives consistent, careful attention.
Our garden design team includes a qualified landscape architect bringing creative vision, technical know-how and hands-on experience to plan gardens that work well for each space and each client.
How we work
We run small teams so we can stay closely involved in every job. It means we can keep a good eye on things, be flexible, and make sure the work is done properly.
Gardens can feel overwhelming — whether it’s knowing where to start, or just not having the time to keep on top of everything. We’re here to make that easier.
We work with you, your budget, and your timeframe, and tailor what we do to suit your garden.
What We Do
Because we come from both arborist and gardening backgrounds, we can look after your whole garden in one place, including
Tree pruning and tree removal
Hedge trimming and shaping
Crown lifting and tree care
Garden design and planting
Ongoing garden maintenance
The whole garden solution
We believe our combined skills create a beautiful blend that is to the benefit of our clients. We will nurture your whole garden in any combination of our skills that you require. Our ability to listen allows us to understand your needs and translate your desires into reality.
Our Philosophy
Personalised Care
We are committed to personalised care for your garden and for you. Our clients are extremely important to us, as is your garden. We know gardens can become overwhelming and more than anything, we want you to feel supported. We love giving your garden the care we would give our own.
Sustainability
We all worry about climate change, and as nature lovers, we try to be as sustainable as possible.
We only practise organic methods that will bring your garden into balance and provide the perfect environment for flourishing.
One of our main focus is to build your soil into an amazing environment that will store high levels of nutrients and encourage the symbiotic relationship between the soil food web and your plants. We work from the soil up because this creates resilient plants able to fight off pests and diseases. It is not an instant method but the most rewarding in the long run. We believe that gardens flourish with careful study and nurturing over time. Our soil building creates high organic matter and a comprehensive soil food web that allows the soil to store carbon.
How This Looks in Practice
We focus on increasing organic matter and supporting a healthy soil ecosystem
Where possible, we avoid plastic eg, bringing in compost in bulk rather than in bags. We then
If bagged compost is needed, we often recommend Zoodoo, which repurposes waste from the zoo and supports suicide prevention
We avoid pesticides and spraying wherever possible
If needed, we use low-impact options like copper sprays for fungi or thrip bands instead of chemical sprays
Ultimately, our goal is to create gardens that can support themselves naturally, Proper plant nutrition and soil building create an environment that allows plants to fight off disease and pests themselves.