Backyard Awards: Best Loved Lawn winner
Mark Elliott from Shirley in Christchurch has won the category of Best Loved Lawn for his lush green masterpiece. Congratulations, Mark!
We spoke with his about his process to keep his lawn beautiful and there may be some blades of advice for your own backyard.
Mark has a huge backyard so during Covid times, he decided to renovate the lawn and garden just for something to do. It’s turned into a passion.
His lawn is 100% rye grass - sourced from Prebble Seeds Turf World who supply many golf courses around New Zealand. In the summer he mows it every 2-3 days, sometimes daily, and waters the lawn with a deep soak of about an hour at a time, 2-3 times a week. He uses a granular slow release lawn fertiliser and other liquid fertilisers also.
Mark shares:
'I would say the secret to getting a good lawn is consistent mowing - at least twice a week. Maybe buy a bulk bag of slow release lawn fertiliser from a wholesaler. Keep the grass longer and just take the very top off the blade when you mow. It promotes growth, thickens it up and will really help with stopping weeds - oh, and water. Expect a water bill if you want a good lawn.'
The first photo below shows the 'Before' shot, 4 years ago. Give Mark a Like on this post if you think his lawn is pretty top notch!
Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.
We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?
Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.
-
53.2% Yes
-
46.8% No
Constable Street car wash rip off!
Hi, today I went to the Constable Street car wash that's beside the petrol station. After depositing $6 for three different rinse cycles I discovered that there was no water pressure for any of them. I had just foamed my car so I had to drive around and join the que again to use the left car wash....this time I discovered that $2 only rinses half of my small Suzuki Swift whereas $2 used to rinse the whole car nicely. Two or three weeks ago I encountered the same 'no water pressure' problem there. I imagine that people will be depositing $2 coins to no avail in a continuous stream. It appears that the owner doesn't care about providing a proper service to to their paying customers.
Sonic Delusion at Hilltop 6/12/25
Come along tonight for this great gig! Too funky for folk and too folky for funk — that’s Sonic Delusion’s happy, funky, and groovy indie pop. 7pm for 7.30. Celebrating the release of André Manella’s (lead man of Turkey the Bird here with his solo performance) new single “Smoooth”, the vibrant Swiss-Kiwi performer is armed with his trusty loop pedal and an array of instruments. Sonic Delusion layers beats, baselines, and melodies into a boogielicious live performance “bursting with more funk than folk can handle.” André has built a reputation for turning every gig into a feel-good party — “funny, fresh and funky… a welcome breath of entertainment, joy, fun and smiles” Graham Reid – Elsewhere. From Taranaki to the lower North Island, the “Smoooth” release tour promises catchy hooks, infectious grooves, and the perfect excuse to shake your worries away. “catchy melodic hooks that make you want to get up and dance” Amy Maynard – NZ Musician Magazine
Enjoy the lovely vibe at Hilltop. Details and street number given with booking confirmation email. www.hilltophouseconcerts.co.nz.....................
Loading…
