71 days ago

Backyard Awards: Best Loved Lawn winner

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

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!

More messages from your neighbours
1 day ago

Poll: Has your Kiwisaver taken a dip?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

With the US tariffs ramping up and the stock market taking a hit, many are noticing a change in their Kiwisaver amounts.

If you've had a peek at your Kiwisaver balance since, have you seen it decrease?

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Has your Kiwisaver taken a dip?
  • 86.3% Yes, it's decreased
    86.3% Complete
  • 10.7% Nope
    10.7% Complete
  • 3% Other - I'll share below
    3% Complete
364 votes
6 days ago

Poll: If you could rewind time, would you choose a different career?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

It might not be too late for you, but some people look back and wish they had taken a different career path.

If you could go back in time, would you choose something different? Let us know what you would have chosen in the comments below.

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If you could rewind time, would you choose a different career?
  • 58.5% Yes
    58.5% Complete
  • 41% No
    41% Complete
  • 0.5% Other - I'll share below
    0.5% Complete
1108 votes
5 hours ago

Scrumptious hot cross bun recipe

Linda Jones Retirement Village

Warm, fragrant hot cross buns are always a firm favourite in Ryman villages over the Easter holidays. It’s also the perfect time to spend with family – and what better way to create a festive atmosphere than by baking some delicious hot cross buns with your grandkids?

Nothing beats home-made, and this recipe, shared by Ryman chef Matt Orr, will make a perfect Easter treat. As they bake, your home will be filled with the sweet aromas of Easter, and you’ll have a wonderful snack to enjoy together. So, let’s get baking!

Click read more for the full recipe.

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