Embracing the change of season

Emily Hastie from Kamo Marsh Landscape Architects reflects on how autumn’s arrival affects our outdoor spaces.

Autumn is a lovely time in O¯tautahi when we enjoy bluebird skies, crisp air, and the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot. Even the ever-present easterly takes a step back, leaving us with calm evenings flooded in golden light as the sun lowers its arc.

At this time of year, the deciduous trees prepare for winter by dropping their leaves. They do this to conserve the energy and water needed to sustain leaf growth, leaving only the evergreens behind to weather the harshness of winter.

In Aotearoa, our temperate climate means we have less distinct seasons in the northern parts, and we often experience four seasons in one day rather than in a year. The result is only five per cent of our native trees are deciduous or semi-deciduous. To survive our climate, many of our native trees have evolved as evergreen, resulting in most having weather resistant small leaves or needles which are not damaged during cold weather. In contrast, deciduous trees often have broader leaves which are easily damaged in cold weather – so they shed them to survive the winter.

For a small country there is considerable variability in our climate across regions. In the ‘subtropical’ north there are fewer seasonal markers, naturally a much greener, lush landscape and not the harsh winters as in the south.

In the south the summers can be hot and dry and the winters harsh. For the plentiful fruit trees in the region, the lower temperatures are welcomed with many requiring a certain number of cold days to successfully fruit. A cold spell also helps to disrupt the life cycle of pests and diseases.

The changing seasons bring welcome variation to the home garden. Depending on the look you prefer, choosing largely native plantings will give you a consistently green, textured garden throughout the year whereas most exotics will create a stunning display of colour in autumn.

03 366 8181 | kamomarsh.co.nz