Second Nature was commissioned to design, build and project-manage our backyard in Stonefields, Auckland in September 2013. The brief was to create a backyard which was beautiful, unexpected, required little maintenance and included the use of natural materials (timber, grass and stone). The garden needed to be sufficiently robust to accommodate the presence of two high-energy dogs, and all planting decisions had to be made with this in mind. The Second Nature team worked closely to ensure that the design maximised the space and lighting, as well as enhanced the appearance of the rear of the house.

The existing pergola, grass, planting and concrete walkways were all removed, although some wooden retaining was reworked and incorporated into the finished design. A new large wooden deck and pergola now frame the garden. Second Nature constructed a large day bed, a wooden seating area and a stone outdoor fireplace. Hand-finished concrete planters hold the unique and thoughtful planting selections that all reflect a consistent palette of white, green and various hues of purple. The overall result is stunning.

The predominantly clay site required the installation of an extensive irrigation system. A grass was selected that would be sufficiently resilient to withstand the dogs’ rough playing. A stone retaining wall running along the back of the property provided a design challenge. The wall was softened with large, custom-made steel frames to support climbing plants. To the side of the house, a utility area with a washing line extends into the garage. This area was paved with StoneSet to facilitate drainage and easy movement of bulky items, such as bins and gardening equipment. This StoneSet paving was also repeated at the front of the house.

Working with Second Nature was a pleasure. The team are exceptionally professional and knowledgeable and made the whole process thoroughly enjoyable. No conversation was too small or unimportant to ensure the end result was exceptional. I’d highly recommend Second Nature to anyone looking for a team to work with them to create a beautifully landscaped garden.

I like working with Second Nature because of their general professionalism and excellent project management. No detail is left unattended, from the nitty gritty details to the big picture. Second Nature has very good team leaders.

They’re all reliable and knowledgeable. They’re very familiar with our procedures, so we don’t get false alarms, nor are there any surprises. They know exactly how long each stage of a pool installation takes and what will be required. Second Nature sets timeframes and expectations that are realistic. This makes our job easier, reduces stress and enables us to do a professional job.

We’re often involved from the beginning in creating and planning the pool shell. After we’ve installed the shell, Second Nature works on the surrounding landscaping. We then return at a later date to complete the job. We always get reasonable advance warning from Second Nature about when we’re required on site so that we can deliver in a timely manner. The client sees the job proceeding smoothly and on time.’

The quality of Second Nature’s work was excellent. We appreciated their close attention to detail and their very skilled tradespeople. The design worked well, creating attractive outdoor living spaces that have been well used, enhancing our lifestyle. We now spend more time in our garden.

All of the plants were selected and recommended by Second Nature and some were specially sourced, giving us access to more unusual specimens. Second Nature’s garden designer Kerry Speirs designed a rock waterfall feature which Second Nature built with great attention to detail. They also sourced a quality pump and base, gates and watering systems, all of which are operating very efficiently. Included in Kerry’s design was a custom-built outdoor fireplace with a highly polished concrete hearth. A barbeque grill was built into a customised bench in the same finish. Second Nature also installed a custom-built clothesline of vertical posts in green heart timber of varying heights, joined with stainless steel lines encased in clear plastic. This ensured that the clothesline was seamlessly integrated into the landscape instead of being an eyesore.

The management of design variation was excellent, whether it was driven by a physical limitation or by the opportunity to maximise the outcome. The options were always clearly presented to be signed off before any changes took place, which avoided any “surprises” during the project. Second Nature’s project manager Eugene was fantastic, expertly managing every aspect of the project so that nothing ever became an issue. It was a joy to have the Second Nature team around. They were very considerate and hardworking.

The day-to-day communication was very efficient. The team arrived early to brief us in the morning and were there to update us about progress when we returned home at the end of the day.