Holly Neill's story about transforming her weed-ridden garden into a native plant paradise was one of the most-viewed pieces on the Predator-free NZ website last year.
Although it was a "total mission" to clear two tonnes of agapanthus by hand, she tells Jesse Mulligan, the results are well worth the effort.
Holly, who is 5'2", next to her agapanthus haul Photo: Holly Neill
'I wanted to make sure my backyard was a bit of an urban sanctuary for our native species and removing the weeds was the best way to start'
Holly, a wildlife photographer who lives on the Kāpiti Coast, had not only agapanthus on her property – tradescantia and convolvulus are her "next foes" – but that was the weed that had to go first.
Because agapanthus was tied up with the roots of mature kānuka trees, it couldn't be removed with a digger.
Holly took down the wily weed with a couple of 'garden grubbers' from Mitre 10.
Although agapanthus is "quite masterful" at appearing to be lush foliage, the two tonnes she dug out were home to only three spiders and one dead hedgehog.
"It wasn't doing much for indigenous biodiversity, there were no insects to be seen and it was a real shame."
What makes agapanthus a "total mission" to uplift is not so much its noodly white roots as its "big, beefy" rhizome [subterranean stem] which needs to be removed entirely.
(She encourages people to tackle it with a digger if possible.)
After lots of online research – including the council's guide to native planting in Kāpiti – Holly planted 50 types of native trees and added compost and mulch to the soil.
In the year and a half since she got the agapanthus out and the natives in, Holly has seen great improvements in her garden.
The kānuka trees are currently around eight metres tall and have flowered for two years in a row now, which Holly says is a wonderful thing to see.
Birds like the compact foliage of the kānuka, which offers a lot of food to a lot of different species, she says.
The trees' branches are now home to wētā (in wētā hotels) and a family of tūī.
Holly encourages anyone wanting to clear weeds and plant natives in their own garden to enlist help, seek advice and persevere.
"Know that your hard work is going to pay off and you'll be rewarded when indigenous biodiversity returns.
"Sometimes it can seem quite daunting when it feels like the weeds are always going to outrun you but perseverance is key… and a bit of short-term hard work will result in a lot of long-term gain."
Holly's garden before Photo: supplied
Holly's garden after Photo: Holly Neill