| 57 Leacroft Nurseries CONTRACTING T T Rosa Watson Nursery gears up for growing demand Porirua-based Leacroft Nurseries has been serving the Wellington region for 30 years. Lowlands Nursery Wholesale Nursery selling a wide variety of quality trees and shrubs to landscapers and retailers. Proudly Supporting Leacroft Nurseries Robbie Kerr 020 4086 0121 lowlandswt@xtra.co.nz SUPPLIER OF NATIVE & EXOTIC SEEDLINGS Forevergreen Seedlings 2022 Ltd, Te Puna, Tauranga Andrea: 021 230 0092 E: andrea@forevergreen.co.nz Libertia, astelia & pseudopanax – different varieties Hedging: griselinia, ficus tuffi, camelia & more Ground cover: coprosma – different varieties Big trees: totara, kahikatea, titoki, rewarewa & more PROUD SUPPLIER TO LEACROFT NURSERIES Garden compost Bark, woodchips and sawdust Decorative stone and pebbles Potting mix, topsoil, weed mat Proudly Supporting Leacroft Nurseries 06 363 5236 128 State Highway 1 (North) Foxton, Manawatu If you’ve admired the landscaping around Wellington buildings recently, chances are the plants have come from nearby Leacroft Nurseries. The Porirua-based company has been serving the Wellington region with premium quality plant wholesale prices direct to the public for 30 years and remains a strong player in the market. The family-owned business recently rebranded and is modernising its operation as it grows to meet demand. Since its beginnings as a rhododendron nursery started by Jim and Shirley Dearsly in 1993, and two years later being taken over by their son, Simon, and wife Fabienne, the nursery has dramatically increased in size now offering more than 900 varieties of native and exotic plants and trees. “We’re modernising and keeping up with the times,” general manager Reuben McClelland said. “There are currently 12 staff employed, and that was set to grow”, he said. “Horticulture is a great industry to work in”. “The joy of working in horticulture is that you get to use your hands to create real tangible results. Seeing a plant that you germinated go through all the stages of growth and development, and then a few years later walking out the door in the hands of the customer is incredibly rewarding.”. “If you enjoy getting your hands dirty & enjoy working outdoors, then horticulture would make a great choice as a career for you.” There are a number of qualifications available now, including online, Reuben said. NZMA was currently offering a free Level 3 Certificate in Horticulture. “This will provide you with basic knowledge of how to grow & manage plants/fruit veges etc.” Reuben said. Right now, the industry is booming. “As more attention leans towards sustainability and care for the environment the demand for plants increases. This is creating endless new job opportunities in a range of roles and levels throughout the industry.” Technology had allowed the company to produce more plants in less time, including a potting machine that can produce five times more plants than a person. It operates most of the day during spring and summer and parts of autumn producing between 2000 and 4000 plants a day. “We’re constantly expanding and trying to keep up with the current times. It’s constantly changing.” The Lomandra, an evergreen, drought-hardy Australian grass, is incredibly popular at the moment, Reuben said. “They look good all year round … and are low maintenance.” Leacroft has developed its own variety, called Lomandra lemon and lime due to its colours, that can only be sold by them. “Our main priority is to keep prices down and continue our proven track record of producing top-quality plants.” The nursery has expanded its reach to have customers right throughout the country that include well-recognized landscapers and garden centres. But Wellington very much remains their patch. Their plants are seen along cycleways and roadings, and feature in many of Wellington’s iconic locations, such as the new convention centre, Victoria University, and the Cobham Drive cycleway along the waterfront. Orders are taken via email from a stocklist on the website, however online shopping was in the planning.
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