About Tidy Gardens

Dedicated. Committed. Experienced.

It’s no secret that we love what we do. Working with nature to showcase the best of its beauty sparks a natural passion in our outdoorsy team. Hard work, dedication and creativity are at the heart of all of our projects. Get in touch to learn more about how we can transform your outdoor space into something spectacular.

Our Story

Katrina Christison, founder and lead designer of Tidy Gardens doesn’t minimise her quiet happy time in her garden, she firmly believes being one with our whenua results in a happier and grounded life.

This is where the inspiration and concept of Tidy Gardens came from, back before passion projects and side hustles, Katrina decided to create a business from her happy place, which fitted in around her family and lifestyle.

Katrina is passionate about creating and maintaining outdoor spaces for clients so that they too can relax and enjoy the outside. This desire to encourage clients outdoors to enjoy their piece of paradise has evolved from garden maintenance to landscape design over the last 18 years.

Katrina started Tidy Gardens on her own in 2005, often taking her daughters when they were younger with her while she would weed and clean up clients gardens. After some hard work and ongoing professional development including the opportunity to work with lead NZ and international garden designers overseas, the business now employs six passionate outdoor loving workers and collaborates with NZ designers such as Shelisha Trusler, owner of Chameleon Spaces, Christine Prebble, owner of Mosaic Design, planting installations for Xanthe White Design in the Waikato region.

The team at Tidy Gardens thrive on designing, creating and delivering beautiful outdoor spaces with clients from concept to delivery, the process is collaborative and enjoyable.

Meet The Team

Katrina Christison

Katrina is the owner of Tidy Gardens and started the business in 2005. Katrina has loads of experience in garden maintenance and design as she has spent many years traveling overseas to be on award winning gardens at shows like Chelsea, Hampton Court and the World Gardening Cup in Japan. Katrina has a Landscape design certificate as well as a certificate in horticulture and has won both a Gold and Silver medal for garden design at The Ellerslie Flower Show and the NZ Flower Show. When Katrina has downtime you will find her out in her own garden or the plant nursery at her place.

Jo Anderson

Jo found her passion for gardening 18 years ago when she signed up for a horticulture course at Growing Spectrum in Kihikihi, where she first met Katrina. After completing the course she went on to gain her level 4 in horticulture. Jo is very knowledgeable when it comes to plants and gardens as when she first started in the industry she worked at Bruntwood Nursery propagating flaxes for overseas exportation. Jo then went on to work for Tidy Gardens for the first time part time while also working at a local garden centre and during that time Jo cleared gullies at the Takapoto Estate and then re-veg planted them. After this Jo became full time at Tidy Gardens for 11 years before leaving to then extend her knowledge. Working 2 years at Growing Spectrum in the production team potting plants for distribution all over NZ and then for the Waipa District Council for 2 years looking after all the gardens in Cambridge. During her time with the council Cambridge won 2 awards - Most Beautiful Small Town in NZ 2019 and Best Street of NZ 2020, for which Jo is extremely proud of. After 4 years away Jo has come back to Tidy Gardens leading the team doing what she loves and is passionate about.

Kaylee Christison

Kaylee is Katrina's daughter so she has grown up in and around gardens all her life, although she would say dragged around in the school holidays. She has been a part of the team since leaving school in 2016 and is currently doing a level 3 apprenticeship in horticulture. Kaylee loves being outdoors and enjoys the satisfaction of transforming overgrown gardens or newly designed gardens. Kaylee is hoping to also complete her level 4 in horticulture through apprenticeship after she completes her level 3.

Kristal has been a part of the team since October 2020 and has a Level 3 Amenity horticulture certificate, Level 3 landscape construction certificate and a Level 4 landscape design certificate. Kristal enjoys working in this industry as there is a variety of jobs and no job is the same. Kristal loves the creative aspects that come with designing and maintaining gardens, especially when helping clients that may not have the time or energy for their gardens like they once did.

Kristal Tapara

Chris is the newest member of the Tidy Gardens team. Chris or better known by his mates as Sigi is our very own handy man, no job is to big or small for him. Chris has grown up around dairy farming and use to be a dairy farmer himself so enjoys the outdoors. If he's not at home doing things around this house on fine days, you'll find him out on the water catching fish.