Landscaping runs in Dillyn van der Merwe’s veins. His dad owned a landscaping business in South Africa, and when the family moved to New Zealand, it was natural for Dillyn to follow in his footsteps.
“Growing up, I spent tons of time riding around with him in his truck, soaking up everything about the business. When we moved to New Zealand, he sold the business and we both joined Natural Habitats Landscapes.”
For Dillyn, that was at age 16, and four years later, he’s a Team Leader in charge of a commercial division.
“We install a lot of hardscape elements, including concrete, paving, artificial turf, fencing, retaining walls, drainage, masonry works, and water features,” he says.
“We also do earthwork site prep and a lot of softscaping projects, ranging from streetscapes to vegetable gardens. In recent years, I’ve started doing more irrigation just to expand my knowledge on all elements of landscaping.”
Tom McCarthy, Natural Habitats Auckland Regional Manager, says Dillyn has worked hard to improve his horticulture knowledge and is well prepared for his second crack at the Young Landscaper of the Year title!
“Dillyn learned a lot from his Young Landscaper experience in 2023 and been honing his skills in preparation for this year. His commitment to his own learning and upskilling, coupled with his dedication to his team and the company, has been outstanding.
“He has been working hard on his plant choices, naming and set out and now has the ability to educate others on how to create beautiful spaces that clients love.”