In 1989, what began as a humble screen-printing business founded by Doug Suckling transformed into something much more impactful during the early 1990s. While on a trip to Belfast, he observed an innovative solution—durable, reusable plastic tree guards being widely used to shield young trees from pests. Inspired, he recognized a similar need in New Zealand, where pests like rabbits, rats, possums, and pukekos were a constant threat to seedlings. However, the tree guards available at the time were flimsy and ineffective.
Seeing a better opportunity for the New Zealand market, Mr. Suckling introduced these robust, reusable tree guards as a distributor. His journey began with a display roadshow, showcasing the concept to key distributors, including Farmlands, CRT, and various nurseries. Through live demonstrations, he illustrated how proper protection could ensure the survival, uniform growth, and ease of maintenance of native trees, even in the face of challenges from pests and herbicides.
“When you nurture and care for a New Zealand native tree, you ensure it survives, grows strong, and becomes easier to maintain, especially when shielded from threats early on.”
These rigid, reusable guards became a game-changer, offering better durability and adaptability, with larger 1200mm guards catering to areas where sheep grazing posed additional risks.
From these beginnings, Advance Landscape Systems emerged as a pioneer in land care solutions, continually innovating to meet the evolving needs of the industry. Today, they stand as trusted advisors in environmental sustainability, providing cutting-edge, environmentally conscious solutions to protect and nurture the landscapes of New Zealand.
The journey from those early days to becoming leaders in sustainable land care highlights a commitment to innovation and the belief that nurturing plants means nurturing the environment.