Most people wouldn't consider a permaculture mindset for a public park or an ornamental garden. But that's a missed opportunity, because it could help individuals, organisations and councils reduce their maintenance budgets while increasing plant health and positive biodiversity outcomes. The 12 principles of permaculture can be applied whether or not you're growing food. They're simply a way to get us back in tune with nature's systems so that we can work with them instead of against them....

This week, we're celebrating 200 episodes! My mentor, Karen Smith, editor of Hort Journal Australia, interviews me about my picks for the "best" 10 episodes. To pick only 10 episodes was an impossible task, but I've narrowed it down to a few essential chats that I believe all my listeners should listen to at least once. From Integrated Weed Management (IWM) to magical musical plants, make sure you don't miss any of these episodes! Find your next job, or post a job ad:...

Did you get a chance to see Peter Donegan's phenomenal garden design A Moment In Time at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) this year? We spoke about it in Ep.181 A Daydream Supported By A Series of Equations, but I wanted to touch in after the event finished to get his perspective on how everything went, and if he actually managed to pull off installing a real fighter plane into the construction. In this episode, we speak about an old-fashioned plant palette, an...

The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show has wrapped for another year! In this episode, I interview  the designers behind three show garden highlights from this year's Show. We'll get to hear the inspiration behind the story and message behind each of their gardens, and we'll chat about their creative choices with materials and plant palettes.   EPISODE LINKS Daniel Althaus “Mother...

The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show has wrapped for another year! Each year, we like to interview some of the garden designers to get an insight into what ideas, philosophies, trends, and plants are floating in the cultural zeitgeist. Friend of the show, Dr Ian Smith interviews some of the Boutique, Achievable and Border garden designers. He also shares his impressions of some of the Landscape Design Show gardens. Whether you're into landscape design, construction,...

A garden is never finished. It's going to change throughout the year, and the seasons. It should be getting better over time instead of worse. And it should also provide you with multiple yields, whether that's a food crop, supporting biodiversity, reducing soil salinity, providing shade, making the space appear larger, or simply bringing you joy. It's easy to roll your eyes when you hear terms like "sustainability" or "nature-based solutions". They've become cliches used by companies to...

Sydney. Or, click the AIH events link below. Diptera (flys) The Good Hoverfly Robber flies The bad Leaf miners Fruit flies (not vinegar flies) The inbetween Blowflies, bottle flies and house flies Fungus gnats Coleoptera (Beetles) Beneficials Ladybird (Coccinellidae) Ground beetles (Carabidae) Rove beetle (Staphylinidae) The neutrals Plague Soldier Beetle The Bads Leaf and flea beetles Scarabaeidae (Scarab Beetles) Weevils Hymenoptera (wasps and ants) The good Parasitoid...

Have you ever wondered whether plants can communicate? And if they can, how do they do so? Katia Hougaard is back, and this time we explore the science behind plant communication. We discuss VOCs, plant blood tests, visual signs, sounds, Venus fly traps, predators, pests, and much more. We even ponder what science has yet to prove or disprove regarding plant communication using the Music of the Plants device that translates plant electromagnetic output as music. EPISODE LINKS Katia Plant...

In this episode, we go over more than a dozen topics quickly, based around the Hort Journal's editor's best article picks for 2023. Karen Smith is my mentor and also the editor for our Australian horticulture industry's best magazine, and she has her finger on the pulse when it comes to amenity hort in this country. You'll hear about emerging pest problems, weed potentiality in cultivated plants, green infrastructure, careers, and much, much more. Check the links below if you'd like to get...

In this episode, I interview Paul Plant about what we're getting wrong as a whole industry when working with wholesale nurseries in particular, and how we can tighten up our game. I wanted to know stuff like, how are miscommunications and poor choices costing landscapers, arborists and horticulturists time, money, and project efficiency? Are horticultural qualifications necessary for a career shift into the wholesale nursery? How can we prevent fire ants sneaking into our landscapes...

Have you ever worked for a company that took horticultural excellence seriously within the landscape design, construction and maintenance sectors? This episode is a case study on a company called Yards, which was started by a connection of mine from the AIH, Ben French. In this episode, I interview him and two of his staff, Amanda and Dale, about what they're doing differently to other companies working in the space. Have a listen and compare what you've been doing with what they're doing....

Do you know how to assess a tree's health and safety? And do you know how to do so in a systematic way to ensure you don't miss any major clues? This episode is designed to teach non-arborists within the landscape and horticulture sector what to look for when inspecting trees. What signs tell us that a tree is doing well? And what signs tell us we need to contact an AQF Level 5 consulting arborist for a closer look? Starting at the ground and surrounding environment, moving up the trunk,...

Have you ever tendered for a property development project, only to be rejected for some unknown reason? Why is it that some people are able to win work from property developers, while others seem to struggle with this type of client? It may have something to do with your ability to meet them on their own wavelength. Sometimes, as horticulturists, ecologists, landscape architects and landscapers, we can get a bit caught up in out own world. This episode is a step into the (sometimes scary)...

Do you know the secret to controlling rabbits within the landscape? Whether you're responsible for a public park, a farm, or a private property that's home to these garden-destroying pests, you'll want to control them in the most ethical way possible. The secret is a decisive, multi-pronged operation designed to wipe them all out in a single season. There are a number of methods to use, including locating warren entries, exposing them to predators, waiting for the right time to responsibly...

Would you like to make a little extra money on the side working in horticulture media? Maybe you're looking for a new career pathway to dive into? Freelancing in horticulture media means that you're working under your own ABN with multiple businesses. In this episode, you'll learn technical info related to writing, creating and editing videos, and running your own show. You'll also gain some down-to-earth, practical career tips from Chloe Thomson, an Aussie hort media professional who's...

What makes a native garden design "modern"? What garden trends have defined Aussie landscaping culture in 2023, heading into 2024? And how can you use a show garden as a lead magnet to gain work as a designer? In this episode, MIFGS Achievable Gardens medalist Daniel Althaus answers these questions and more to help us understand why his garden Circles of Life was such a show-stopper this year.   EPISODE LINKS Althaus Landscape Design's website:...

Do you still feel the passion you had for plants when you started this game? Or are you just turning up to work each day, going through the motions? My guest Maria Failla from the Growing Joy Podcast is here to teach us how to "connect with nature," "find our joy," or practice "self care," even if those terms don't really resonate with us. Plant care is a form of therapy that's being used to treat a wide range of mental health conditions, disabilities, and people of different ages. Even if...

In ep.172 I talked about ten career pathways in amenity horticulture. It was a quick run through some of the most important jobs in our industry, and pathways you can take throughout each sector. In this episode, I dig into these pathways in a bit more detail with the help of Growing Joy's podcast host Maria Failla. As an indoor plant enthusiast and hort media professional, she was able to walk me through some of the nuance that may be lost if you're new to this industry. Whether you're a...

If you can't classify and name plants, how can you successfully work as a horticulturist? You probably don't need to know the exact scientific name for every plant you work with, but a basic understanding of how plant taxonomy works is a must for any serious gardener. In this episode, you'll learn how to name plants, how plant families work, and what on earth plant taxonomy and binomial nomenclature are. John Mason is my guest this week, and he's the creator of ACS Distance Education and a...

Which indoor plant should you treat yourself or a loved one to this Christmas? In this episode, Jane Perrone, host of the On the Ledge podcast is back on the show to tell us why these 13 plants make awesome indoor plants, and how to look after them. From the beginner mode plants that are pretty much unkillable, to the fussy expert mode plants, these are some of the "best" indoor house plants. Full list of plants Monstera deliciosa Begonia lucerna Aspidistra elatior Philodendron...

If you found my last chat with MIFGS gold medalist Peter Donegan inspiring, you'll love this episode. Irish landscape architect and MIFGS gold medallist Peter Donegan is back on the podcast to describe his upcoming design for MIFGS 2024. Listen to him speak about where he's drawing his inspiration from for this next design, why it's an important topic to shine a light on, and why there's going to be an aeroplaxne parked in his garden. EPISODE LINKS Follow Peter on LinkedIn:...

Do you want to share your love foe trees with others? Why not curate and lead your own tree walks? Greg Packman is back on the show and this time he's going to teach us how to curate your own tree walk. In this episode, you'll learn how to organise, promote, and lead your own tree walks. EPISODE LINKS Greg's Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregPackman Greg's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-packman-67359398 LOOKING FOR WORK? LOOKING FOR WORKERS? Visit the green industry job board:...

What can an Aussie horticulturist learn by working in Europe's famous gardens? In this episode, Ash Walker is back to help us learn what he's learnt by working in Monet's garden, Kew, and several other world-class gardens in Europe. How was he trained to approach aspects of gardening, such as deadheading, irrigating and pest management, and how does that differ compared to what we see in your average garden over here? Listen to this episode to find out. EPISODE LINKS Ash's LinkedIn:...

What's it like to work in hort media? How do you get started? And why does Scott keep referring to himself as a "hero"? In this episode, Scott Smith and I talk about horticulture media careers, including traditional media and modern social media careers. EPISODE LINKS Follow Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-h-smith-mcihort-diphort-rhs-3ab122227 Follow Daniel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-fuller-180908208 View AIH events:...