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:...

A garden is an opportunity to express something deeply personal which resonates for people who are able to receive your message in a bottle. In this episode, I chat with Irish landscape architect Peter Donegan, who designed the Bam Stone Garden at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS), which tied for the Gold Show Garden Award. We start by discussing garden trends and native plants, but we quickly take a turn to deeper topics like how a designer can use a garden to...

Have you ever been stuck in a toxic workplace? This episode is all about the culture of fear at horticulture workplaces around the country. Simon Harrison is manager for parks at Wollondilly Shire Council in the outer west of Sydney, and he's experienced his fair share of workplace tensions. In this episode he helps us understand what it takes to turn workplace culture around in the right direction, and how to be a leader instead of just a manager. EPISODE LINKS Follow Simon on LinkedIn:...

Nursery businesses don't run themselves. There are a series of plateaus they reach that can be difficult to move beyond. How can a young, hungry nursery eat up more market share? And how can an established nursery that's doing the same thing, day in, day out, behave like a young and hungry nursery that's eating up that market share? Whether your business is at the stage where it needs to take big swings, or it's more about tweaking little things that can make a big difference, horticulture...

Dr Ian Smith is back! This time he's going to pretty much sum up half of the wisdom that's ever been dropped on this podcast in 170 episodes. Ecology isn't just for nature's benefit (although, of course, it is partly for nature's benefit). It's also for our own selfish benefits. EPISODE LINKS Follow Ian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EcologIan Ian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/driansmith My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-fuller-180908208/ AIH Cairns Events:...

Is sustainability about more than just atmospheric carbon? This week's guest, Mark Laurence, makes a strong case for a wider perspective when it comes to climate change by using climate-adaptive planting and ecosystem development. We can't simply focus on sucking carbon out of the atmosphere, because that neglects the biggest greenhouse gas of all: water. Listen to this episode to learn how changing complex, fragile relationships within the ecosystem can create massive changes to the...

Have you ever wondered what career pathways there are in the ornamental landscape? From plant production to maintenance, and a whole lot of stuff inbetween, here are 10 amenity horticulture career pathways. This episode is based on a two-part article I wrote for the Hort Journal industry magazine which transformed into a webinar I delivered to TAFE NSW students on behalf of the Australian Institute of Horticulture. Of course, it isn't an exhaustive list by any means and I may do a few...

What's it like landscaping on-the-tools? What skills do you need? And who can call themselves a landscaper, anyway? In this episode, TAFE NSW teacher Rob Wardlaw gives us an insight into what it's really like to work as a landscaper on the tools. This career pathway mixes elements of horticulture and construction and lets you create beautiful landscapes that others can only dream of creating. Share this episode with somebody that you know who would be perfect for this career! EPISODE...

Why is there so much bad gardening advice online? And what are some of the worst pieces of advice you're likely to hear? Join Dr Vikram Baliga and I as we uncover some of the comically bad gardening "hacks" that have ever been created. From the disgusting to the bizarre, we'll help you avoid following ridiculous advice by uncovering the science behind WHY these ideas won't work the way you'd hope. Vikram is a horticulture lecturer in Texas, host of the Planthropology podcast, social media...

When you're watching sport on the telly, do you realise how much passion goes into the grounds? I'm not talking about the passion from the coaches, the players and the fans. I'm talking about the sportsturf managers who go to extraordinary lengths to ensure the optimal conditions are available on the grounds. As this episode's guest, TAFE NSW teacher David Little says, great turf is no accident! It requires the knowledge, experience and dedication of seriously talented sportsturf managers...

Let's have a chat about mental health. Let's not be preachy, but just have a discussion about practical tips to help you in your own journey. Because let's face it: there aren't a whole lot of resources available for blue-collar workers who are struggling with mental health. We'll also take a look at a case study of an organisation that provides free counselling over the phone, specifically aimed toward professionals working in blue collar jobs like landscaping and horticulture. Jason...

How do the best NRM experts deal with invasive and environmental weeds, without reaching for chemical herbicides as a first resort? By using Integrated Weed Management (IWM) strategies, of course. These include physical, cultural, biological, genetic, regulatory and finally chemical tools as a last resort. Kate Blood is Program Manager for weed management at the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action (DEECA, formerly DELWP). She's the perfect person to explain how...

We all agree that natural resources need our help. But how do we create ecosystems that last, using native plants, within budget, and on-time? To celebrate National Tree Day in Australia, our sponsors at Arborgreen have helped to create an information-packed episode. We'll take you through all of the major steps you'll need to follow when creating and improving natural habitats to support our natural resources, which starts with preparing sites, planting trees, and then ongoing...

If you didn't get to this year's The Landscape Show in Melbourne, don't worry! We're about to take a virtual tour and speak with 18 of the 88 vendors that were on display over two podcast episodes. We'll learn about innovative and sustainable products and services, new ways of doing things, and we'll hear from some brands that have become household names. In this episode, I chat with reps from: Coolabah Turf: https://www.coolturf.com.au/ Bunnings Australia:...

If you didn't get to this year's The Landscape Show in Melbourne, don't worry! We're about to take a virtual tour and speak with 18 of the 88 vendors that were on display over two podcast episodes. We'll learn about innovative and sustainable products and services, new ways of doing things, and we'll hear from some brands that have become household names. In this episode, I chat with reps from: Arborgreen: https://www.arborgreen.com.au/ Milwaukee:...

Victoria is set to ban logging in native forests for timber. Sounds great, right? But let's dig a little bit deeper and see if we've missed something here. Paul Reid educates people on social media about what it's really like in Aussie forestry as The Aussie Logger. He works in a forestry plantation setting, but he feels strongly that we have a responsibility to conduct native logging in Victoria for a number of reasons, including the quality of our timber and the quality of our...

Brent Purtell runs the 51st floor kitchen garden at Capitaspring skyscraper in Singapore, and in this episode we take a look into what his job's like on a day-to-day basis. What's it like to grow veggies on a skyscraper? What unique challenges are present? How can you tackle them? Brent's moving back to Melbourne this year, so if you're looking to hire a highly capable horticulturist looking for their next chapter, click play and listen to him speak about his experience. EPISODE...

How much truth is there to the claims of the ability for plants to purify the air? Is it just hype, or do they make a genuine difference? Recently, one of the world's leading indoor plant companies, Ambius, sponsored me to visit their press release for a new study that they funded at the University of Technology in Sydney (UTS) regarding the ability for plants to purify the air and suffice to say... what they've found is astounding. Not only does this study confirm the air purifying indoor...

Spiders are a horticulturist's best friend. They're predatory organisms that have an appetite for all sorts of insects that we like to call "pests". In this episode, Dr Ian Smith gives us a general introduction to this class of arachnid. Listen to the end to find out: -What are the different types of spiders that we're likely to find in our gardens? -What different methods of hunting do they employ in our gardens? -Are redback spiders actually native to Australia, or are they an...

Are you in the nursery game? Perhaps you work in a sector that relies on the nursery industry? In this episode, nursery industry expert Bruce Durant gives us an insight into the nursery industry, including tips and tricks for people in the production, wholesale and retail sectors of the nursery industry. Bruce is a sales rep for Arborgreen, this episode's sponsor. Check out previous episodes I've created in collaboration with Arborgreen, Ep. 154 Innovations in the tree industry with Marc...

AI is the hottest thing right now. But what does it mean for the horticulture industry? Will AI be coming to take our jobs any time soon? Can we use ChatGPT in our everyday horticulture work? The answers to these questions and more can be found in this interview with Aurelie Quade. She's a soil carbon consultant that's interested in the latest tech being used in horticulture; particularly the agriculture side of things. Together, we have a great chat about what's possible today, and what's...

PLA are an industry organisation for people working in the parks/gardens, pools, and other recreational outdoor sectors. In this episode, Executive Officer of the Vic/Tas branch Dan Ferguson tells us about the organisation, how they represent and help members, and a couple of their upcoming events including a world congress featuring overseas and local speakers including the CEO of Parks Canada as well as myself. Thanks to GLG for sponsoring this episode, who are also a sponsor of...

It's officially winter, so that means it's time to rest in the garden, right?  Not quite. In this episode, Mariah Watkin, a gardening enthusiast and representative for Charlie Carp fish emulsion fertiliser, tells us how growing veg in winter differs to growing in the warmer seasons, including how to prepare your soil, how to keep pests and diseases at bay, and what are some of the best veggies to grow in winter. EPISODE LINKS Charlie Carp's website: https://www.charliecarp.com.au/ Where to...

Learn about Natural Resource Management (NRM) from a Kiwi inventor of biodiversity solutions whose boots are firmly planted in the ground of rural Victoria. In this episode, you'll learn how Lisette Mill is able to help bring animals back into the landscape that haven't been seen in ages. You'll also learn about her inventions including the Bandicoot Motel and the Pop-Up Puddle which you can make at home.   Don't miss this episode where I get to pick the brains of one of the most innovative...

Lawns are a divisive topic amongst garden designers and landscape architects. Are they a staple in every landscape? Are they an ecological nightmare? Are they out of fashion? In this episode, UK horticultural lecturer, Lucy Lewis and I look back on the history of lawns to reflect upon the motivating factors that have led to lawns becoming the staple they are in our built landscapes. EPISODE LINKS Lucy's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-lewis-80905a149/ Search for horticulture...