By John Fitzsimmons
Landscape design, installation, and maintenance involve creativity, materials, equipment, and skill sets provided as a service. As such, its enterprises also need complementary support on the supply side for materials, equipment and business services. This was all present at the annual Landscape Show 2025, presented recently at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne by Landscaping Victoria.… Continue reading
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Plants have evolved into many forms, adapting to various growing conditions (Image: John Fitzsimmons)
By John Fitzsimmons
We all know plants are wonderful, sustaining life and wellbeing in so many ways, but we can sometimes benefit from a reminder of just what amazing ‘machines’ they are too – amazing hydraulic and chemical machines!
It’s amazing how ‘vascular’ plants can turn sunlight into chemical energy, and sometimes startling how (tree) roots and stems can physically disrupt hard paving and even affect otherwise solid buildings.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Fitzsimmons
There are those who love trees simply for their beauty and splendour. There are people who regard trees as being ‘in the way’ of some more immediate perceived want or need, or who dislike living with trees in close proximity for cultural or aesthetic reasons.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Fitzsimmons
Most people in horticulture are familiar with the big-ticket plant nutrients, readily focusing on the familiar NPK summaries. However, shelf labels, catalogues, and online searches often include other nutritional references that may be less familiar and/or less understood.… Continue reading
Read MoreCompiled and edited by John Fitzsimmons
As Dutch startup Cubic Grow BV points out, horticulture is on the verge of a radical transformation with robotics, automation, and autonomous cultivation enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and optimising product quality. Often, it’s not about inventing the mousetrap but certainly about making a better one.… Continue reading
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Robotics are increasingly taking the effort out of traditional labouring tasks and improving labour productivity (Image by John Fitzsimmons)
By John Fitzsimmons
Over recent months, pressures have been building on nearly all sectors of the economy. Previously undetected stress cracks are appearing daily, with outcomes ranging from annoying to catastrophic. And yet, as the old saying “it’s an ill wind that blows no-one any good” goes, there are still thrivers among the survivors.… Continue reading
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German firm Weber Verpackungen presented a packaging machine for potted plants that claims productivity increases up to 100% compared with manual hand packing
By John Fitzsimmons
This year marked the 40th Anniversary of the IPM Essen horticultural expo in Germany. It hosted 1400 specialist exhibitors from 14 countries presenting over a massive 100,000m² and 10 exhibition halls. Technology that enhances efficient greenlife production, especially innovations that improve productivity and respond to environmental challenges, were again a feature.… Continue reading
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Growing food at home has been trending in recent times. Many who started out with easily grown herbs and vegetables have advanced to perennial crops including fruit trees. However, the full reward from this step could be limited if pollination is not considered.… Continue reading
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Quality, consistency and uniformity can be enhanced with new technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) (Image: John Fitzsimmons)
Time to adjust our thinking.
By John Fitzsimmons
Reviewing recent developments in horticulture, and in particular in greenhouse production, is a regular process for growers and specialist media. But with the rapid emergence and development of technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), sensory capabilities and robotics, it is time to look beyond hardware and even services and consider more holistically what our growing business needs and wants are.… Continue reading
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Attendance at the Landscape Show was significantly up on last year’s event (Image: The Victorian Master Landscapers)
By John Fitzsimmons
2023 saw Landscaping Victoria Master Landscaper’s (LVML) Landscape Show move from Caulfield to Sandown Park. The event’s following continued to grow and moved with it. While many attendees use the show as an opportunity to touch base with existing suppliers, our focus this year was drawn to a number of new products introduced to the industry.… Continue reading
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