John Fitzsimmons, Author at Hort Journal Australia

Bill Poynton in his iconic delivery van in the early days of the nursery (Image: Courtesy of Poyntons of Essendon and Lisa McCann, GCA)

Garden Centres Nursery Industry

Icon to close after 90 years

11/06/2026 John Fitzsimmons 42 Views 0 Comments

By John Fitzsimmons

After more than 90 years, and the involvement of three generations of the one family, the distinctive Poyntons of Essendon site was listed for sale earlier this year. It was, and currently remains, an icon, a destination, and part of northwest Melbourne’s cultural and social fabric.… Continue reading

Manual labour looks ‘safe’ for the moment until AI generated efficiencies free up more investment in automation (Image: John Fitzsimmons - KonzeptVZ)

Greenhouses & Technology Technology

AI and the future of work

06/11/2025 By John Fitzsimmons 474 Views 0 Comments

By John Fitzsimmons

Almost every time you commence work these days you will engage with AI, an increasingly familiar acronym for artificial intelligence. Some are hopeful that this powerful technology will improve their working lives, whilst others are concerned about the future of their jobs.… Continue reading

Pellenc's battery powered mowers are built to pro standards (images supplied by John Fitzsimmons)

Editorial Industry Event

Equipment and services benefit landscapers

07/07/2025 John Fitzsimmons 769 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

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

Plants have evolved into many forms, adapting to various growing conditions (Image: John Fitzsimmons)

Plant Palette Plants

Amazing things plants

12/06/2025 John Fitzsimmons 801 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

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

No tree is exactly the same in form, size and foliage

Plants Trees

Putting a REAL value on trees

15/09/2024 John Fitzsimmons 847 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By 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

Nutrient Plant Nutrition

Humates, chelates and other ‘secret solutions’

08/08/2024 John Fitzsimmons 1156 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By 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

ISO high speed grafter

Greenhouse Robotics Greenhouses & Technology

High-tech and ‘better mousetraps’

10/07/2024 John Fitzsimmons 1179 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

Compiled 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

Robotics are increasingly taking the effort out of traditional labouring tasks and improving labour productivity (Image by John Fitzsimmons)

Equipment Greenhouses & Technology

No place for auto-pilot

12/06/2024 John Fitzsimmons 1251 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

Navigating the greenlife jungle

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

German firm Weber Verpackungen presented a packaging machine for potted plants that claims productivity increases up to 100% compared with manual hand packing

Industry Event

Tech and environment star at the 40th IPM Horti Expo

10/03/2024 John Fitzsimmons 1275 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By John Fitzsimmons

This year marked the 40^th 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

Cordon-trained pears can yield well (Image: John Fitzsimmons)

Pollination

Pollination – realising the potential

11/02/2024 John Fitzsimmons 1162 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By John Fitzsimmons

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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