Climate change is a concern for most people and those concerns may impact on our industry. Consumers drive change; as awareness of environmental issues grow so does their desire for more sustainable gardens and landscapes. The demand for native and drought-tolerant plants is on the rise, as they are well adapted to local climate conditions and often require less water and maintenance.… 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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The ‘Australian Idyll’ Show Garden at this year’s Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (Image: Platylobium Landscape Design)
By Gabrielle Stannus
Whether you design, construct, or maintain landscapes, you cannot wear every hat all the time. Using other professionals who are experts in their trade can save you time and money, and help your business reach its full potential.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Daniel Fuller
Buying in newly-bred plants is always a risk for nursery businesses. Retailers have to gamble on whether consumers will buy their stock, and wholesalers don’t know whether landscape architects are going to specify them.
Ozbreed surveyed both landscape architects and consumers.… Continue reading
Read MoreIt’s official, there’s a new Top Dog in conservation. After years of training, Zoos Victoria Detection Dog, Daisy, has used her incredible sense of smell to locate one of the rarest fungi in the world, tea-tree fingers. Daisy, a six-year-old Lagotto Romagnolo (Italian water dog), is a canine in Zoos Victoria’s Wildlife Detection Dog Squad – a team with a mission to help save Victoria’s threatened species.… Continue reading
Read MoreAstronauts have grown seeds on the International Space Station for a decade, and China’s Chang’e 4 2019 moon mission sprouted seeds on the Moon. Now, as part of NASA’s Artemis project, which is a step towards a Mars landing, astronauts will grow plants on the surface of the moon.… Continue reading
Read MoreModern rose hybrids have lost more than a quarter of their genetic diversity since the early 19th century.
The domestication of roses can be traced back about 5000 years and were cultivated independently in China and Mediterranean regions. The diversification during the 19th century is associated with crosses between the two previously isolated genetic backgrounds.… Continue reading
Read MoreA proposal by Pedro M.P. Correia et al, from the University of Copenhagen, suggests that horticulture generally could make use of naturally occurring selection processes to improve crop yields.
Most high-yielding crops are susceptible to abiotic and biotic stresses, making them particularly vulnerable to the potential effects of climate change.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Corban
Was there a time in your business when you were outside your comfort zone?
Think back to when you decided to start your business. You probably had feelings of anxiety and discomfort as well as excitement. Although you may have been somewhat afraid, what potentially lay ahead (freedom to pursue your passion, generate a greater income, and have autonomy) provided strong reasons to help propel you forward.… Continue reading
Read MoreIntroduction: Nursery hygiene is the most basic platform for ensuring pest and disease-free growing areas and producing the best quality stock for sale to customers. Nursery hygiene issues in the propagation and production phases can cause problems that persist for the lifespan of the plants, which may be several decades in the case of woody species.… Continue reading
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