Avocado is too good?
Clive Larkman
As a child I doubt I ever ate avocado and I don’t think any of my friends did. It was an exotic fruit that you might have seen as a dip at the original Taco Bills but rarely elsewhere.… Continue reading
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Intergenerational learning combines skills in horticulture
There is often a lot of talk about the ageing workforce in horticulture, so it was heartwarming to see many young people in attendance at a conference I attended recently for the International Plant Propagators Society (IPPS). They were a breath of fresh air and contributed enormously to the event.… Continue reading
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After a healthy lunch at Parkers Place and a grafting demonstration by Des Boorman, delegates group together for a photo
Propagators enjoy a breath of fresh air
By Karen Smith
For the 52nd year, propagators from Australia and overseas came together to ‘Seek and Share’ knowledge of propagation in all its forms. I congratulate the organisers of the International Plant Propagators (IPPS) Conference, “A Breath of Fresh Air,’ held in Ballina NSW for presenting an excellent venue and a most informative program.… Continue reading
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SmartPave from Strol prevents aggregate migration on lightly trafficked paths with geofabric already bonded on the underside
Landscape Show stays on track at Sandown
By John Fitzsimmons
Despite sunshine and an absence of rain that could have kept many landscapers on-site, there were still plenty who travelled across Melbourne and from further afield to Landscaping Victoria’s 2024 Landscape Show at Sandown Park.
This event’s attendee profile appears to be well established – landscape constructors and installers making up the bulk, complemented by designers, greenlife and allied industry people, and a significant number of apprentices, trainees and students in landscaping and related fields.… Continue reading
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Plan A, and no Plan B, is the powerful approach to succeed
By John Corban
“I hate Plan B. People perform better, in sports and everything else, if they don’t have a Plan B. I’ve never, ever had a Plan B.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
Schwarzenegger believes people have a backup plan because they are worried they will fail.… Continue reading
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Crop protection: Wildlife’s safety net
By Gabrielle Stannus
From private residences to public landscapes, keeping out unwanted pests is just part of the job, and fundamentally good design. However, what if that ‘pest’ also happens to be a protected native species? If you are designing or maintaining a productive garden, make sure you know how to net fruit trees safely to avoid harm to Australia’s unique fauna.… Continue reading
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An aerial image of Annesley highlights the use of Buxus hedging to create a formal framework for the gardens
Cottage charm
By Lynne Testoni
A well-thought-out maintenance plan has retained the charm and authenticity of these classically planted gardens.
There is something reassuring and calming about an English-style cottage garden. Set among eight acres of magnificent English-style gardens, Annesley Bowral Retirement Village, about 120km south of Sydney, New South Wales, could be called a Southern Highlands sanctuary.… Continue reading
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Native plants and grasses surveyed with Landscape Architects
By Daniel Fuller
Plant breeding has made significant strides over the past couple of decades. What once impressed landscape architects no longer suffices, as new cultivars are now more resilient, requiring less maintenance. While nursery businesses know what has sold well in the past, predicting future popular cultivars remains a challenge.… Continue reading
Read MoreWhat’s Growing on?
Industry experts invite 82,000 Aussies to ask me anything!
Welcome to this month’s Greener Spaces Better Places program update. Read on to find out the latest news and highlights to keep you up to date on what’s happening and how you can benefit.… Continue reading
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High-tech and ‘better mousetraps’
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
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