Focal tree, Canistel (Pouteria campechiana) accompanied by an understorey of turmeric, Salvia sp., Hemerocallis sp. and Taro ‘Black Magic’ (Images supplied by Pauline Haydock)
By Pauline Haydock
Australians have been avid gardeners for many decades. We have come a long way from the post war aesthetic of a front yard with a bed of roses, a cypress hedge and a competitively tended lawn. Things are changing.… Continue reading
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Urban food gardens need space, resources, volunteers and/or paid staff and plenty of planning if they are to become successful and feed the people they are intended for (Image: Evergreen Infrastructure)
By Michael Casey
Over the past decade, urban farming has gathered extraordinary momentum with it being framed as a clean and hopeful solution for cities wrestling with food insecurity, population growth and the impacts of climate change. The promise is attractive; where someone can take under-used space, stack it vertically or spread it across rooftops, suddenly you can have a decentralised, resilient, hyper-local food system.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Tania Harman and Daniel Knox
The Australian Government’s R&D Tax Incentive offers horticulture businesses a valuable opportunity to fund innovation and reduce costs. This practical guide explains how to prepare a successful claim, avoid common pitfalls and maximise benefits.… Continue reading
Read MoreHow one nursery transformed its business
Between managing orders for 3,000 trees a year, planning for staff retirements, and keeping day-to-day operations running smoothly, big-picture improvements like clarifying roles or tightening systems often
sit in the ‘too hard’ basket.… Continue reading
By Daniel Fuller
Australia is home to many plant species that have fed people for thousands of years. Did you know that the following ornamental species are edible?
Dianella caerulea berries are almost like little blueberries with pleasantly crunchy seeds.… Continue reading
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Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus (globe artichoke) (Image: Björn S via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)
By Patrick Regnault
During COVID-19, the popularity of growing one’s own food increased dramatically. However, food production to the level of self-sufficiency requires more land and effort than most people are willing to do or capable of making. That said, we can add trees, shrubs and climbers, or even aquatic plants to our plant palettes that will look good and produce food.… Continue reading
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Joshua (left) and Mitchell (right) at The Landscape Association’s annual awards ceremony where their team also took out the Landscaper of the Year ‘Residential Construction’ category for their ‘Mosman Hideaway’ project (Image: Supplied by Mitchell Kushturian)
By Gabrielle Stannus
Sydney-based landscape designer Mitchell Kushturian was named Emerging Designer of the Year at last year’s Landscape Design Institute’s annual awards. I spoke with Mitchell recently about family, plants, landscaping and his award-winning design, ‘Grounds of Glossodia’.
Mitchell’s passion for design is contagious and started when he was young, thanks in great part to his family.… Continue reading
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Dwarf fruit trees, including apples, have been highly popular home edibles in small spaces (Image: John Fitzsimmons)
By John Fitzsimmons
For the last couple of decades, the edibles category in garden centres has been one of this sector’s most consistent stars. However, this category remains dynamic as plant breeders refine and expand their catalogues, and retail buyers expand their skills and expectations.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Natalie MacGregor
Increasing global production of citrus offers opportunities for Australia’s little-known six native species, according to a University of Queensland researcher.
PhD candidate Joel Johnson at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation is investigating the chemical composition and nutritional potential of indigenous citrus species.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Corban
As business owners, we are busy and often more hands-on than we want to be. So, when someone asks, ‘How is business going?’ we tend to give quick answers like ‘Not bad, but enquiries are a bit slow’ or ‘I really need another team member.’… Continue reading
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