By Clive Larkman
On a recent trip to the central Mediterranean I observed some tough growing conditions. Most of the plants were non-native but one that stood out was Capparis spinosa – the Caper Bush. It is a tough plant that is able to establish itself in poor conditions with minimal water and virtually no soil.… Continue reading
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By John Corban
Think back to when you started your business – you were probably somewhat fearful, but incredibly excited about what you were starting. And you probably imagined growing your business over time to a larger business with a key team, great clients, good profits, and a reasonably high profile.… Continue reading
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The warnings are starting to roll in with predictions for the upcoming summer likely to be the hottest on record. How can we, as an industry, be prepared? Summer will be here before you know it.
Our industry has been hit hard in the past with a decade of drought and water restrictions, so I think we know which direction we need to be heading to manage it.… Continue reading
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By Gabrielle Stannus
Whilst travelling in France earlier this year, I met with landscape designer and gardener Clare Obéron in Rennes, the capital city of Brittany in the country’s northwest, ostensibly to discuss how she designs her gardens to look good during winter.… Continue reading
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By Michael Casey
The rise in interest in interior plantscaping, along with vertical gardens and other forms of interior plant layouts, is being matched with the results of the associated benefits. These include providing clean pollution-free filtered air and cooler environments, along with connecting people to nature.… Continue reading
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The three-day Queensland Garden Expo, the Sunshine Coast’s largest annual event, took place at Nambour Showgrounds recently, attracting a crowd of gardening enthusiasts and plant lovers from near and far, with tens of thousands of plants swapping hands for new homes, both local and interstate.… Continue reading
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By John Fitzsimmons
Recent times have seen a rise in consumer concerns not just with ‘what’ they are buying but ‘how’ it was produced. Buying preferences have been increasingly flowing to ‘natural’, ‘organic’, ‘green’, ‘safer’, and ‘environmentally friendly’ labels. While the concepts are appealing it’s also easy to become a bit cynical about the real claims and benefits of some proliferating labels.… Continue reading
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Imagine a lawn that ripples and undulates, creating a serene, Zen-like atmosphere in your garden. Picture a low-maintenance, high-density turf that greatly reduces weeds and fills in quickly. Envision a versatile grass that can be manicured for a traditional lawn look, or left natural and mown every two to three years to create a wavy, flowing green carpet.… Continue reading
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Visualise a garden where emerald green is gracefully punctuated by hues of summer rustic brown, where the sun’s rays illuminate the landscape creating a warm, vibrant glow that transforms your outdoor space into a stunning visual masterpiece.
Rustic™ Poa is a breed of ornamental grass that seasonally possesses an enchanting brown hue, a distinctive visual attribute obtained through a natural process called senescence which generally occurs in the dryer months.… Continue reading
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By John Stanley and Sid Raisch
While the COVID years of 2020/21 seem to be in the distant past, the challenge now is what is ahead? It is difficult to forecast trends in a market that is changing so rapidly, but somebody has to start the conversation.… Continue reading
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Hort Innovation
In July 2023, the World Meteorological Organisation, an agency within the United Nations, officially declared an El Niño. For most of Australia, this typically brings hotter and drier weather, with increased risk of droughts as well as bushfires. At time of writing, the Australian government is yet to declare El Niño, it is expected
to do so in the coming weeks.… Continue reading
By John Corban
The beginning of the new financial year has begun, so now is the perfect time to analyse your Profit & Loss (P&L) from the year just finished. Then, create a forecast knowing what areas of quoting, projects, project management and maintenance, and retail you need to improve.… Continue reading
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By Denis Crawford
Insects are the only invertebrates that can fly, and flight has allowed insects to dominate most terrestrial ecosystems.
Insects first took to the air 350 to 400 million years ago, but like most evolutionary developments, it didn’t happen overnight.… Continue reading
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By Lynne Testoni
In their Paddington Public School project, Outdoor Retreats Landscaping have vividly revitalised an educational space.
Outdoor Retreats Landscapes believes that great results come from working collaboratively, and their award-winning work for Paddington Public School in Sydney shows how well that approach has worked for them.… Continue reading
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By Lisa Wightwick
Many members of our industry would have encountered ‘tissue culture’ or ‘TC’ at least once in the course of their careers. I’m usually met with fascination when I tell people I work in plant tissue culture, due, in part, to the mysterious and technical reputation the field seems to have garnered.… Continue reading
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By Daniel Fuller
The average gardener often thinks that the nursery they buy their plants from is the same nursery that grows them, but that is rarely the case. In fact, there’s a whole sector of the nursery industry that exists between those that grow plants and the end user, the gardeners, that we call the retail nurseries.… Continue reading
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By Clive Larkman
My wife Di and I and a good friend were invited to a birthday celebration for two friends. One was turning 50 and the other 40! The catch was the party was happening on the island of Vulcano of the coast of Sicily.… Continue reading
Read MoreThe steel industry is one of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions. Turning iron ore into steel is an energy intensive process relying heavily on coal. BlueScope Steel in Wollongong received funding in 2022 from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to investigate biochar as a partial substitute for coal in the blast furnace refining process.… Continue reading
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By Patrick Regnault
(Intro) Tools and equipment are an investment that needs careful consideration. Regardless of their cost we need to ensure we do not spend on lesser quality tools. Reputable makers have their up and downs, standards can slip before rising again.… Continue reading
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A bold plan to grow seedlings on the Moon by 2026 has been funded by the Australian Government, in what could reveal a greater understanding of horticulture in extreme environments.
The Australian Lunar Experiment Promoting Horticulture (ALEPH) project, led by local start-up Lunaria One – with RMIT, QUT and ANU as the major Australian university partners along with industry bodies, has just received $3.6 million as part of the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Initiative. … Continue reading
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