Welcome to the first issue of Hort Journal 2025. I hope you all managed some downtime, although this is not always a reality for business owners, as plants don’t take a day off.
Once again, bushfires dominate the news in Australia and the USA.… Continue reading
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This mango tree in Guimaras in The Philippines has a beautiful form and a dense canopy providing shade (Image: Patrickroque01 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
By Gabrielle Stannus
Imagine a future in which resources are shared from building to building, and food is grown without a dependency on fossil fuel-based transportation. The International Living Future Institute asked governments, designers and planners to do just that through its Living Communities Challenge, whilst requiring them to incorporate beauty as a very important element in their response.… Continue reading
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A new project in Utrecht Netherlands. This façade and green roof project underwent stringent planning with the local fire regulators before approval (images supplied by Michael Casey)
The role green roofs, walls, and facades play in fire-resilient cities
By Michael Casey
As climate change intensifies, bushfires are becoming more frequent and severe, posing significant threats to homes, communities, and ecosystems in fire-prone areas worldwide. The recent fires throughout Los Angeles are an example of how ferocious these fires can be both in a built-up urban area, and in the buildings and houses located in the more naturalised areas surrounded by trees and plant life.… Continue reading
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Water and nutrient use efficiency as well as environmental outcomes while optimising yields and quality are important in fruit production (images supplied by John Fitzsimmons)
Growing potential?
By John Fitzsimmons
Awareness of growing plants hydroponically is nowadays very high. A good understanding of this approach is, perhaps, not so high. ‘Hydro’ is commonly associated with food crops such as tomatoes, capsicum, lettuce and herbs (culinary, medicinal and ‘recreational’) and with some ornamentals and in floriculture (e.g.… Continue reading
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Hanging basket conveyor systems facilitate volume while reducing labour and delivering uniform quality (Image: Metazet)
Save space. Cut labour. More profit.
By John Fitzsimmons
With the growth of apartment living, with more balconies and courtyards, and more awareness of the possibilities for 3-dimensional greenscapes indoors and out, it should come as no surprise that hanging baskets are a growing category.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Holly Wyatt
The gritty, arid environment of Central Australia is home to a diverse and awe-inspiring range of plant species. This provides nourishment, from bush foods and medicine, to wildflower colour palettes to inspire artists, sacred trees, connection to country for aboriginal peoples, and shelters some of Australia’s rarest animals.… Continue reading
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Dwarf citrus in pot. If maintenance and nutrition is carried out correctly a citrus can last well and be productive (Image: Sue McClymont)
By Patrick Regnault
Small backyards, balconies, limited outdoor spaces, and short or unsecured rent leases are not as conducive to long-term tree planting. For those who can afford to buy and settle, they may have a shrunken backyard or a courtyard; for others, it will need to be pots.… Continue reading
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A new lawn provides space for children to play, along with a clear line of sight from the house to the new pool in this backyard designed for privacy (images supplied by the Landscape Association)
By Lynne Testoni
This Palm Springs-inspired design includes plenty of space for children to play and adults to relax.
The design of this beautiful backyard on Sydney’s northern beaches combines beauty and practicality. Inspired by mid-century modern architecture and the iconic homes of Palm Springs, the house is a contemporary version of these early homes with a minimalist façade.… Continue reading
Read MoreThe rotting corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) at the Sydney Botanic Gardens is a rare and captivating botanical event that has become a crowd favourite when it blooms.
t’s a bit of a tradition for Corpse Flowers to receive nicknames when they bloom: @thehuntingtonlibrary recently celebrated the flowering of Odora, Scentennial, Stankosaurus Rex and Stinkie, while @denverbotanic had Lil’ Stinker burst into bloom in 2022.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Daniel Fuller
Australians are no strangers to the devastating effects of bushfires. Whether started deliberately by arsonists, through lightning strikes onto dry plant material, or simply through human error, fire comes with serious risk, and it pays to improve fire safety in our public and private landscapes to help manage danger to humans, livestock and property.… Continue reading
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