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 MoreIndustry 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
Read MoreCompiled 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
Read MoreBy Patrick Regnault
Working in gardens gives immense pleasure but it is not without risk. A garden has many guests including small creatures that are part of the ecosystem. It is not all about bees and butterflies and cute little birds.… Continue reading
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Adding in greenery to a conventional pergola adds another level of shade coverage (Image: Michael Casey)
By Michael Casey
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) confirmed 2023 was the warmest year on record. The annual average global temperature in 2023 was close to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, a significant benchmark set by the Paris Agreement to limit long-term temperature increases.… Continue reading
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(L-R) Tara Graham-Cochrane, Leigh McGaghey, Anna Baker-Creswell, Steven Wells, Dr Kate Neale (Image: Meg Chatterton)
By Leigh McGaghey
Therapeutic Horticulture Australia (THA) recently hosted their national Conference ‘Seeds of Change: Social Physical and Mental Wellbeing Through Therapeutic Horticulture’ at the RACV Resort in Noosa, Queensland. Volunteers delivered a tremendous event over three days, with the conference as well as tours, workshops and social events bringing together delegates from across Australia.… Continue reading
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Working in a botanic garden requires a diverse range of skills such as creating the de-signs for the Calyx exhibitions at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney (Image: Karen Smith)
By Daniel Fuller
For most of my decade-long career in the landscape maintenance sector, I truly believed that I only had two pathways to progress my career in the horticulture industry – move into management at a large company, or start my own maintenance business.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Clive Larkman
Last month we looked at a great garden plant that looks good, is easy to grow and has great use in the kitchen, Tasmannia lanceolata, an attractive large shrub that comes from SE Australia. Another equally attractive plant is the Avocado Tree (Persea americana) which is native to a small area in Central America between Central Mexico and Costa Rica.… Continue reading
Read MoreClimate 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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