Friday, October 10, 2025

horticultural

HistoryLandscape

The man who planted Canberra

By Gabrielle Stannus

Many of us would remember learning in school about the pivotal role that American Walter Burley Griffin played in the design and development of the Australian national capital. However, author Robert Macklin says that another man deserves more credit for his role in transforming the Limestone Plains into the thriving garden city we now know as Canberra, and for laying the foundations for modern Australian horticulture.Continue reading

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EditorialGreener Spaces Better Places Update

What’s GROWING on?

HELPING NURSERIES SELL MORE PLANTS IN-STORE TRIAL NOW LIVE

Greener Spaces Better Places is excited to share an update on our HOW TO GROW campaign, a trial now live across five participating nurseries nationwide.
Launched earlier this year, the trial is testing whether simple, colour-coded pot stickers – each linked to a QR code and bite-sized plant care video – can help nursery customers buy and grow with confidence.… Continue reading

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Business FileEditorial

Succession planning: Ensuring a seamless transition

By Tara Cuddihy

Succession planning is a critical aspect for any business, and the horticultural industry is no exception. It can be a daunting task; however it is best to plan and review often to have a robust succession plan in place to ensure the continuity and success of operations.Continue reading

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Plant PalettePlants

Most popular small shrubs and groundcovers of 2024-25

By Daniel Fuller

Understanding industry trends can inform nursery purchasing decisions. Ozbreed’s data for the 2024-25 reflects plants that have been selling extremely well, and we foresee that sales are likely to stay strong in the coming financial year. Here are our strongest Australian small shrub and groundcover sellers by quantity of units starting with the most popular.Continue reading

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EnvironmentEnvironment & Sustainability

Go green, stay cool

By Zoe Cwojdzinski

Plants have proven countless benefits over centuries for human health and wellbeing, but a University of Technology Sydney collaboration highlights their impact as urban temperatures continue to climb.

Our cities are getting hotter. More than half the world’s population now lives in urban areas, a number expected to climb to 70 per cent by 20501[GS1] .… Continue reading

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Careers & EducationEducation

Plants in Space: A global education initiative

By Sally Fierenzi and Megan Hirst

Horticulture is the art and science of cultivating plants, encompassing everything from growing food crops and conserving rare species, to producing ornamental plants for amenity usage. There are various techniques and practices to grow and maintain plants, including soil preparation, planting, watering, fertilisation, and pest control.Continue reading

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PlantsTrees

Victoria offers grants for farm trees

By John Fitzsimmons

The Victorian Government has announced the availability of grants to support the planting of trees on farms, promoting the potential benefits for farmers, the greenlife industry and the environment. This new grant program is broadly separated into two parts: one where the farmer or landowner implements the program, and a second where specialist planting and/or plantation management services are engaged by the farmer or landowner.Continue reading

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Business FileEditorial

Is a toxic team member costing your business?

By John Corban

In landscaping, where teamwork, reliability, and attitude matter every day on site, one toxic employee can drag down the entire team, annoy your clients, and cost you time and money through disrupted workflow, mistakes and substandard workmanship. Here I outline how to spot a toxic employee, what their behaviour does to your business, and how to deal with it properly.Continue reading

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Plants

Yacon takes root in Australia

By Clive Larkman

The Columbian Exchange continues to make its impact felt on the world, with the arrival of the yacon on the Australian market. Will this edible tuber make its mark on our nation, or will it prove to be a culinary fad? Continue reading

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EditorialEditors editorial

Turning over a new leaf

It is an honour to be able to introduce myself to you as the new editor of Hort Journal Australia, and only its second in its 17-year history.

I never expected to be a writer, let alone an editor! I suspect that Karen Smith, our recently retired editor, has perhaps been gently coaxing me into this position for some time now.… Continue reading

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