By Prue McGruther
In landscape design, our attention often falls on flowers, foliage, bark, or branch structure. Roots, especially aerial, are rarely considered for their visual appeal, yet under the right conditions, figs (Ficus spp.)… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Gabrielle Stannus
Open Gardens Victoria is celebrating its tenth anniversary this month. I spoke with Sam Cox, one of Australia’s foremost proponents of naturalistic garden design about the opening of Red Gums, one of this scheme’s official anniversary gardens. During our conversation, Sam shared the reasons why he thinks other landscape professionals should open their gardens too, and (bonus!)… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Daniel Fuller
Modern landscapes are becoming increasingly smaller, particularly in urban areas with blocks being subdivided for smaller yards, townhouses and apartments. This creates a demand for plants that can provide screening in smaller spaces while still providing maximum impact.… Continue reading
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Vine thickets are overlooked in the landscape, yet they provide cover and nesting opportunities for some threatened native bird species
By Patrick Regnault
I would like to start with a definition: Revegetation is the process of planting or seeding an area that has been too damaged for natural regeneration. Revegetation is important to help restore degraded land, create wildlife corridors, mitigate flood damage and reduce soil loss through erosion.… Continue reading
Read MoreBiosecurity breaches remain one of the biggest threats to Australia’s nursery industry. With more than a dozen new threats detected in just the past six months, it is clear we can no longer rely on geographic isolation alone.
Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA) is urging growers to stay vigilant and take advantage of levy-funded resources that strengthen on-farm pest and disease management.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Tania Harman and Daniel Knox
The R&D Tax Incentive program provides an opportunity for horticulture businesses to receive financial support for their innovative activities. Understanding what qualifies under this incentive program is crucial.
The R&D Tax Incentive (R&DTI) is jointly administered by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR).… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Fitzsimmons
When we are in landscape mode we often think of architectural plants, specimen trees, colour palettes, textures, borders and backdrops for impact and low maintenance. We should not however forget the visual impact and benefits of one of the most widely used landscape elements and approaches — mass plantings.… Continue reading
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Rhonda Sorensen, Coordinator of the Living Plant Collection Records, using Hortis (Image: Cheryl Cooper)
By Richard Ackland and Rhonda Sorensen
Over the past 18 months, the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden (NCRBG) in Coffs Harbour, northern NSW, has revolutionised the way it manages records of its living plant collection. As a sanctuary of biodiversity, the botanic garden has long been a guardian of rare and significant plant species, yet its record-keeping systems had become outdated and fragmented.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Brian Schwartz and Sameer Khanal
The warm season turfgrass breeding program at the University of Georgia’s Tifton Campus continues to foster its long-standing and impactful public private partnerships to address key challenges in the turfgrass industry through cultivar development.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Caleb Roberts
Botanical name: Phyllanthus embilica
Common name(s): Amla, Indian gooseberry
Family: Phyllanthaceae
Origin or native range: There is a saying about some medicines, that a strong taste means they must be doing something right! That certainly rings true for amla, otherwise known as the Indian gooseberry.… Continue reading
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